Tag: Fuel Pump

We often hear people say don’t wait until the oil light is on before adding oil. Doing so will cause the Fuel Pump to overheat and cause damage, which will cause damage to the oil pump in the long run. The reason is that the Fuel Pump needs to be soaked in gasoline to dissipate heat. When the light is on, too little gasoline in the fuel tank will cause the motor in the fuel pump to fail to dissipate heat properly, causing damage. So is that really the case?

First of all, it must be said that the motor in the Fuel Pump does need heat dissipation, but it does not rely on the fuel near the oil pump to dissipate heat. In addition, some oil pumps are very tall and run through the entire height of the fuel tank from top to bottom. The heat-dissipating motor is placed in the middle and lower position of the fuel pump. When the fuel is still one-third left, the motor is no longer immersed in gasoline. In fact, the motor relies on the oil sucked in by the oil pump to dissipate heat: gasoline is sucked into the oil pump and sent to the engine, which also takes away the heat of the oil pump, so as long as the oil pump can still absorb oil, it will dissipate heat normally and work normally .

Therefore, what can really cause the oil pump to overheat is actually when the oil pump cannot absorb oil, but instead sucks in air (or sludge), then there will be a hidden danger of oil pump damage. That is to say, as long as you don’t drive the car to a completely out of fuel state, basically ordinary lights will not cause any damage to the Fuel Pump. And to let the oil pump rise to the sky, it is estimated that the overheating caused by the intake of air will cause the oil pump to be damaged.

In addition, the fuel tank design of today’s cars is quite sophisticated, which basically prevents the fuel pump from “starving” until the fuel tank is almost empty. Therefore, as long as you don’t drive the car until it is completely out of fuel, theoretically, the fuel pump will not be damaged, and the fuel meter will not be damaged until the fuel meter lights up.

Since the fuel tank is on the opposite end of the car from the engine, a fuel pump is required to direct gasoline to the engine. There are two types: mechanical (for carbureted vehicles) and electric (for cars with electronic fuel injection systems). Auto mechanics should use electronic fuel pumps. A carburetor is a fuel delivery mechanism that uses a simple vacuum principle to deliver fuel to the engine. The vacuum that draws the air-fuel mixture into the engine also draws fuel down the line into the engine. Since the system does not use a pre-existing force (such as a vacuum) to draw fuel down the line, the fuel pump must be located at the fuel source, either inside or next to the fuel tank.

A mechanical fuel pump (for carbureted vehicles) is a fuel delivery mechanism that uses a simple vacuum principle to deliver fuel to the engine. The vacuum that draws the air-fuel mixture into the engine also draws fuel down the line into the engine. However, extra help is needed, so a carburized engine has a mechanical fuel pump that relies on the rotation of the engine, so, in a carburized car, it sits next to the engine. The carburetor ensures that the proper mixture of gasoline and air enters the engine for combustion.

Electronic fuel injection by electric fuel pump (for cars with electronic fuel injection system) is a delivery system that injects a fine mist of fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine. Controlled by a computer, the system closely monitors factors such as throttle position, air-fuel ratio and displacement. Since the system does not use a pre-existing force (such as a vacuum) to draw fuel down the line, the fuel pump must be located at the fuel source, either inside or next to the fuel tank. The fuel pump is electronic, which means it is driven and controlled electronically. At times, its work can be identified by a soft but steady hum from the rear of the car.

Fuel pump failures are not uncommon, especially in cars equipped with electronic fuel injection systems. Usually when it breaks down the car crackles and dies, basically a car with this kind of breakdown, even if it has gas in the tank, acts as if it’s out of gas. Fuel pump failure can be checked by checking the system’s Check the fuel delivery side to confirm; if no fuel is delivered to the engine, the fuel pump is likely to be faulty. Replacing an electronic fuel pump can be a tricky job. In some cars, the electronic fuel pump is located in an area that is easily accessible from under the car. Other vehicles have an access panel on the inside of the car that can be removed to access the fuel pump. There are also cars that require the tank to be siphoned and removed, or removed before accessing the fuel pump. The latter type of car is usually the most laborious replacement job.

Does the car have a hard time accelerating (especially on the highway)? Is your car showing signs of low fuel? The fuel line, filter, pump or injector is most likely blocked or partially blocked. If you can’t start your car at all, you might want to do a quick fuel pump test to see if that’s the culprit.

1.Conduct electrical testing

①Check fuel pump fuse.

Often it is not the fuel pump that fails, but the power supply. Consult the owner’s manual to find the location of the fuse box, and then find the fuse that corresponds to the fuel pump. Remove the fuse and check for signs of failure. Fuses may melt or blow. If the fuse appears to be OK, check other fuse parts associated with the fuel system for signs of wear and replace them if necessary.

·If you need to replace the fuse, make sure to use one with the proper current rating. Do not install a fuse with an excessively rated current.

·A blown fuse could mean that the circuit is drawing too much current, and you need to check individual circuits. When checking the relay, get someone to start the car for you, or take it to a repair shop.

②Check fuel pump voltage.

The current flowing through the circuit won’t necessarily go to the fuel pump, so you’ll have to check the voltage too. Look through your car’s manual to see which parts you need to inspect and the correct inspection procedure.

·Test the voltage source to see if current leaves the fuse to the fuel pump.

③Use a voltmeter to perform a voltage drop test.

Make sure the wires have enough voltage and the ground wire is properly grounded. If the electrical test results show that everything is OK, it is likely that the fuel pump is faulty and needs to be replaced. You can additionally perform an oil pressure test for a more comprehensive check.

·If the voltage difference exceeds 1 volt, the wire may be corroded, or there may be a problem with the positive or negative side of the circuit. Take it to a repair shop for more in-depth testing and further advice.

2.Carry out an oil pressure test

①Possibility of drain filter failure.

A clogged filter with sediment can also make it difficult for the car to accelerate (and you suspect the problem is the fuel pump). Check the short inlet hose and blow air into it to make sure there isn’t much resistance. Check the filter screen for debris and replace the filter if necessary.

②Buy a fuel pressure gauge.

Most auto parts stores sell fuel pressure gauges. It’s a good investment, and it works on most models. If you don’t want to buy it, you can also borrow it from a mechanic or auto store that allows customers to borrow tools. The oil pressure test only takes a few minutes to complete.

③Connect the pressure gauge to the fuel pump assembly.

Find where the fuel pump is located (usually near the carburetor or injector) and find where the fuel pump connects to the filter housing. There should be a small connector there to connect a pressure gauge.

·Each gauge may be used slightly differently, and the location of the fuel pump varies from car to car, so consult your car’s manual for more details.

④Get someone to start the engine for you while you check the pressure gauge.

Let the engine warm up a little and check the oil pressure when the car is running at idle and rated rpm (see fuel pump specs). If you don’t know the rated rpm, just start the engine and see what the oil pressure makes a difference. If the problem is serious and the needle on the pressure gauge doesn’t move, then you need to replace the fuel pump.

·The oil pressure must meet the specifications listed in the owner’s manual, and when the engine runs to a certain level, the oil pressure should also increase. If the oil pressure does not increase, or the difference between the inlet and outlet pressures exceeds 28 kPa (4 psi), then you need to replace the fuel pump.