Vehicles that work with gas and combustion have specific elements and characteristics that provide the necessary power for a vehicle to function. Different vehicles like Jeeps, cars, or trucks have different conditions and power levels that require a specific level of combustion.
With technology moving quickly, every element of a car evolves to meet the needs of society with transportation, speed, and a comfortable commute. It is essential to know which elements could damage or slow down your vehicle’s performance to maintain and expand its life span.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about fuel pumps so you can stay aware of possible changes and problems. Constant maintenance with professionals is the best way to prevent issues from developing and fix anything you might be dealing with.
What Is a Fuel Pump?
A fuel pump is one of the main parts of an engine that transfers liquid from the gas tank to the fuel injection to provide energy to the vehicle. A functional fuel pump is essential because otherwise, there would be no power or energy to turn on or move a vehicle.
A fuel pump is replaceable, especially when external factors could damage it or wear it down depending on usage and lifestyle. Noticeable changes and sounds specific to a fuel pump will tell you if it needs maintenance, repairs, or replacement.
Signs of a Pump Going Bad
The signs of a pump going bad are important because they will provide you with information at the right time to prevent problems from getting worse. Common signs will tell you it’s time to maintain your fuel pump. One of them is an overheating engine, which could happen when your pump is having problems converting gas, causing the engine to overheat and sometimes emanate a burning smell. The engine shaking results from a bad connection between the fuel pump and the converter; this will cause an imbalance and inconsistency in your engine.
Experiencing low gas mileage is another sign of your pump going bad. A good working engine and a functional fuel pump will work together to burn gas and give you good mileage on your car. If you travel less distance with the same amount of gas, your fuel pump burns more than you need.
Poor acceleration happens when your engine is not burning enough gas, causing it to fail to convert energy, or to do so more slowly. Lastly, a dead engine could happen for various reasons, but the most common one is that the pump is not feeding it with gas to convert even if the engine functions. Your vehicle will not turn on and makes a dead noise when turning on the ignition, a sign that the pump needs repair.
Factors of a Fuel Pump
Three factors influence the performance of a vehicle that the fuel pump provides when working effectively. These factors dictate the unique characteristics of different vehicles like jeeps, trucks, or compact cars, and include the following:
- Voltage – The liquid gas that flows through the pump into the engine works with different voltages depending on the quantity and needs of a vehicle to burn gas.
- Horsepower – The speed at which an engine burns gas will dictate the speed of a moving vehicle under the right road conditions.
- Fuel Pressure – The size of a fuel pump where gas travels will increase or decrease the pressure depending on the size and characteristics of a vehicle.
How Long Does a Fuel Pump Last?
A fuel pump has a life span of around 100,000 miles, at which point your car might experience some problems if you don’t give it proper maintenance. Giving your vehicle maintenance every 20,000 to 25,000 miles will prevent performance problems from developing.
Fuel pumps are hard to reach inside the engine, which is why it’s best to keep your maintenance schedule tight with the help of professionals.
Special Pumps
Vehicles like military Jeeps, collection cars, or heavy-duty vehicles require special fuel pumps because of the unique characteristics of those vehicles. Unique processes like military vehicle restoration services with the help of professionals require access to limited parts like fuel pumps, transmissions, and spare parts.
Technology improves processes and develops better elements to deliver superior results, which sometimes discontinue the production of old parts for certain vehicles. To find special pumps, you need professionals who have a close relationship with these elements to help you get what you need.
Test Your Fuel Pump
To learn how healthy your fuel pump is, you need to run some tests with simple objects that will give you accurate results. You’ll first need to locate the pump close to your engine and use a digital multimeter connected to the positive wire of the fuel pump. Once you achieve this, you must start your car to turn on the engine and get results.
A healthy fuel pump will have between four to six amps on average. The amps and pressure are directly related to the power and performance of the pump to provide and transform energy.
Replacing a Fuel Pump
There are noticeable differences that will dictate whether you must repair or replace a fuel pump based on your vehicle's performance and strange behaviors. Knowing important information about your fuel pump is essential because even the smallest change or noise could develop into a significant issue down the road.
We mentioned above the signs of a fuel pump going bad, but with proper maintenance and action, you can extend your fuel pump’s life span. The signs that you must replace your fuel pump might include a stuttering engine when driving, which presents a loss of speed and noises coming from the engine.
An increase in speed where your engine will get higher amounts of gas without notice while driving could cause varying speeds caused by excessive gas feeding. Also, high-pitched noises come from an irregular escape of energy and pressure, which means the fuel pump is failing.
Experiencing problems with your vehicle could become a problem if you don’t get proper attention, specifically with older Jeep models. Getting help from professionals will make a positive difference in your vehicle and your overall driving experience.