A pump in the tank locates it at a point farthest away from the engine, submersed in a cool liquid where it is less likely to start a fire.Ī modern fuel pump uses a direct-current electric motor to draw fuel from the tank. The pump creates positive pressure that forces fuel through the lines to the engine. They’ve been replaced by electric fuel pumps, which generally mount inside the fuel tank. With the advent of electronic fuel injection found on most modern vehicles, such devices are relics. In the past, mechanical fuel pumps were far more common, sometimes attached outside the fuel tank.
Any of these issues may be accompanied by the “Check Engine” light, which would appear on the dashboard. An inconsistent fuel flow may cause internal engine problems leading to hesitation at start or take-off, or even when starting the vehicle. Typically, electronic fuel pumps won’t make a noise unless they are starting to fail. Noises, backfires and sputtering engines indicate a fuel pump gone bad. It’s another warning sign the fuel pump is not long for this world. After allowing it to cool, you may find that it runs again, only to repeat the failure as the engine heats up. A vehicle where this type of failure may operate for about 15-30 minutes before stopping. A failing fuel pump may overheat, and due to its inefficiency, cause the engine to overheat. Another indicator of failure is engine overheating. This may cause you to think you are out of gas, despite the gauge showing fuel in the tank.
The feeling of the engine “choking” or struggling to maintain speed. How would you know for sure? Look for several tell-tale warning signs. Once in a while, though, you may find one that needs replacement. A fuel pump delivers gas or diesel to an engine’s combustion chamber and usually provides many years of trouble-free operation.