Learning more about your car can be a fun thing. It allows you to maintain your car properly and you start to understand your car’s language. If you are new to this, then you should start with the primary part of the engine; the fuel pump. It is responsible for supplying the fluid to the engine.
Everything you should know about the fuel pump:
Fuel pump:
It is controlled mechanically or electrically. It sends the lubricant or the fluid from the tank to the carburetor. The fluid’s pressure has to be within certain limits for the engine to work properly. If the pressure is too high, the motor will run roughly. It would be impossible for the engine to combust all the pumped fluid which would make the engine pollutant and inefficient. If the pressure is too low, then it will work slowly and improperly.
Types:
- Mechanical
Electric pumps are used widely nowadays but, most carbonated vehicle engines used mechanical pumps. The mechanism used by a them is the positive displacement with a diaphragm or a plunger. In a recurring action, the pump draws fuel, captures it, and supplies it to the carburetor and the engine. It performs these actions repeatedly. It is located outside the tank.
- Electric
An electric fuel injection system in the latest vehicles needs higher pressure, which can be achieved by using an electric instead of a mechanical pump. This kind of pump is located inside the tank. Using an electronic pump instead of a mechanical one will decrease the accessory load in the motor and also lower the fluid combustion rate. Few examples of electric pumps are:
- In-tank:
Most vehicles nowadays are manufactured with pumps situated inside the tank. This keeps the module safe and the gas in the tank keeps it cool.
- Inline:
It is installed between the gas tank and the engine. It is within the fuel track system. They are mounted in the engine bay or under the vehicle. They are easier to replace as compared to the in-tank pumps.
- Gerotor:
It also uses positive displacement but it needs different components to achieve that. A Gerotor has two interlocking gears, one is a toothed inner gear and the other is an outer ring gear with smooth lobes. The first gear is offset from the second gear. Thus, when rotation happens, small amounts of fuel are trapped, pressurized, and then released.
Repair and Replacement:
Fuel pumps are not a part of regular servicing. They might need to be repaired or replaced when they cause trouble. You should keep them in check and consider fuel pump repair when required.
It is recommended to consider fuel pump replacement after every 100,000 miles. A faulty pump will affect the performance of your car.
To increase its life span, you should keep the fluid level at least a quarter of the full. If the level gets lower, it will cause the engine to overheat and damage. Regular system maintenance can also help you in keeping a healthy system. It can prevent serious issues from occurring in the future.
