Why Is My Fuel Pump Not Supplying Enough Fuel?

Issues with fuel pumps which prevent them from supplying adequate fuel to the engine, hampering its performance. A primary reason that appears often is a dirty fuel filter — a clogged fuel filter can block the flow of gasoline by at least 30 percent, or more. No wonder a report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) blames clogged fuel filters for nearly 10% of all fuel delivery issues in vehicles producing symptoms including poor acceleration, and engine stalling.

The age of the fuel pump is one factor to consider. Fuel pumps typically only last about 100k miles anyway, and after that wear kicks in and efficiency begins to pencil plummet. A study from the Society of Automotive Engineers revealed that worn fuel pumps can flow as little as 60-70% of their new state fuel flow capacity. Insufficient voltage supply may also be a major factor. A fuel pump needs a certain voltage (most commonly between 12 and 14 volts) to be able to function correctly. Fuel delivery, if any, will be dramatically reduced if the voltage gets out of this range. According to automotive expert Eric the Car Guy, “Insufficient voltage can cause low fuel pressure as well, which affects engine performance.”

Furthermore, lack of supply can also be due to low fuel depths. Letting the fuel tank go below a quarter full could suck sediment from the bottom and plug up a fuel pump or filter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel pumps on modern vehicles work much better and last longer when they are submerged in fuel and are able to remain cool while doing their jobs.

Fuel quality can be an issue as well, because contaminated or low-quality fuel will bog down the pumps. In a Consumer Reports survey, almost 15 percent of drivers said that bad fuel quality caused performance problems. That well water has contaminants that can cause a couple problems: one is the contamination particles can get into your fuel pump other, then you will have little /no fuel being transferred from tank to engine if sediment make its way THROUGH THE FUEL PUMP. Quality fuel maintains your engine and fuel pump, like automotive engineer Jill Smith said.

If the fuel pump does not provide a sufficient amount of gas, finding this problem early can save the engine from further harm. Correcting problems with clogged filters, voltage levels and fuel condition can bring the unit back to working like new again. When analyzing the vehicle fuel system and the part it plays there; a Fuel Pump is one of the key terms that you need to understand to ensure all the units work together efficiently.

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