2 barrel and 4 barrel carburetors are two different types of carburetors that are used in internal combustion engines to provide the correct air-fuel mixture for combustion.
- Number of barrels: The main difference between a 2 barrel and 4 barrel carburetor is the number of barrels. As the name suggests, a 2 barrel carburetor has two barrels while a 4 barrel carburetor has four barrels.
- Size: As a result of having more barrels, a 4 barrel carburetor is typically larger in size than a 2 barrel carburetor.
- Fuel Flow: A 4 barrel carburetor allows for a greater fuel flow than a 2 barrel carburetor, which means it can support larger engines or engines that operate at higher RPMs.
- Throttle Body: A 4 barrel carburetor has two throttle bodies, one for each pair of barrels, that can be controlled independently allowing for greater control over the air-fuel mixture. A 2 barrel carburetor only has one throttle body.
- Fuel economy : A 2 barrel carburetor is better for fuel economy, as it is designed for low to medium RPMs and small engines. A 4 barrel carburetor is designed for high performance and high RPMs, and therefore may not be as efficient when it comes to fuel economy.
- Performance: A 4 barrel carburetor is generally considered to provide better performance than a 2 barrel carburetor, due to its ability to support larger engines and operate at higher RPMs.
It’s worth noting that, nowadays, most of the vehicles are equipped with fuel injection systems instead of carburetors. But still, some older vehicles and some racing vehicles use carburetors.
