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Fuel System Problems: Causes and Signs

Vehicle function relies on a fuel system to effectively pump fuel from the gas tank into the engine. However, this system can develop a fault resulting in dampened fuel efficiency. In dire instances, your car may not start at all.

More often than not, fuel system problems stem from a faulty fuel pump responsible for maintaining gas flow through the lines. In other cases, blocked fuel filters or fuel lines are the culprits. Still, fuel system problems can also occur due to a leak. When this happens, the consequences can be dangerous to you and your car.

Call Nationwide Report’s Car Genius™ from RepairPal at 1-877-671-3040 from 9am-6pm ET, Monday through Friday. 

Signs of Fuel System Problems

Faulty fuel systems usually present different signs that hint at the problem. Most times, these signs are easy to notice. If you act fast, you might be able to avoid further damage. 

As a car owner or driver, it’d be best you pay close attention to the following signs:

  • Sputtering Engine

Engine sputtering can indicate different fuel system problems, like a low gas level. 

However, it denotes a flawed fuel system, especially when your gas tank is full. As you drive, you’ll hear or feel your engine sputter as it tries to smoothly generate power. 

This effect is more pronounced when you’re driving at high speeds.

Engine sputtering shows an interruption in the steady flow of fuel to the engine. It’d be best to take your vehicle for a fuel system car maintenance and have your fuel pump looked at by an expert. 

  • Trouble Starting Your Car

A car you drove around some hours or days ago may suddenly prove challenging to start. When this incident occurs, it might point to mechanical issues such as a failing ignition system, dead battery, alternator, or spark plug.

Also, starting your vehicle can be difficult due to a fault in your car’s fuel system. If you find yourself in this situation, it’ll be best to contact an expert engineer to thoroughly assess the car and find out the exact cause of the problem. With proper diagnosis, they can come up with the right solution to the problem. 

  • Noise From the Fuel Tank

Vehicles showcase specific signs drivers should pay close attention to. A notable mention is noise coming out from any part of the vehicle. If a car’s fuel system starts to fail, it often produces a whining noise from the fuel tank. 

Weird sounds from the fuel tank can stem from: 

  • Low fuel level
  • Contaminated fuel in the tank
  • Malfunctioning fuel pump

Identifying this noise on time is crucial to seeking necessary assistance for a fuel system car repair and avoiding further damage to the car. 

  • Loss of Power

Under adverse driving conditions, a car’s fuel system can malfunction.  Here, your vehicle can suddenly start to sputter or switch off entirely when you count on it the most. This issue often points to a fuel system problem.

Loss of power can come up under these conditions:

  • Driving at high temperatures
  • Driving at a high altitude
  • Taking your car through a steep uphill climb, especially while carrying a heavy load

Sudden power loss can leave you stranded in the worst places. Hence, it’s vital to habitually take your car to a workshop for thorough fuel system car maintenance.

  • Fuel Leak

Another major indicator of a fuel system malfunction is spotting a gasoline or diesel leak from under your car. In this situation, it’s essential you don’t attempt to drive the car without fixing the problem because a fuel leak can be dangerous. Due to how flammable fuel is, it can result in a vehicle fire or explosion.

  • Surging as You Drive

While driving, ensure you take nothing you experience out of the ordinary for granted. Experiencing a surge while you drive often serves as an indicator of a fuel system issue. 

A defective fuel system can make your car surge while you’re driving. As a result of this scenario, the car won’t maintain a constant speed, and you’ll feel the struggle when you step on the gas pedal.  

  • Reduction in Gas Mileage 

Although we’ve already examined some tell-tale signs of a malfunctioning fuel system, a gas mileage is often responsible for the car’s malfunctioning fuel system.

For context, your vehicle’s gas mileage is the distance measured in miles it can travel for every gallon of fuel you put in it.

Identifying this fuel efficiency loss is easier for drivers that constantly keep an eye on their gas mileage. 

