What is a fuel pump and what are the symptoms of a bad fuel pump?

Before reading this article,


keep in mind that there is a difference between a fuel pump and a fuel pump.


injection pump. In this article, we are discussing a simple fuel pump, also


known as a lift or transfer pump.

The main function of the fuel pump


is to supply or push fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. This fuel is produced


Available for carburetor, throttle body, port fuel injectors or diesel.


injection system. The types of pumps listed below are used depending on


pressure requirements, mounting configurations/locations and mode of operation


cycles. As technology improves, materials and actual pump type


have also been upgraded.

Lift pump - As a rule, the booster pump "lifts" the fuel.


from the tank and pumps it into the engine at a pressure of 3-8 psi. The lifting pump is


a mechanical pump, usually bolted to the side of the cylinder block. This type


The pump is a diaphragm pump that uses a cam-operated lever with


cam petals providing the suction needed to carry out the movement of the fuel.

Transfer pump – Transfer pump by definition


"dumps" fuel from the tank to where it's needed...usually on a diesel


engine to the fuel pump. The most common applications are mounted


externally on the engine or the high pressure fuel pump itself and is driven via a gear


high pressure fuel pump. As you will see in the article on injection pumps,


some types of diesel injection pumps (mostly rotary) have a built-in


transfer pump inside the injection pump itself.

electric pump – Electric fuel pump, of course,


The most common type of pump. As a rule, this type of pump is either mounted in


fuel tank and "push" the fuel to the engine, or mounted on the frame and


pulls the fuel out of the tank...then pushes it towards the engine. This type of pump


creates a pressure of 30-80 psi and is best suited for today's modern engines.

Symptoms of a failed fuel pump:

1. Heavy starting…excessive


bend

2. Noise in the fuel tank or frame


rail (electric pump)

3. The engine starts, but then stalls

4. Poor fuel economy

5. Pressure gauge fluctuations