If your engine starts to sputter when you try to pick up speed and drive faster, this is a sign that the fuel pump is going bad. The factory-installed fuel pump generally lasts about 100,000 miles. McCurley’s Shell advises that a faulty fuel pump will be unable to supply the extra fuel needed to sustain faster speeds. Consequently, your engine will sputter and might even install in severe cases. Let’s talk about some additional signs that your fuel pump is going out below.
Stress Power Loss
You may also find that your engine loses power when it is under stress. Any time the engine must haul extra weight or operate the vehicle up steep inclines, it needs extra fuel. A dying fuel pump might impede the extra fuel flow into the engine. Aside from this, it can also be difficult to start your automobile if the fuel pump is unable to supply the engine with the necessary fuel.
Sporadic Speeds
Sometimes, the fuel pump malfunctions and it supplies the engine with too much fuel. When this happens, your engine will pick up speed sporadically as if it was a bucking bronco trying to throw you. Each time the pump sends fuel to the engine unnecessarily, it will surge. This makes driving your automobile a bit unnerving because the speed suddenly becomes unpredictable.
Poor Fuel Efficiency
Whether your engine is lagging or surging, the faulty fuel pump is going to affect the fuel efficiency. In order to get the most miles per gallon, your engine must run as efficiently as possible. To do so, it needs the right amount of fuel for each driving condition. When it doesn’t get this fuel, it uses up the fuel that it does have faster. Consequently, you will go through a full tank faster.
Constant Overheating
Oddly, another sign that your fuel pump is going bad is if your engine overheats constantly. It might seem strange, but the fuel pump uses the gasoline or diesel fuel as a coolant. As the fuel flows over the fuel pump motor, it reduces the motor’s temperature. If the motor overheats, your engine will overheat.
Reduced Fuel Pressure
Finally, if your vehicle is experiencing a reduction in fuel pressure, the fuel pump is going out. We’d be happy to test the fuel pressure here at our auto shop in Atlanta, or you can test the fuel pressure yourself with a gauge you can purchase at the auto parts store.
Call McCurley’s Shell in Atlanta, GA, today if you believe your fuel pump is going bad.
