Choke vs. Throttle — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 10, 2024
Choking reduces air flow to the engine to enrich the fuel-air mixture, while throttling adjusts the engine's power output by regulating air flow.
Difference Between Choke and Throttle
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Choking involves restricting the air supply to an engine's intake system, increasing the fuel-to-air ratio. This is particularly useful during cold starts when a richer mixture is needed for the engine to run smoothly. On the other hand, a throttle controls the engine's power output by regulating the amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber. It directly affects the engine's speed and power, making it a crucial component for driving performance.
Chokes are typically found in carbureted engines where precise air-fuel mixture adjustments are necessary for starting and running the engine under various conditions. Whereas, throttle bodies are used in both carbureted and fuel-injected engines, playing a vital role in managing the engine's performance by adjusting the air intake based on the accelerator pedal's position.
The mechanism of a choke is relatively simple; it either manually or automatically adjusts a plate or valve to restrict airflow. This process enriches the fuel-air mixture, making it easier for the engine to start and warm up. Throttles, however, are more complex and can be controlled manually by the driver or electronically through an electronic control unit (ECU), which adjusts the throttle position to meet performance, efficiency, or emission requirements.
While the choke's primary function is to aid in engine start-up and initial running conditions, especially in cold weather, the throttle's purpose is broader, encompassing the overall control of the engine's power output throughout its operating range.
In modern vehicles, especially those with fuel injection, the traditional choke has been replaced by electronic systems that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture for optimal performance under all conditions. However, throttles remain indispensable, with advancements leading to sophisticated electronic throttle control (ETC) systems that enhance vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions control.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Function
Enrich fuel-air mixture for cold starts
Regulate engine power and speed
Mechanism
Restricts air flow to increase fuel ratio
Controls air flow into combustion chamber
Application
Mainly carbureted engines
Carbureted and fuel-injected engines
Control
Manual or automatic
Manual or electronic (via ECU)
Impact on Performance
Aids in engine start-up and warm-up
Affects speed, power, efficiency
Modern Relevance
Less common in modern fuel-injected engines
Essential in all engines
Complexity
Relatively simple
More complex, especially in ETC systems
Compare with Definitions
Choke
A device for reducing air intake to enrich the fuel-air mixture in an engine.
The choke is engaged during a cold start to ensure the engine runs smoothly.
Throttle
A mechanism controlling the engine's power by regulating air flow.
The throttle response is immediate, affecting acceleration.
Choke
Less common in modern engines.
Modern fuel-injected engines don't require a manual choke.
Throttle
Found in both carbureted and fuel-injected engines.
Adjusting the throttle improves the vehicle's efficiency.
Choke
Can be manual or automatic.
The car's automatic choke adjusts itself as the engine warms up.
Throttle
Affects speed, power, and efficiency.
The driver modulated the throttle to maintain speed on the steep incline.
Choke
Used primarily in carbureted engines.
Adjusting the choke helps the engine to start in cold weather.
Throttle
Essential for driving performance.
The throttle body was cleaned for better engine performance.
Choke
Aids in engine warm-up.
The mechanic checked the choke mechanism for issues with starting.
Throttle
Can be manual or electronically controlled.
Electronic throttle control offers precise power management.
Choke
(of a person or animal) have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air
Willie choked on a mouthful of tea
Throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by constriction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased.
Choke
Fill (a space) so as to make movement difficult or impossible
The roads were choked with traffic
Throttle
A device controlling the flow of fuel or power to an engine
The engines were at full throttle
Choke
Make (someone) speechless with a strong feeling or emotion
He was choked with fury
Throttle
A person's throat, gullet, or windpipe.
Choke
Enrich the fuel mixture in (a petrol engine) by reducing the intake of air
Carbon monoxide results during a cold start, when an engine is choked
Throttle
Attack or kill (someone) by choking or strangling them
She was sorely tempted to throttle him
International sanctions were then throttling the country's economy
Choke
A valve in the carburettor of a petrol engine that is used to reduce the amount of air in the fuel mixture when the engine is started
An automatic choke
Too much choke does not help
Throttle
Control (an engine or vehicle) with a throttle
It has two engines that can be throttled
Choke
An act or the sound of a person or animal having difficulty in breathing
A little choke of laughter
Throttle
A valve that regulates the flow of a fluid, such as the valve in an internal-combustion engine that controls the amount of air-fuel mixture entering the cylinders.
