How Long Does a Fuel Pump Last and What Are the Signs it’s Going Bad?
Your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s fuel pump will last about 100,000 miles. After this mileage duration, you run a higher risk of the pump going bad. Righteous Auto Care is going to list the signs of a malfunctioning fuel pump below. The sooner you bring your automobile to our shop the sooner we can get the problem fixed for you.
High-Speed Performance Issues
You probably already know this but the fuel pump draws the diesel fuel or gasoline out of the tank. It then pumps the fuel into the engine. If the fuel pump is unable to get enough fuel in the engine to support the higher speeds that you are driving, your engine will stutter and struggle to run.
The Engine Keeps Overheating
A unique sign of a dying fuel pump is an overheating engine followed by an engine stall. This happens because the fuel pump itself overheats. The motor is cooled by diesel fuel or gasoline. If the fuel pump can’t draw enough fuel to keep it cool, the motor will overheat and, consequently, overheat your engine. It’s common for your engine to stall, as well.
The Engine Keeps Surging
A malfunctioning fuel pump can supply an unsteady stream of gasoline into the combustion chamber. When this happens, your engine surges as fuel is pushed through. This can get annoying as your vehicle will pick up speed unpredictably and then drop down to slower speeds unpredictably.
There’s Power Loss Under Stress
Your vehicle will also lose power when it is under stress if the fuel pump is not doing its job. Some of the things that place your vehicle under stress include towing a trailer behind your vehicle, overloading your vehicle, and driving up steep inclines.
You’re Getting Poor Fuel Mileage
Another sign your fuel pump is going out is poor diesel fuel or gas mileage. This is because the engine is not running efficiently. When the engine cannot run inefficiently, it will burn through fuel more quickly.
Your Car’s Fuel Pressure Is Low
If you suspect that your fuel pump is going bad, you can purchase of fuel pressure gauge at the auto parts store and test your fuel pressure. If it’s not within the range that is recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, your fuel pump is likely the problem.
Your Engine Won’t Start At All
Finally, if the fuel pump can’t get any gasoline or diesel fuel into your engine, you won’t be able to get it started. You should experience some of the other symptoms listed above before this happens.
Call Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI, today if you believe that your fuel pump is malfunctioning. We’d be happy to inspect it and replace it if necessary.
