What is the primary purpose of a carburetor?

The primary purpose of a carburetor is to mix fuel and air in the proper ratio for combustion within the engine’s cylinders. This process is crucial for effective engine performance, as the correct mixture ensures that the fuel burns efficiently, producing the necessary power to drive the engine. The carburetor atomizes the fuel, turning it into a fine mist, which allows it to mix thoroughly with intake air as it enters the combustion chamber.

An ideal air-fuel mixture is vital for starting the engine, maintaining idle speed, and ensuring optimal performance across a range of operating conditions. Without this effective mixing, the engine would either run too rich (too much fuel) or too lean (too little fuel), leading to inefficient combustion and potential engine damage.

The other options, while related to engine function, do not capture the primary role of the carburetor. Cleaning the fuel is handled by filters earlier in the fuel system, storing the fuel is a function of the fuel tank, and maintaining constant velocity pertains to maintaining engine speed or power output, which is controlled by different engine components and not solely the carburetor itself.