Choke
The inedible mass of silky fibres at the centre of a globe artichoke.
Throttle
A lever or pedal controlling such a valve.
Choke
To interfere with the respiration of by compression or obstruction of the larynx or trachea.
Throttle
To regulate the flow of (fuel) in an engine.
Choke
To check or slow down the movement, growth, or action of
A garden that was choked by weeds.
Throttle
To regulate the speed of (an engine) with a throttle.
Choke
To block up or obstruct by filling or clogging
Mud choked the drainpipe.
Throttle
To suppress
Tried to throttle the press.
Choke
To fill up completely; jam
Major commuter arteries were choked with stalled traffic.
Throttle
To strangle (a person); choke.
Choke
To reduce the air intake of (a carburetor), thereby enriching the fuel mixture.
Throttle
A valve that regulates the supply of fuel-air mixture to an internal combustion engine and thus controls its speed; a similar valve that controls the air supply to an engine.
Choke
(Sports) To grip (a bat or racket, for example) at a point nearer the hitting surface.
Throttle
The lever or pedal that controls this valve.
Choke
To have difficulty in breathing, swallowing, or speaking.
Throttle
The windpipe or trachea.
Choke
To become blocked up or obstructed.
Throttle
(transitive) To control or adjust the speed of (an engine).
Choke
(Sports) To shorten one's grip on the handle of a bat or racket. Often used with up.
Throttle
(transitive) To cut back on the speed of (an engine, person, organization, network connection, etc.).
Choke
To fail to perform effectively because of nervous agitation or tension, especially in an athletic contest
Choked by missing an easy putt on the final hole.
Throttle
(transitive) To strangle or choke someone.
Choke
The act or sound of choking.
Throttle
(intransitive) To have the throat obstructed so as to be in danger of suffocation; to choke; to suffocate.
Choke
Something that constricts or chokes.
Throttle
(intransitive) To breathe hard, as when nearly suffocated.
Choke
A slight narrowing of the barrel of a shotgun serving to concentrate the shot.
Throttle
(transitive) To utter with breaks and interruption, in the manner of a person half suffocated.
Choke
A device used in an internal-combustion engine to enrich the fuel mixture by reducing the flow of air to the carburetor.
Throttle
The windpipe, or trachea; the weasand.
Choke
The fibrous inedible center of an artichoke head.
Throttle
The throttle valve.
Choke
(intransitive) To be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe (for instance food or other objects that go down the wrong way, or fumes or particles in the air that cause the throat to constrict).
Ever since he choked on a bone, he has refused to eat fish.
Throttle
To compress the throat of; to choke; to strangle.
Grant him this, and the Parliament hath no more freedom than if it sat in his noose, which, when he pleases to draw together with one twitch of his negative, shall throttle a whole nation, to the wish of Caligula, in one neck.
Choke
(transitive) To prevent (someone) from breathing or talking by strangling or filling the windpipe.
The collar of this shirt is too tight; it’s choking me.
Throttle
To utter with breaks and interruption, in the manner of a person half suffocated.
Throttle their practiced accent in their fears.
Choke
(transitive) To obstruct (a passage, etc.) by filling it up or clogging it.
To choke a cave passage with boulders and mud
Throttle
To shut off, or reduce flow of, as steam to an engine.
Choke
(transitive) To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to kill (a plant by robbing it of nutrients); to extinguish (fire by robbing it of oxygen).
Throttle
To have the throat obstructed so as to be in danger of suffocation; to choke; to suffocate.
Choke
To perform badly at a crucial stage of a competition, especially when one appears to be clearly winning.
He has a lot of talent, but he tends to choke under pressure.
Throttle
To breathe hard, as when nearly suffocated.
Choke
(transitive) To move one's fingers very close to the tip of a pencil, brush or other art tool.
Throttle
A valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine
Choke
To hold the club or bat lower on the shaft in order to shorten one's swing.
Throttle
A pedal that controls the throttle valve;
He stepped on the gas
Choke
(intransitive) To be checked or stopped, as if by choking
Throttle
Place limits on (extent or access);
Restrict the use of this parking lot
Limit the time you can spend with your friends
Choke
(transitive) To check or stop (an utterance or voice) as if by choking.
