What is a Fuel Pump?
Fuel tanks and engines are located on the opposite end of the vehicle. Because of this design feature, a fuel pump is needed to take the gas to the engine at the front of the vehicle. Mechanical fuel pumps are utilized in carbureted cars, while electric fuel pumps are used in cars with electronic fuel injection, or EFI.
In a carbureted engine, fuel delivery is aided by vacuum pressure. Vacuum pressure isn't quite enough, so a mechanical fuel pump that runs off the engine is used to deliver the rest of the power. Since the mechanical fuel pump depends on the engine's crankshaft for power, it is located near the engine.
Electronic fuel injection (EFI) is a more fuel efficient system that squirts a mist of fuel into the cylinders of the engine. This system is computer controlled and monitors many things such as the throttle position, exhaust contents and the air-fuel mixture ratio. The electric fuel pump is located either next to the fuel tank or inside it.
5:02 PM 5/18/2009
Diagnosing a Fuel Pump Problem
Fuel pump failure does happen occasionally. An early warning sign of a fuel pump that is beginning to fail is a high pitched sound when the engine is started. This sound is commonly described as sounding like a tea kettle whistling. Once this sound is noticed, it is important to take you vehicle to a mechanic to have a professional diagnosis and possibly have the part replaced. It is better to drive your car to the mechanic's instead of having it towed there.
If your vehicle is experiencing uneven acceleration, your fuel pump may be going bad. If the pump is not providing enough fuel at a steady rate, your engine will not be able to operate properly. This problem may also be caused by a fuel filter but in any case the problem needs to be looked into. Low fuel pressure is another indication of a faulty fuel pump.
A vehicle that sputters and dies and then will not restart may be due to a failed fuel pump. The vehicle will essentially act like it is out of gas even when the tank is full. When an electronic fuel pump fails it can be difficult to replace. Some vehicles may even require that the fuel tank is completely removed in order to replace the faulty pump. Other vehicles may allow for the pump to be accessed from under the car.
Fuel Pump Relay Problems
The fuel pump may not be coming on, but the fuel pump may still be fine. The
fuel pump relay
, the part that supplies electricity to the fuel pump, may have gone bad and isn't allowing the pump to turn on. Replacing a dead fuel pump relay is much easier and cheaper than a fuel pump replacement.
Increasing the Life of Your Fuel Pump
To increase the life of your fuel pump, it is important to always have enough gas in your tank. This will ensure that your fuel pump is submerged in fuel. Make sure you always have at least one quarter of a tank at all times. Replacing the fuel filter on a regular basis is another good idea for prolonging the life of the fuel pump as a clogged filter will cause the fuel pump to work harder than it has to.
Fuel Pump Components
Copy the code in the box below and add a link for this page to your web site or blog.
Please feel free to call toll-free 800.874.8888 or e-mail sales@autoanything.com with any questions. We are delighted to be of assistance in finding the right auto parts for you, be they car parts, truck parts or SUV parts.
|