LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Mercedes Benz >> 2017 >> SLC43 AMG >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Performance >> Engine Control Systems >> Mixture Formation - 172 Chassis >> Basic Knowledge >> Mixture Formation, Basic Function - GF07.00-P-1000A
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Mixture Formation, Basic Function - GF07.00-P-1000A

Engine all (CAR) 

Overview 

This document contains information on:

General 

The process of mixture preparation involves conveying the liquid fuel through the high-pressure fuel circuit, controlling the injection and forming the mixture. The liquid fuel is delivered via the high-pressure fuel circuit to the fuel injection system. The mixture is formed (i. e. the vaporized fuel is blended with the supplied air) in the combustion chamber.

Function requirements 

Function 

Lambda control (diesel engine) 

The diesel engine operates with a heterogeneous, internal mixture and self-ignition. The air-fuel ratio λ specifies the extent to which the actual air-fuel mix deviates from the stoichiometric fuel-air ratio in the cylinder. The lambda values for diesel engines are between λ=1.15 and λ=2.0 at full load and between λ=10 and λ=18 in idling.

Lambda control (gasoline engine) 

Direct-injection gasoline engines work in stratified-charge and homogeneous operation. In homogeneous operation, the lambda values are between λ=0.5 and λ=1.3; in stratified-charge operation, the lambda values depend on the driving and load condition (e. g. partial or full-load operation).

IMPORTANT Gasoline direct injection involves a process of forming a mixture in which the gasoline is injected at high pressure directly into the combustion chamber.

High-pressure fuel circuit 

The high-pressure fuel circuit essentially comprises the following components:

The high-pressure fuel pump connects a low-pressure fuel circuit and a high-pressure fuel circuit. The task of the high-pressure fuel pump is to compress the fuel and pump it into the fuel distributor.

The quantity control valve in the high-pressure fuel pump controls the fuel flow into the high-pressure fuel circuit.

From the fuel distributor, the fuel is conveyed via high-pressure lines to the fuel injectors, which inject the fuel directly into the combustion chamber, selectively for each cylinder and finely atomized. On the basis of a characteristics map, the combustion engine control unit calculates the injection for the current operating condition. The injection quantity depends o the fuel pressure in the fuel distributor and the activation duration of the fuel injectors.

The fuel pressure in the fuel distributor is controlled by the quantity control valve. The fuel pressure in the fuel distributor is measured by the fuel pressure sensor and limited by the pressure limiting valve (diesel engine).

Example illustration of high-pressure fuel circuit on 4-cylinder spark-ignition engine 

G13770135Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Gasoline engine injection control 

Direct-injection gasoline engines are designed for homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion. The fuel injection pressure can be as high as 250 bar. The injectors are piezo-controlled multi-hole valves, which are usually located centrally in the combustion chamber. The high-pressure fuel pump is driven by the camshaft.

The following operating conditions are supported by multi-point injection:

With the help of a characteristics map, the combustion engine control unit calculates the injection duration and pressure on the basis of the following signals:

The requirements of the torque coordination function are also taken into account.

The combustion engine control unit controls the injection duration under the following operating conditions:

IMPORTANT During the injection period (i.e. when the injector is open), the injection quantity is fed to the injector.

Partial load operation 

In partial-load operation, when the engine is warm, the combustion engine control unit calculates the activation time of the fuel injectors as a function of the following factors:

Full load operation 

In full-load operation, when the throttle valve is fully open, the combustion engine control unit extends the actuation time of the fuel injectors and increases the injection pressure in order to ensure maximum engine torque.

IMPORTANT At the accelerator pedal sensor, about 10 to 90 % slewing range is defined as partial load and more than about 90 % slewing range is defined as wide open throttle.

Load change 

If the position of the accelerator pedal changes suddenly (e. g. when the vehicle accelerates), the throttle valve is opened or closed at high speed. This can cause momentary thinning or enrichment of the air-fuel mix. The combustion engine control unit adjusts the air-fuel mix accordingly by extending or shortening the activation time of the fuel injectors on the basis of the characteristics map. This prevents any juddering caused by the rapid opening/closing of the throttle valve.

Example illustration of high-pressure fuel circuit on 4-cylinder diesel engine 

G13770136Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Diesel engine injection control 

In diesel engines, up to six injections per working cycle are possible for precision combustion control. The maximum injection pressure can be as high as 2000 bar.

To reduce combustion noise, double pre injection takes place in the large characteristics map range. Post injection takes place to optimize emissions.

During regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, multiple timed post injection take place.

The combustion engine control unit supplies the required fuel quantity to the engine on the basis of the load condition and coolant temperature.

The injection control is described in the following steps:

Fuel pressure control 

Fuel pressure control is performed through quantity control by means of the quantity control valve at the high-pressure fuel pump.

Pre injection 

To reduce combustion noise and exhaust emissions, the main injection is preceded by a pre injection, which makes the combustion process more smooth.

