It’s easy to forget about the fuel system until something goes wrong. Generally, you should have the fuel system inspected every 30,000 miles. This gives us an opportunity to change the fuel filter so it doesn’t get clogged. It also gives us an opportunity to make sure that the fuel lines are not clogged. If your fuel system gets clogged, you will have one or more of the following problems.
Lagging Engine Performance
Your engine is not going to be able to produce power if it is fuel-starved. Consequently, you may have difficulty getting your automobile started, and you may have difficulty getting it to pick up speed when you accelerate. In addition, the engine may sputter at high speeds and struggle to work when it is under stress. These are all signs it does not have enough fuel.
Misfiring/Stalling
In fact, your engine will also misfire frequently if the cylinders are misfiring in the cylinder block. This can happen if one or more of the cylinders does not have enough fuel for ignition by the spark plugs. Consequently, your engine may misfire and stall after you start it or while you are sitting at an idle. In severe cases, it may still even while you are driving.
Rough Idling
Let’s talk more about the idle. Unfortunately, the idle will be rough because the engine is misfiring. You will feel your vehicle jerk slightly when you are sitting at a stop. In fact, it may be shaking to the point that you are afraid it is going to stall.
Poor Efficiency
Unfortunately, all of these engine problems will create an issue with your fuel efficiency. A clog in the fuel system causes your engine to run inefficiently. As such, the engine may burn more gasoline or diesel fuel than it normally does while it is in operation.
Whining Noises
Another sign that there’s an issue with the fuel system is whining noises in the fuel tank. This is an indication that the fuel pump is malfunctioning and going bad. This can actually happen if the fuel system is clogged because the pump works harder to push the fuel into the engine.
Damaged Fuel Pump
Unfortunately, as the pump meets resistance in the fuel system, it will overwork its motor and it will die. When this happens, you won’t have any fuel in the engine at all.
Give us a call today if it has been more than 30,000 miles since you’ve had your fuel system inspected. We will make sure it does not get clogged.
