If your vehicle has over 100,000 miles on it, engine trouble could be caused by the fuel pump. A fuel pump lasts about 100,000 miles – although some have been known to last much longer – and once it begins to have trouble, you’ll notice it in your vehicle’s performance. There are several signs that your fuel pump is dying before its actual death. AmeriFix lists them below.
High-Speed Engine Trouble
Your fuel pump takes gasoline from the tank and pushes it through your engine, so you’ll notice performance issues if the engine isn’t getting enough gas. For example, an engine that starts to spit and sputter at high speeds is being starved of fuel. It might get shots of the amount of gas it needs, but then the steady flow wanes, and the engine sputters as a result. If the engine is getting too much fuel in spurts, you’ll notice surges in performance. The engine will pick up speed and then drop off and then pick up speed and drop off again. These are signs of problems with consistent gasoline flow.
Stressed Engine Trouble
Another sign that your vehicle’s engine is not getting enough gas is when it cannot perform under stress. What we mean by stress is difficult driving conditions, such as driving up a steep incline or pulling a loaded trailer or another heavy haul. Your engine will slow down a little bit when it’s faced with tough driving demand, but it shouldn’t struggle unless you’ve overloaded its hauling capacity. If your vehicle slows down significantly when going up a hill and you have to fight to get it to the top, it might be fuel-starved due to a fuel pump problem. Your engine needs extra fuel when stressed.
Other Signs of Fuel Pump Trouble
If your fuel pump’s motor is overheating, it will pass off the excess heat to your engine, and your vehicle’s engine might overheat as well. If everything is a-okay with your cooling system, yet your engine still runs too hot, it might be an overheated fuel-pump motor. You may also notice a difference in your automobile’s fuel economy. A failing fuel pump may be sending too much gas to your engine all the time, which will directly affect your gas mileage. Keep track of your mileage if you notice you’ve been visiting the gas station more often than normal to see if you can spot a significant difference.
Finally, your engine won’t start at all if the fuel pump is dead. Call AutoFix in Franklin, TN. We’ll find the source of your engine trouble and fix it.
