With fuel pumps, maintenance is the key to longevity and avoiding those very same expensive repairs. The average fuel pump — particularly in newer cars and trucks — is good for 100,00 to 150,000 miles during normal use… And with a little preventative maintenance, it should outlive even those estimates. Keeping the fuel system clean, having enough fuel in the tank and conducting regular critical component inspections are what will help prolong its life.
One of the steps you should not neglect in maintaining your car is to keep the fuel filter clean. Your fuel filter stops things from reaching the fuel pump and possibly jamming it up. A clogged filter would make the pump work harder and this will wear it faster and reduce its efficiency. Bosch, a well-known name in automotive parts, suggests that after 20 to 40 thousand miles, the fuel filter should be replaced to maintain clean flow of fuel and help prevent over-taxing the fuel pump. The fuel pump will work under an additional 30% strain if you do not change the fuel filter in time, so its service life is significantly reduced.
Maintaining a certain amount of fuel in the tank is another vital part of managing your fuel pump. This creates an issue when the fuel level in your tank becomes extremely low because the pump will now be exposed to air and thus leads to overheating. GM says the fuel helps cool the pump so it suggests keeping at least a quarter of a tank in there. Heat is a major culprit toward the premature death of fuel pumps, especially for vehicles that routinely operate with little fuel in the tank.
If you spend the money on high-octane fuel, it can keep deposits from getting to your fuel pump or injectors and slowing down the flow of gas. Over time, the impurities in cheap fuel will also potentially damage the pump which gradually decreases its life span. A Chevron study showed the regular use of premium fuels w/ additives — over an vehicle's life span — helps cut fuel system wear by up to 20%. These cleaners aid in cleaning the fuel system assisting the pump to hold a constant pressure and efficient operation.
You must also check electrical connections and relays regularly. Broken connections or a weakening electrical circuit to the pump, broken links can likewise result in deficient force and thus unreliable fuel supply prompting propensity on siphon wear. Thousands of vehicles in Ford had to be recalled last year because of a faulty fuel pump relays. The act of checking the relay and wiring on an intermittent basis entails, to a large degree, that clean reliable electrical power is making it through to the pump which will only aid in reducing wear and tear on your fuel system.
Additionally, fuel system cleaning treatments (which are sold at most auto shops) can help keep fuel pump working longer. This cleans the whole system and avoids any debris accumulation that might stress the pump. Adding a fuel system cleaner once per 10,000 miles can boost fuel economy by 5 to 10%, and also save the pump and injectors another report from AAA says.
Finally, early detection of problems is key. The fuel pump may in that case be failing, and it is a dicier proposition to replace together with might bring about higher damages if the other symptoms are overlooked. As Scotty Kilmer, a car expert, puts it, If you catch a problem early on That will cost you less to repair.
If you would like to know how to keep the fuel pump on your car running as long as possible, there is more information at Fuel Pump.