You don’t need us here at Boulevard Auto Repair to tell you that your automobile cannot run without fuel. If your fuel system is having problems, however, the gas in the tank might not make it to the engine and, voila, instant power loss if not a completely dead engine. Is your car having fuel system problems? Here are some signs that it just might be, whether in the fuel pump, injectors, or elsewhere.
Sputtering Engine
The faster you go the more gasoline your engine needs. If your engine has started to sputter as you pick up speed, it could be a sign that the fuel pump is malfunctioning or your fuel injectors are clogged. The sputtering signals the engine is being fuel-starved and cannot meet your speed demand.
Overheating
Generally, an engine that is overheating has a cooling system problem. This said, if you love to push your car to the edge and drive on fumes, you could be overheating the fuel pump which will, in turn, overheat the engine. Gas that flows through the fuel pump actually acts as a cooling agent.
Power Loss
Aside from the engine sputtering discussed above, your vehicle might also suffer from power loss when it’s stressed out. If you are hauling a load or driving on steep and treacherous terrain that requires extra power yet you aren’t getting that power, there could be fuel starvation going on in the engine.
Engine Surges
Problems with your fuel system can also cause an opposite effect. If the fuel pump is pushing too much gas through to the engine, or the fuel injectors are leaking, your engine will be fuel-stuffed. This rich air/fuel mixture in the engine can cause the engine to surge and pick up speed unexpectedly.
Low Gas Mileage
Either fuel-starvation or too much fuel will affect your gas mileage. A fuel-starved engine will struggle to produce enough power and use excess gas; a fuel-stuffed engine will burn the excess gas being pushed through. The loss of gas mileage might be subtle at first, getting worse if the problem isn’t corrected.
Dead Engine
Finally, as we said at the beginning of this blog post, if your engine doesn’t get any fuel, you won’t get anywhere. If the fuel pump has died and cannot draw gas out of the tank, or if the fuel injectors are clogged shut, you won’t be able to start your car. If there is too much fuel in the engine, it will flood.
Call Boulevard Auto Repair to schedule an appointment for a fuel system inspection and service. We are a full-service auto repair shop in Sherman Oaks, CA.
