The average fuel pump lasts over 100,000 miles for any car, truck, or SUV. Most people don’t need to change their fuel pumps. However, you can identify if your fuel pump is not working properly. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair lists eight indicators that your pump might need to be replaced.
Fuel Tank Noise
You might hear a loud, whining sound from your fuel tank if the fuel pump is damaged. This noise could also be made if fuel is low or your tank contains contaminated fuel. A low hum is the normal sound your pump makes. A loud whining sound is an indication that there is a problem.
Difficult Starts
You will experience problems starting your car if your fuel pump is unable to get enough gas from the tank. Because the pump is unable to push enough gas through, your car will have trouble starting and running. The engine will struggle to start and run if the pump is worn.
Sputtering Motor
Once you start your vehicle, your fuel pump does not stop pushing gas through the engine. It also pumps gas according to your vehicle’s speed. Your vehicle’s engine may stall if the pump is unable to produce a steady stream of gas at higher speeds.
The Actual Stall
It won’t stall if your engine is receiving gas from the pump in any way other than necessary. It will stall, however, if the pump causes your engine to overheat. Older pump motors can heat up and cause engine overheating.
Power Loss
Your fuel pump may be the problem if your vehicle has difficulty accelerating up hills or loading cargo. The engine needs more gasoline to run at higher speeds. If the pump doesn’t work properly, you’ll lose power.
Surging Power
So far, we’ve discussed what happens to the engine if it doesn’t have enough gas. What happens if it has too much fuel? You’ll notice power surges when the pump pumps too much fuel into your engine.
Lower Fuel Efficiency
Your fuel pump is pushing more fuel into your engine than usual, which means you will burn more gas. This can lead to more trips to the gas station for fueling your car, truck, and SUV. You could have a problem with your pump if you notice a decrease in mileage between fills.
Dead Engine
Your vehicle may not start due to problems with the starter, battery, starter, fuel filter or fuel pump. Each of these factors play an important role in getting your car started. You won’t be capable of getting gas into your car’s combustion chamber if the pump is dead.