What component was commonly used before 1990 to mix fuel and air mechanically?

Carburetors are the components that were commonly used before 1990 to mechanically mix fuel and air for combustion in internal combustion engines. They function by using a venturi, which creates a drop in pressure as air flows through, drawing fuel from a reservoir into the airflow. This mixing of air and fuel allows for efficient combustion within the engine cylinders.

Prior to the widespread adoption of fuel injection systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s, carburetors were the standard method of supplying fuel to engines. While fuel injectors introduced more precision and efficiency in the fuel delivery process, carburetors were simpler mechanical devices that relied on basic principles of fluid dynamics to achieve their function.

Other options like throttle bodies and EFI computers emerged as fuel delivery systems began to evolve, but carburetors were the predominant technology for mixing air and fuel before this transition. Their design and operation played a significant role in the engine performance of many vehicles manufactured before the 1990s.