The fuel pump is one of the most important parts in your automobile’s fuel system. Tasked with drawing the fuel out of the tank and pumping it into the engine, this part lasts on average for about 100,000 miles. If you drive a high-mileage automobile, Brookwood Automotive warns that your fuel pump may be going bad if you notice one or more of the following signs of fuel pump failure.
Acceleration/Power Loss
If the fuel pump is unable to draw the fuel out of the tank and push it through to the engine, you may notice that your vehicle does not respond when you press down on the accelerator. You may also experience power loss when you are going at full speed. This is definitely a sign that your engine is not getting the fuel it needs.
Engine Sputters
Another sign that the engine is not getting the fuel it needs is the engine sputtering while you are driving. You may think that the engine is misfiring, but this could actually be the engine cutting out because the fuel pump is not sending enough gasoline or diesel fuel into the combustion chamber to be ignited to produce power.
Low Fuel Pressure
One way to tell if the fuel pump is not working as it should be is to check your vehicle’s fuel pressure. You can get a fuel pressure gauge at the auto parts store and check your owner’s manual for the fuel pressure range. If the fuel pressure is under the desired range, there is a strong chance that your fuel pump is dying.
Overheating Engine
Your engine may also overheat if the fuel pump is dying. Oddly, gasoline or diesel fuel acts as a coolant as it flows through the fuel pump. If the fuel pump is not getting enough gasoline or diesel fuel, the motor will overheat. This heat is transferred to your engine and it, in turn, will overheat, as well.
Surging Engine
Sometimes a bad fuel pump can get stuck in the open position and your engine will surge. Engine surging means that it picks up speed in spurts even though you haven’t changed your foot pressure on the accelerator. This can be a sign of a failing fuel pump that is pushing too much gas through to the combustion chamber.
Poor Fuel Economy
If the engine is burning away excess fuel, your fuel economy will suffer. It will also suffer if the engine is fuel-starved and struggling to run. Even though there is less fuel in the combustion chamber, the engine burns through that fuel more quickly.
Dead Engine
Finally, if you cannot get your automobile started at all, it’s possible that your fuel pump has died and there is no gasoline in the engine.
Call Brookwood Automotive in OKC, OK, to set up an appointment today for a fuel pump inspection if you suspect your fuel pump is going bad.
