Question:

I was driving and my car started sputtering and then the engine finally quit and I couldn’t get it started. I was towed to a repair shop and found out I had to replace my fuel pump.

What could I have done to have saved my fuel pump?

Answer:
This is a tough one for car owners because there isn’t any maintenance recommended for fuel pumps. They’re inside the fuel tank and you really can’t get to them without removing the tank. But owners can do some things to make their job easier so they last a little longer.

A lot of vehicles are equipped with a fuel filter on their gas line. This filters out dirt and rust from the gas tank before it gets to the engine. Replacing a clogged fuel filter as recommended reduces the strain on your fuel pump.

Many newer vehicles have their fuel filter inside the fuel tank so it cannot be changed. A good tip for Illinois auto owners is to not run the fuel tank too low – this can cause fuel starvation that excessively wears the pump. Also, you can’t go wrong using good quality gas with high levels of detergent. This helps prevent the buildup of varnish and gum all along the fuel system.

A professional fuel system cleaning will clean fuel injectors and help remove carbon deposits from the valves and combustion chamber.

All these things improve fuel economy and increase performance for car owners. Ask Douglas Automotive Repair, Inc. if a fuel system “MotorVac” cleaning is recommended on your vehicle.

Give us a call!

This entry was posted in Fuel Pump, Preventive Maintenance and tagged Fuel Pump, Preventitve Maintenance on February 20, 2014.