One of the key ingredients your engine needs to run correctly is fuel. Anything that might affect the flow of fuel to the engine is going to result in poorer performance or, at worst, cause your engine not to run at all. Not all issues are as severe or expensive to repair as you might think. One of the key ingredients your engine needs to run correctly is fuel. Here we take a look at the more common problems with your vehicles fuel system and how quickly they can be remedied.
Faulty fuel pumps There can be a number of tell-tale signs that a fuel pump may be failing. Some of the obvious symptoms include a loud electrical clicking or whining noise when the engine is running even at idle. If the starter motor performs normally, but the engine is hard to start, especially for the first time of the day, the pump may be struggling to get sufficient fuel to the engine. Experiencing any misfires or sudden decreases in power while driving can be another indication that the fuel pump is not functioning correctly. With most modern cars it doesn’t take much of a change in the air-fuel ratio for any misfire to occur. In more severe cases the engine may cut out when idling at traffic lights, for example. Other symptoms can range from sluggish acceleration to an increase in fuel consumption. Continually driving with low fuel levels can also lead to premature wearing out of the fuel pump. As well as acting as the combustible element in the cylinder of your car’s engine, the fuel also helps to provide lubrication and cooling for the pump itself. Keeping fuel levels lower for extended periods of time can lead to parts of the pump drying out and breaking and/or cause it to overheat and potentially fail.If the fuel pump isn’t working at all don’t just presume that the entire unit is broken. Another reason could be a faulty relay that is causing it not to function correctly. Loose or corroded connections can also be a cause of intermittent or faulty fuel pumps. If the pump isn’t getting the right current flow through a poor grounding or interference, then its operation will be affected, but pinpointing these may not be entirely straightforward. Need to replace your fuel pump? Shop now at MicksGarage.com-Fuel Pumps
Fuel filter One other potential weak link in the chain can be the fuel filter. The very purpose of this usually small part is to prevent any contaminants from getting into the fuel injectors, which in turn could affect the smooth running of your engine or at the worst damage it. In some modern cars it might not be very easy to inspect the fuel filter, but some signs can indicate that something isn’t right with it.If you experience a lack of responsiveness from the engine or a hesitation when you apply the throttle it could be caused by the filter restricting the correct amount of fuel reaching the injection system. In more extreme cases you may find that the engine repeatedly stalls or struggles to maintain its idle. You may also find that it's hard to get the engine started. The good news is that, for many models, the fuel filter can be relatively easy and quick to replace. If your vehicle hasn’t been serviced thoroughly in some time, it is worth adding the fuel filter to the list of serviceable items such as the air filter and oil filter.
Poor quality fuel Sometimes it isn’t just your vehicle’s fuel system that can be at fault, as putting poor quality fuel into your tank can have adverse effects on the performance. This can be manifested by more sluggish performance or difficulty in starting the engine. But in more extreme cases it can cause misfiring or backfiring and could cause the engine management warning light to activate. If you suspect that you have gotten some poor quality fuel and fully filled the tank, it is better to stop driving the car rather than to continue driving in an attempt to burn if off. If only a small amount of fuel has been added, fully filling the tank with fresh fuel can help to dilute it, but best practice is to have the fuel tank fully drained and cleaned. The risk of fuel contamination can be significantly reduced by filling up your vehicle with fuel from recognized retailers and varying where you buy from. Busier fuel stations tend to have their storage tanks refilled more frequently, so there is a higher chance that the fuel you will be putting into your car is of a fresher or higher quality.
Fuel injectors If your engine’s fuel system develops a problem with even one of its injectors the symptoms should be immediately noticeable. They can range from having difficulty in getting the engine to fire upon starting, poor idle where the revs fluctuate or a rougher performance at speed. Other indicators can include a sudden increase in fuel consumption compared to the usual average - or perhaps the vehicle has failed an emissions test. Diagnosing a faulty or poorly performing fuel injector yourself can be done in a number of ways, but it doesn’t guarantee that this is the only fault. One handy way is to start the engine from cold and let it run for a few seconds. Dropping some water onto each exhaust manifold can show if one is not heating up, which can be a sign that the cylinder is not firing correctly. This won’t always be possible due to the often complex layout of some modern engines. Modern diesel engines have very fine injector nozzles that operate under extremely high pressure. Due to this, even very small particles of contaminate can cause issues with fuelling for the engine. In either engine’s case sometimes the injectors can be cleaned by using injector cleaning additives or in worse cases an ultrasonic cleaning process can be used to shift more heavily clogged systems. However, sometimes the injector can be beyond the point of repair and will simply need to be replaced.
Fuel system cleaners Giving your vehicle’s fuel system a thorough clean out can have just as much of a positive impact as servicing the engine. This can be done by adding a fuel system cleaner to your vehicle’s fuel tank and working it through the system. The first thing this formula will do it help clean the inside of the fuel tank itself. Over time it can be common for contaminants to build up, often settling on the bottom of the fuel tank (and is a good reason why you shouldn’t always run your vehicle to empty) and potentially being sucked up by the fuel pump. This can also help remove any build-up of water from the tank. As it makes its way through the fuel system, the fuel lines will also be cleared, and this should result in even amounts of flow to each of the injectors and cylinders. This solution adds extra lubrication to the valves, cylinder, injectors and rings, and any carbon or dirt build-up in the combustion chamber will be softened up and broken down by the cleaning agent. By breaking down this residue, which may have developed over many years, will lead to the engine running more smoothly and should also result in slightly improved fuel economy. If you’ve purchased an older vehicle and you’re unsure of its service history, doing such a service can be beneficial in the long run.