Throttle
Kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air;
He tried to strangle his opponent
A man in Boston has been strangling several dozen prostitutes
Choke
(intransitive) To have a feeling of strangulation in one's throat as a result of passion or strong emotion.
Throttle
Reduce the air supply;
Choke a carburetor
Choke
(transitive) To give (someone) a feeling of strangulation as a result of passion or strong emotion.
Choke
(transitive) To say (something) with one’s throat constricted (due to emotion, for example).
Choke
(transitive) To use the choke valve of (a vehicle) to adjust the air/fuel mixture in the engine.
Choke
To reach a condition of maximum flowrate, due to the flow at the narrowest point of the duct becoming sonic (Ma = 1).
Choke
To make or install a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun.
Choke
A control on a carburetor to adjust the air/fuel mixture when the engine is cold.
Choke
(sports) In wrestling, karate (etc.), a type of hold that can result in strangulation.
Choke
A constriction at the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel which affects the spread of the shot.
Choke
A partial or complete blockage (of boulders, mud, etc.) in a cave passage.
Choke
(electronics) A choking coil.
Choke
A major mistake at a crucial stage of a competition because one is nervous, especially when one is winning.
Choke
The mass of immature florets in the centre of the bud of an artichoke.
Choke
To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle.
With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder.
Choke
To obstruct by filling up or clogging any passage; to block up.
Choke
To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to stifle.
Oats and darnel choke the rising corn.
Choke
To affect with a sense of strangulation by passion or strong feeling.
Choke
To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun.
Choke
To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat, caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled.
Choke
To be checked, as if by choking; to stick.
The words choked in his throat.
Choke
A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of strangulation.
Choke
The tied end of a cartridge.
Choke
A coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits to pass direct current and attenuate alternating current
Choke
A valve that controls the flow of air into the carburetor of a gasoline engine
Choke
Breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion;
She choked with emotion when she spoke about her deceased husband
Choke
Be too tight; rub or press;
This neckband is choking the cat
Choke
Wring the neck of;
The man choked his opponent
Choke
Constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing
Choke
Struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake;
He swallowed a fishbone and gagged
Choke
Fail to perform adequately due to tension or agitation;
The team should have won hands down but choked, disappointing the coach and the audience
Choke
Check or slow down the action or effect of;
She choked her anger
Choke
Become or cause to become obstructed;
The leaves clog our drains in the Fall
The water pipe is backed up
Choke
Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of;
The foul air was slowly suffocating the children
Choke
Become stultified, suppressed, or stifled;
He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village
Choke
Suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of;
His job suffocated him
Choke
Die;
The old man finally kicked the bucket
Choke
Reduce the air supply;
Choke a carburetor
Choke
Cause to retch or choke
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between choking and throttling an engine?
Choking enriches the fuel-air mixture for start-up conditions, while throttling adjusts the engine's power and speed by regulating air intake.
Can an engine function without a choke or throttle?
Engines need a throttle for power control. Carbureted engines may require a choke for cold starts, but many modern engines automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture.
How does a choke work in a carbureted engine?
It restricts air flow to the carburetor, increasing the fuel-to-air ratio to aid in cold start-ups.
Are choke and throttle adjustments necessary for modern vehicles?
Throttle adjustments remain crucial for all vehicles, but modern fuel-injected engines automate the fuel-air mixture adjustment, reducing the need for manual chokes.
Can a malfunctioning choke affect engine performance?
Yes, a stuck or improperly adjusted choke can lead to poor engine start-up, excessive fuel consumption, or rough idling.
How does electronic throttle control (ETC) differ from traditional throttle systems?
ETC uses electronic signals to adjust the throttle position for improved performance, efficiency, and emissions, whereas traditional systems rely on mechanical linkage.
What role does the throttle play in engine performance?
It directly influences the engine's power output, speed, and overall efficiency by controlling the air flow into the combustion chamber.
How does cold weather affect the choke and throttle operations?
Cold weather necessitates the use of a choke in carbureted engines to start and run smoothly, while throttle operation is generally unaffected but may require more precise control due to engine response variations.
What happens if the throttle is stuck open or closed?
A stuck open throttle can cause the engine to run at high speeds uncontrollably, while a stuck closed throttle can prevent the engine from receiving enough air to operate.
Is it possible to manually adjust the throttle in modern cars?
While physical adjustments are limited due to electronic control, some settings can be modified through the vehicle's computer system for performance tuning.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
