Electric Fuel Pump Care: Things To Do To Keep Your Fuel Pump From Failing
How much do you know about an electric fuel pump? It might surprise you to learn that the average car has at least two of these, and they need to be in working order. When they fail, your vehicle will still start but not run properly. You may find yourself with a check engine light or even no power at all. If this sounds like too much hassle – or if you've already experienced it – there are some things that you should know to determine if your electric fuel pump is failing. Take a look below.
Whack the fuel tank
The first thing you can do to check an electric fuel pump is whack the fuel tank. Have an assistant turn on the car while you pound the fuel tank with a rubber mallet. Suppose the car starts as a result of this procedure. In that case, it indicates that the electric motor inside the pump is faulty. Whacking the tank jolts the motor enough to start it up – but only for a short time.
Use starter fluid
Please be aware that performing this procedure may result in personal injury and engine damage. Perform it at your own risk with the proper safety equipment, such as a fire extinguisher and protective gloves. Use eye protection. On a diesel engine, do not use starter fluid. If you decide to take the test, begin by removing the air intake and squirting starter fluid into the throttle body. Have a helper crank the engine while you spray it - if it starts and runs for a brief time, the problem is a clogged fuel injector. Fuel pressure should be checked next.
Check fuel volume
A pump may generate adequate pressure but not enough volume. And that's where a fuel pump volume test comes in handy. You can also use a fuel pressure gauge to measure volume in many situations.
The first step is to connect the gauge and lay the bleed end of its hose in a clean container. While you hold down the relief valve on the tool, turn on the pump for 15 seconds. The pump should deliver about a pint of fuel during that period. The precise procedure and requirements for your car may be found in the repair information.
Connectors
The most frequent location for resistance to develop is in a connector, aside from the load. The resistance is almost zero if the connection is tight and debris-free. However, resistance goes up if the connections are loose, rusted, contaminated, or simply inadequate to handle the current flow. This lowers or "drops" the voltage at the other end of the connector and causes heat to concentrate at the junction of two voltages with the most resistance.
When a connection overheats, the plastic housing begins to bend. The problem generally gets worse; the contacts come loose or become oxidised or contaminated, resulting in increased resistance that adds to heat generation and corrosion. Because the resistance is so high, the voltage in the circuit is diminished "downstream" of it. As a result, less voltage reaches the pump motor. That's why heavy-duty connectors are used in fuel pump circuits.
Check valve
System pressure (SP) and hold pressure (HP) are two distinct fuel pressure specifications for each automobile. When the engine is switched off, the check valve on the fuel pump maintains hold pressure. This makes it easier to start the engine.
The hold pressure will leak down if the check valve fails or is clogged by fuel contamination. If this happens while the engine is cold, the starter will run a little longer while the fuel pump develops enough pressure to start it. If the engine is hot, the liquid fuel in the warm injector rail may evaporate, resulting in a "vapour lock" that prevents liquid fuel from reaching the injectors. Unless the engine is extremely cold, it will not start due to a clogged fuel filter. When the vapour cools and condenses on its own, the engine won't turn over until it warms up.
Electric fuel pumps are an important part of a vehicle's engine system. They are responsible for delivering pressurised fuel to the injectors and running the engine smoothly. Like any other vehicle component, an electric fuel pump may break. So, it is crucial to know more about an electric fuel pump to ensure that you will know how to deal with any possible issue about this part of the engine.