1. Excessive Fuel Entry: When the engine is cranked, the fuel injector or carburetor releases fuel into the cylinders as usual. However, if there's a problem that leads to too much fuel being supplied, the cylinders become overloaded.
2. Incomplete Vaporization: The cylinders are designed to accommodate a specific amount of fuel that can be properly mixed with air and ignited. When too much fuel enters, the fuel doesn't have enough time to vaporize completely before the ignition occurs.
3. Rich Fuel Mixture: The excessive amount of fuel creates an overly rich fuel mixture. A rich mixture contains more fuel than the ideal ratio of fuel and air needed for efficient combustion.
4. Incomplete Combustion: The spark plugs attempt to ignite the rich mixture, but due to the imbalance between fuel and air, the combustion process is incomplete. The spark can only ignite a portion of the fuel, resulting in weak combustion.
5. Engine Stalling: The incomplete combustion leads to insufficient power generation, causing the engine to struggle and eventually stall. The cylinders aren't able to produce enough force to keep the engine running.
6. Loss of Power: As the engine floods further, the symptoms become more pronounced. The engine might start briefly but immediately lose power and shut off again.
7. Fouled Spark Plugs: The excessive fuel can reach the spark plugs, causing them to become fouled. Fouled spark plugs can't generate a strong enough spark to ignite the fuel properly, exacerbating the flooding issue.
8. Hydrolock Condition: In extreme cases, a flooded engine can lead to a condition called hydrolock. When too much unburned fuel accumulates in the cylinders, it can cause damage to the engine's pistons and connecting rods by creating excessive pressure and impacting their movement.
Flooding can occur due to various factors, such as a faulty fuel injector or carburetor, problems with the ignition system, or excessive cranking without starting the engine. Once a flooded engine occurs, it's important to take steps to clear the excess fuel and restore the proper air-fuel mixture for the engine to function properly again.
