The fuel pump is an important part of your car’s fuel delivery system. It delivers fuel at optimal pressure from the fuel tank to the engine. A well-functioning fuel pump helps your car run efficiently. However, due to various reasons, it is prone to wear and tear. In order to prevent this, you need to take some preventive measures, which not only help you avoid sudden failure of the pump but also to increase its life. Following are some preventive tips.
Avoid using contaminated/low quality fuel:
Contaminated or low quality fuel affects the performance of the engine. Research shows that it is the main reason for half of the engine failures. Contaminants affect the functionality of fuel pump and therefore the engine. They put more load on the pump and hence cause excessive wear.
Avoid using low quality fuel that does not meet optimality parameters such as viscosity, heat value, flash point, etc. It is sensible to follow manufacturer’s guidelines in this regard. Also, make sure that you refill your car at reliable and trustworthy gas stations.
Don’t run vehicle on low fuel:
This is important because running the vehicle on low fuel will lead to sedimentation of the contaminants (at the bottom of the tank). This clogs the fuel filter and leads to fuel pump failure.
It is also important to make sure that the fuel tank is not near empty. Running the engine in such a condition may make the fuel pump get exposed to heat, which eventually affects its functionality.
Avoid using cheap additives:
Car owners try to use additives assuming that these additives will improve their vehicle’s performance and mileage. But the fact is that the additives don’t do much good if you already have a healthy vehicle and are using the right octane level required by your vehicle.
Some cheap additives may contain corrosive chemicals that may damage the sensitive parts of the engine system such as the fuel filters, injectors and the pump. Therefore, it is sensible to avoid using cheap additives.
Replace filters and strainers periodically:
Replace the fuel tank filter and one that is associated with the injectors. Make sure to replace these filters once in 3-6 months or whenever they get blocked.
Also, replace the fuel strainers. They help filter debris. Over time, debris accumulated in the strainers can block fuel flow, and can result in suboptimal functionality of fuel pump and even failure. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines while replacing the filters and strainers.
Regularly clean and maintain fuel tank:
The fuel tank accumulates dirt, debris, water, fungi over time. The sources of these contaminants might be different. Further, storing the vehicle in areas that are prone to water logging could be a cause of water getting into the tank. The fuel itself leads to sedimentation at the bottom of the tank because of rusting. All these lead to failure of filters, and the fuel pump. Make sure, therefore, to clean the tank on a regular basis as recommended by the manufacturer.
The fuel pump functions in a way similar to human heart that delivers blood across the body. Its failure causes death. Similarly, the fuel pump in your car is a vital component in the engine system. Following the tips we just discussed is likely to prevent failure of the pump and increase its life.