If your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine is cutting out at high speeds, Buellton Garage advises that it’s time to replace the fuel pump. The engine needs extra fuel when you want to drive faster. If it’s not getting that extra fuel, it will sputter and cut out. This is just one sign that you need to replace the fuel pump. We are going to list the other signs below.
Power Loss When Under Stress
Aside from losing power at high speeds, your engine will also lose power when it is under stress. Examples of conditions that placed your engine under stress include towing a trailer, overloading the vehicle, and driving up steep inclines.
An Engine That Picks Up Speed
The opposite can also happen if the fuel pump is going bad. Rather than lag and lose power, your engine may pick up speed unexpectedly. This can make driving the vehicle stressful as you don’t know when it is going to surge. A faulty fuel pump can push too much gas into the engine.
A Noticeable Loss of Gas Mileage
Whether sputtering or surging, your vehicle will lose gas mileage if the fuel pump is going bad. This is because the engine is not running efficiently. Generally, a fuel pump lasts 100,000 miles. If you have more mileage than that on the odometer, the fuel pump could be reducing your fuel economy.
Fuel Pressure Under the Minimum
One way to check to see if your fuel pump is going bad is to test your vehicle’s fuel pressure. If it is under the minimum recommended range, the fuel pump is not pushing the fuel through the engine properly. Replacing the fuel pump solves the problem.
Strange Rising Engine Temperatures
This sign of a faulty fuel pump is an odd one. Sometimes, the fuel pump motor overheats when the fuel pump is going bad. When this happens, the heat can be transferred to the engine and cause your engine to overheat. Humming sounds coming from the fuel tank are a sign of a bad fuel pump.
An Engine That Is Hard to Start
Finally, if your engine is hard to start or won’t start at all, it’s possible that the fuel pump is unable to supply the engine with gasoline or diesel fuel. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to get the engine started.
If this is the case, have your vehicle towed to Buellton Garage in Buellton, CA.