Your automobile cannot run without fuel. Gas is drawn out of the tank by the fuel pump and pushed through the system into the fuel injectors. Using special nozzles, the injectors spray just the right amount of gas into the cylinders to mix it with oxygen. This mixture is ignited and – boom – you’ve got engine combustion and a running car, truck, or utility vehicle. If your automobile ends up with a fuel delivery problem, you’ll notice performance issues when the engine is running, or you might not be able to get your car started in the first place. Crossroads Automotive lists the three most common causes of fuel delivery issues.
1. Fuel Pump
As you can imagine, if the fuel pump is malfunctioning your engine won’t get any gasoline out of the tank. There are a handful of things that can go wrong with the fuel pump. First, it can clog, which will disable its ability to push the fuel through to the fuel injectors. Most modern fuel pumps are also electric, and the motor can die, leaving your engine without fuel. Finally, the fuel pump can also overheat. This happens if you drive on empty a lot because gas actually keeps the pump motor cool.
2. Fuel Filter
Before the fuel is distributed into the fuel injectors for spraying into the cylinders, it is run through a filter first to remove all contaminants and sediment from it. Even the best gasoline is going to have sediment in it; it’s a natural occurrence. The fuel filter removes this sediment and other dirt, grime, and impurities that can make their way into the gasoline. This protects the engine. A fuel filter will clog over time with the very contaminants it removes from the gasoline and this causes fuel delivery problems.
3. Fuel Injectors
Finally, sediment, dirt, contaminants, and carbon buildup can clog the fuel injectors. The clogged fuel injectors will either be stuck shut or open. If they are stuck shut, your engine’s combustion chamber will be fuel-starved. If they get stuck in the open position, or if they crack, your engine’s combustion chamber will be flooded with gasoline. Fuel starvation will make your engine lag and stutter. Too much gas can kill the engine. Either situation can make starting your automobile impossible.
Call Crossroads Automotive in Topeka, KS, if your engine is hard to start or giving you performance issues such as stuttering or sluggish acceleration. You might have a fuel delivery problem that we can fix.
