Top 5 Fuel Pump Overheating Symptoms
So, you are experiencing strange occurrences in your car and guessing that your fuel pump is overheating. Firstly, you must understand what signs to look out for to indicate that your fuel pump is overheating.
An overheating fuel pump will impact the delivery of gas to your engine, causing your car to always turn off in the middle of the road. Prolonged fuel pump overheating can also damage the pump, saturate the fuel filter with sediments from your tank, or even cause loss of power.
To prevent these issues, you must be familiar with fuel pump overheating symptoms. Learn how to spot the signs and make changes before the problem becomes complicated. But how can you tell that your fuel pump is overheating?
Some common signs of an overheating fuel pump include increased heat that can be felt or noticeable sounds in the fuel pump. Sometimes, an overheating fuel pump can cause the engine to run hot.
Here's all you need to know about the common fuel pump overheating signs!
Table of Contents
Fuel pump overheating symptoms
1. Fuel pump feels hot
One of the visible symptoms of an overheating fuel pump is that it will run at extraordinary temperatures. The fuel pump will feel so hot that it might become difficult to hold.
Fuel pumps are made up of different components, metal, rubber, an electric motor, a pressure regulator, etc.
The hotness from the overheating fuel pump is majorly noticeable on the rubber ends. The metallic components will run hot on normal operations, but when you start noticing an unusual heat increase, there are chances that your fuel pump is overheating and needs to be changed.
2. Reduced fuel economy
One common fuel pump overheating symptom is the reduction in fuel economy. You will notice that your engine will start consuming more fuel than necessary.
When your fuel pump starts overheating, you’ll notice an increase in fuel consumption compared to the frequency the engine was consuming fuel before the overheating phase.
You might also experience a reduction in acceleration because the required pressure and power are not pushed out to your engine. There are high chances that the fuel pump will spoil after a long time of overheating.
This will create loopholes for the fuel pump to send in excess fuel to the engine, as the engine starts burning more gas than usual.
Check your fuel pump if you notice you are losing gas mileage.
3. Stalling engine
Engine stalling is one of the signs that you have an overheating fuel pump. The state of your fuel pump directly impacts the performance of your engine.
An overheating fuel pump will cause your engine to stall and misfire. The engine stalling usually occurs when you place your foot on the gas pedal.
Engine stalling from an overheated fuel pump usually occurs when the fuel filter is blocked, the intake sock is clogged, or the air is introduced to your fuel pump system, making it difficult to pick the proper fuel ratio.
4. Overheated engine
An overheated fuel pump can cause your engine to overheat even when you don’t have coolant or radiator issues. Your engine will overheat when they exert great power to work.
In the case of an overheated fuel pump, the pump might stop delivering the required amount of gas to sustain high speeds.
When the overheated fuel pump starts delivering inaccurate gas to your engine, your engine will start running hot. This can also happen when the pump is at the point of failing.
5. Loss of power
Your car needs the right gas delivery to hit great speeds and attain full power and performance.
When the overheating fuel pump starts malfunctioning, the engine will get less gas, leading to a loss of power and limited speed performance.
Can a failing fuel pump cause overheating?
Yes. A failing fuel pump can cause overheating of your engine. A failing fuel pump will starve your car/engine of gasoline; this can make your car’s engine work harder than normal, making it run hot and overheat in the process.
Why is my fuel pump overheating?
There are a lot of reasons why your fuel pump is overheating.
Here are some of the common reasons why your fuel pump is overheating.
- Running on an empty or close to an empty (less than 1/4) gas tank
- Clogged Fuel pump system
- Clogged sock intake
- Introduction of air into your fuel pump system
- Inability of the fuel pump to pick up fuel
Will a bad fuel pump throw a code?
Yes. A bad fuel pump will throw a “P0087 code,” which means fuel rail/system pressure is too low. It will also trigger a check engine light.
A bad fuel pump will throw a code when the pump is not delivering the required pressure, or the supply is below the minimum level.
What happens when the fuel pump goes out while driving?
Your fuel pump can go out while driving. The occurrences are rare on modern vehicles, but we can’t rule out the possibility when your fuel pump goes out while driving, you should experience a loss of power in your engine and car jerking.
This might include a fluctuation in your speed levels; your car will pick up speed, only to drop speed drastically, even without hitting the gas pedals.
The type of vehicle that you are driving will determine what will happen to your car when your fuel pump goes out while driving. In some scenarios, your car will drive a short distance before the engine stops running, or you might notice a rapid loss of power, engine stalling, or misfiring.
Will a bad fuel pump work sometimes?
Yes. A bad fuel pump may sometimes work, giving you inconclusive detail on the fact that you have a bad fuel pump. This should not deceive you into believing that the bad fuel pump is good.
A bad fuel pump will work sometimes, but you should experience regular power loss, engine malfunction, and difficulty starting. Don’t let the intermittent performance fool you.
Can a fuel pump fail suddenly?
Yes, a fuel pump can fail suddenly. But that’s not the end of the world. Bad things happen.
Fuel pump failures are usually unpredictable and sudden and will have you in the wrong moments. The best you can do is to always look out for bad fuel pump symptoms and fix any issues before they worsen.
Summary
We’ve given you a clear explanation of what will happen when a fuel pump overheats. You will notice an increase in temperature in your fuel pump, loss of power, engine stalling, reduced fuel economy, and engine overheating.
You risk a total car breakdown or ultimate damage to your fuel pump if you allow the symptoms to persist.
You should book your car for an inspection when you notice slight changes in your fuel pump and fuel economy.
