Can a Fuel Pump Be Upgraded?

A fuel pump upgrade is definitely possible and among the common modifications owners want, which serve to improve vehicle performance, especially in high-power or modified cars. Upgraded fuel pumps are designed to deliver more fuel at higher pressures, often greater than 250 liters per hour for performance applications. This is particularly important for those engines that have undergone tuning with turbochargers or superchargers, which require a more significant amount of fuel for proper combustion. In this respect, the stock Fuel Pumps-which normally run between 30 and 80 psi-cannot keep up with the additional pressure demand.
Upgrading usually entails replacing the Fuel Pump with a high-flow one, such as those from Walbro or Aeromotive, for instance. They are good in their reputation to deliver appropriate amounts of fuel and can support pressure up to 100 psi; hence, this is highly applicable in high-performance vehicles. These upgrades usually cost in the range of $200 to $600, depending on the brand and specification, but will add another $150 to $300 in labor if done professionally.

For instance, in the racing industry, upgraded Fuel Pumps are normally installed in most vehicles to keep up with the high flow rate requirements for achieving higher engine output. In fact, most high-performance vehicles boasting over 400 horsepower need an aftermarket fuel pump to avoid fuel starvation that may create lean conditions and possibly even cause overheating of the engine. There are, in fact, studies showing that an engine running lean due to poor fuel delivery can degrade in power efficiency by as much as 30%, thus demanding enough fuel supply.

Upgrades to the fuel pump aren’t only for race applications. Owners using ethanol-based fuels-for example, E85, which requires 30% more fuel volume than gasoline would-are very likely to make the upgraded fuel pump a necessary addition. Ethanol-based fuels have a lower energy density, and for the same level of performance from an engine, it requires higher flow rates of fuel, which is unsuitable for a standard pump in most instances.

As Carroll Shelby, one of the most famous automotive designers in history, once said, “Horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races.” Making sure the correct Fuel Pump is installed is crucial for both power and performance to be unleashed in any modified or performance-oriented vehicle.

To learn about how to choose the right Fuel Pump upgrade for your vehicle, visit Fuel Pump.

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