When did Dodge go fuel injected?
Factory fuel injection first appeared for Dodge in 1957, as part of Chrysler’s Bendix fuel-injection program; modern electronic fuel injection (EFI) arrived in the Dodge lineup in the late 1980s and became standard across most models thereafter.
1957: The Bendix injection era
Chrysler introduced a Bendix electro-mechanical fuel injection system in 1957, making it one of the earliest mass-market implementations of fuel delivery beyond carburetors. Dodge participated in that program as part of the corporate lineup, and a limited number of Dodge models benefited from the technology during the 1957–1958 period. The Bendix system offered more precise metering and improved performance, but its complexity and cost kept it from widespread adoption across the entire Dodge range.
Modern EFI takes hold
After decades of carburetors, Dodge—and Chrysler as a whole—began transitioning to electronic fuel injection in the late 1980s. The shift occurred in stages, with throttle-body injection (TBI) appearing on several engines first, followed by multi-point fuel injection (MPI) across more engines in the 1990s. This evolution supported better fuel economy, drivability, and emissions compliance—the hallmarks of contemporary Dodge powertrains.
Key milestones in Dodge's transition to EFI
- 1957–1958: Bendix electro-fuel injection appears on a limited set of Chrysler/Dodge models, marking the brand's first factory fuel-injected production engines.
- Mid- to late-1980s: Dodge begins widespread use of electronic control for fuel delivery, with throttle-body injection on several engines and platforms.
- Late 1980s to 1990s: Multi-point fuel injection becomes common on Dodge engines, improving efficiency and performance across a broader range of models.
The shift to EFI ultimately transformed Dodge’s approach to powertrains, laying the groundwork for the highly optimized, fuel-efficient engines available in today’s lineup.
Today: fuel injection as standard
In the contemporary era, Dodge vehicles rely on advanced fuel-injection systems—ranging from sequential multi-point injection to direct injection on select engines—paired with modern engine management electronics. This technology underpins the performance, efficiency, and emissions compliance that define today’s Dodge cars and trucks.
Summary
Dodges’ journey to fuel injection began in 1957 with Bendix injection, followed by a broad transition to electronic fuel injection in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. Since then, EFI has been standard across the lineup, evolving into more advanced systems that power today’s Dodge vehicles.
