You can expect to get about 100,000 miles out of your vehicle’s fuel pump. After that, the part may break down. If this happens, you won’t have any fuel transferred from the tank to the engine. Demore’s Automotive advises, however, that there will be subtle signs before this happens in most cases. Here is what these signs are so you can determine if your vehicle is experiencing any of the problems.
High-Speed Engine Sputtering
Your engine relies on a constant fuel supply to keep it running. As you increase speed, the engine demands more fuel to maintain the higher speed. If the fuel pump is going bad, it may not be able to supply enough fuel to the engine and it will sputter as a result.
Poor Fuel Economy
A malfunctioning fuel pump can also affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. As the engine struggles to run, it will burn through what fuel it has faster than normal. Consequently, you will find yourself filling the tank more often much to your dismay.
Reduced Fuel Pressure
The fuel pump is what produces fuel pressure in your automobile. If the pump is lagging, the pressure will drop. Testing the fuel pressure can give you an indication of your fuel pump’s health. Check your owner’s manual to find out what the desired fuel pressure is.
Rising Engine Temperatures
Most fuel pumps these days are mechanical rather than hydraulic. This means they have a motor for their operation. Fuel acts as a coolant when it flows over the fuel pump motor. If the pump isn’t getting enough “coolant,” it will overheat and so will your vehicle’s engine.
Stress Power Loss
As with driving fast, your engine also requires more fuel when it is stressed. Stress can be anything from adding extra weight to your automobile by loading it up or towing a trailer or driving on steep mountain roads. If the fuel pump cannot provide extra fuel under these conditions, your vehicle’s engine will lag and stutter.
Dead Engine
Finally, as we mentioned at the beginning of this post, eventually, your fuel pump may die completely and your engine won’t have any fuel in it. When this happens, your engine dies, naturally. You won’t be to start it or keep it running without fuel.
Call Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, today if you believe your fuel pump has gone bad or is going bad. We’d be happy to test it to see if it needs to be replaced.
