Your automobile’s fuel pump has the important job of drawing the fuel out of the tank and pushing it through to the engine. On average, this part lasts 100,000 miles. You might get some signs that your fuel pump is going out. Trojan Auto Care lists eight common signs below.
1. Noise
Your fuel pump always makes a low humming sound, but usually, you can’t hear it. If you hear a loud whining noise coming from your gas tank, the fuel pump is going bad. This is also a sign that the gas tank is dirty and contaminated.
2. Hard Starts
If the fuel pump is starting to malfunction and having difficulties getting the fuel out of the tank, your engine will be much harder to start. This is because the engine is fuel-starved. There isn’t enough gasoline or diesel fuel in the engine to get it started easily.
3. Stuttering Engine
Another sign that your engine does not have enough gasoline is stuttering while you are driving. It will feel as if it is misfiring and about to stall. You may also notice acceleration lag when you press down on the accelerator to pick up speed.
4. Stalling
In severe cases of fuel starvation caused by a malfunctioning fuel pump, your engine will actually stall. Even if the engine is getting enough fuel to run, if the fuel pump is overheating, the engine will stall because it will overheat, too.
5. Stress Power Loss
Stressful driving includes driving up steep hills and hauling loads. If your vehicle loses power when you’re driving under these conditions, it’s possible that your pump is malfunctioning and not getting enough gas to the engine.
6. Power Surges
A malfunctioning fuel pump can also push too much gasoline through to the engine. When this happens, your engine will surge. It will feel like a bucking bronco. This is because the engine is getting too much gas and burning off the excess fuel.
7. Poor Gas Mileage
Both of these engine conditions, too little or too much fuel, can cause a reduction in your gas mileage. This is because the engine is struggling and burning what little fuel it is getting much faster than normal or it’s burning off excess fuel.
8. Dead Engine
Finally, if the pump has died completely, you won’t be able to get your engine started. This is because the fuel pump is not pushing any gasoline or diesel fuel through to the engine.
Trojan Auto Care is a full-service auto repair shop in Troy, OH, and we can inspect your pump to see if it needs to be replaced. Call us today for an appointment.