Main injection 

The main injection is performed following pre injection and generates power and torque. The main injection is controlled by the injection time and injection duration.

Post injection 

The post injection not only helps to increase the exhaust temperature, but also supports the process of converting the exhaust components in the oxidation catalytic converter and particulate filter regeneration. The increased exhaust temperature subsequently burns the soot particles in the exhaust gas.

Injection quantity correction 

Injection quantity correction additionally has the following requirements:

Injection quantity correction is subdivided into subareas:

Zero quantity calibration 

The friction that occurs when the fuel injectors are opened/closed means that the injection quantity changes over the duration. The changed injection quantity can be corrected by adjusting the activation duration. During normal engine operation or in overrun mode, a pilot injection quantity is calibrated at defined intervals selectively for each cylinder. This actuation duration corresponds to a defined injection quantity. The difference between the new and nominal activation duration is used as a basis for correcting the injection quantities.

Main injection quantity correction 

For this function, the main injection quantity is corrected using the oxygen sensor upstream of the catalytic converter. Here, the injection quantity is adjusted until the target lambda value stored in the combustion engine control unit is reached.

The emission values are influenced owing to the tolerances of the fuel injectors and hot film mass air flow sensor. To keep the emission values constant, the combustion engine control unit changes the exhaust gas recirculation rate via the low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation actuator and the high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation actuator. The residual oxygen content is monitored over the oxygen sensor element upstream of catalytic converter.

Safety fuel shutoff 

To ensure traffic and occupant safety, the safety fuel shutoff system is activated under certain conditions.

The combustion engine Control unit activates the safety fuel shutoff system under the following conditions:

Direct or indirect crash signal 

If the combustion engine control unit receives a direct or indirect crash signal from the SRS control unit, it switches off the fuel pump and the quantity control valve. To depressurize the fuel system, the fuel injectors are also briefly activated.

Mechanical failure in the throttle valve actuator (in gasoline engines) 

The combustion engine control unit continuously compares the target and actual position of the throttle valve actuator. If any deviation (i.e. mechanical failure) is identified, the fuel supply is shut off.

  Function schematics     
  Function schematic for safety fuel shutoff Engine 260, 282, 608 in model 118, 177, 247
Engine 264 in model 167
PE07.10-P-2503-97A
    Engine 176, 177 in model 167 PE07.10-P-2503-97B
    Engine 139 in model 118, 177, 247 PE07.10-P-2503-97C
    Engine 654 in model 118, 167, 177, 206, 247
Engine 654 in model 213, 238, 257 as of model year 2021
Engine 656 in model 167, 223
PE07.10-P-2503-97D
    Engine 256 in model 167
Engine 256 in model 213, 238 as of model year 2021
Engine 264 in model 213, 238, 257 as of model year 2021
PE07.10-P-2503-97E
    Engine 254 in model 206
Engine 256 in model 223
PE07.10-P-2503-97F
    Engine 176 in model 223 PE07.10-P-2503-97G
  Function schematic for injection control I Engine 608 in model 118, 177, 247 PE07.61-P-2500-97A
    Engine 282 in model 118, 177, 247 PE07.61-P-2500-97B
    Engine 260 in model 118, 177, 247
Engine 264 in model 167
PE07.61-P-2500-97C
    Engine 654 in model 118, 167, 177, 247
Engine 654 in model 213, 238, 257 as of model year 2021
Engine 656 in model 167
PE07.61-P-2500-97D
    Engine 256 in model 167
Engine 256 in model 213, 238 as of model year 2021
Engine 264 in model 213, 238, 257 as of model year 2021
PE07.61-P-2500-97E
    Engine 176, 177 in model 167 PE07.61-P-2500-97F
    Engine 139 in model 118, 177, 247 PE07.61-P-2500-97G
    Engine 254 in model 206
Engine 256 in model 223
PE07.61-P-2500-97H
    Engine 176 in model 223 PE07.61-P-2500-97I
    Engine 279 in model 223 PE07.61-P-2500-97J
    Engine 654 in model 206
Engine 656 in model 223
PE07.61-P-2500-97M
  Additional basic functions     
  Lambda control, basic function Engine 139, 176, 177, 254, 256, 260, 264, 279, 282 GF07.10-P-1054A
  Control units     
  Combustion engine control unit, basic function Engine all (CAR) GF07.08-P-9890A 
  Components     
  Fuel high-pressure pump, basic function Engine all (CAR) GF07.02-P-2000A
  Fuel injectors, basic function Engine all (CAR) GF07.03-P-2000A
  Fuel distributor fuel pressure sensor, basic function Engine 282, 608 GF07.04-P-2005A
  Quantity control valve, basic function Engine all (CAR) GF07.05-P-2000A
  Throttle valve actuator, basic function Engine all (CAR) GF07.61-P-2000A