Conversely, drivers who don’t keep track of their gas mileage might continue to run their cars with the issue while the fuel system keeps deteriorating. 

Common Fuel System Problems

Generally, fuel system problems reduce fuel pressure and flow, resulting in poor vehicle performance. Fixing these problems is often difficult and consumes time. 

Nevertheless, thanks to the work of diverse fuel system car repair experts, you can identify significant locations where related problems usually originate.

The major sites include:

  • Fuel pump
  • Fuel injectors
  • Fuel filter
  • Fuel lines

Each of these sites can be affected independently. Still, sometimes, a fault in one part can lead to problems in another region.

  • Faulty Fuel Pump

As an essential component of your car, the fuel pump generates a fuel stream from the tank, takes it through the fuel lines and filters till it gets to the fuel injector, which channels fuel to the engine. 

Regardless of whether your vehicle’s fuel pump system is hydraulic or electric, there’s a possibility it could clog and malfunction.

Vehicles with an electric fuel pump often show signs of a defect when driving at high speeds, going uphill, or carrying a load. Your driving may be going smoothly till your car abruptly loses power or jerks and accelerates without any input from you for some moments before it goes back to normalcy. 

However, immediately after you step on the gas pedal, the pump restores fuel pressure, enabling the engine to function normally.

Most drivers often mistake a faulty fuel pump for other conditions due to their similar presentation.

Vehicles can sputter or jerk when the fuel is bad or contaminated. A similar response also happens on an nearly empty fuel tank. Furthermore, people blame the fuel pump for sputtering, wrongly assuming it might be clogged with dirt.

To identify the problem, fuel system car repair experts will look out for a damaged fuse or assess the pressure in the fuel lines. Additionally, set time aside to listen to your fuel pump’s sound when you turn on the ignition. Assuming you don’t hear the fuel running, and your car won’t start, your fuel pump is probably faulty 

  • Spoilt or Blocked Fuel Injectors

Fuel injectors spray gasoline into the intake cylinders through special nozzles. In turn, the vehicle’s engine mixes the gas with air, creating the necessary condition for combustion. 

The fuel combustion process creates carbon deposits that can block fuel injectors. Additionally, note that your fuel injectors may develop a fault if they fail to remain fixed in the open or closed position.

Fuel system issues originating from malfunctioning fuel injectors are easy to notice. Injectors that fail to open can cause difficulty starting the vehicles, lack of power, and disturbing running conditions. 

If the fuel injectors are stuck in a partly open position, there’s most likely a significant drop in fuel pressure or gas leaking into the cylinder.

Furthermore, dirty or completely failed injectors remain stuck in the open or closed position. 

The effect of this condition is the accumulation of extra liquid from the fuel system In the oil sump. After some time, you’ll notice an oil level rise when you pull out the dipstick. Additionally, you might perceive a strong smell of raw gas mixed with engine oil on the dipstick.

You could also uncover fuel injector leakages if you experience a run-on after turning off the key to kill the engine. Here, instead of stopping, the engine stays on or sputters for a period. 

As a result, fuel drips into the combustion chamber.

When a run-on happens, the problem might be due to a dirty injector — a condition brought on by a build-up of carbon deposits hindering it from closing correctly. 

  • Obstruction in the Fuel Filter

Fuel filter clogging is a typical fuel system problem and puts the vehicle at a higher risk of more damage. 

The fuel filter acts as a barrier, removing debris from the gasoline before it’s pumped into the injectors. 

Without the filter, dirty particles can find their way to the injector, clogging it or moving into the engine, where it can cause sizable damage. When a filter gets clogged, it brings about an engine performance reduction.

The effects of an obstructed fuel filter are similar to the experience characterized by faulty fuel pumps. 

Here, your vehicle might encounter a power loss while in motion, while the engine may run-on when idle.

A clogged fuel filter can result from a disintegrating fuel pump. As the fuel pump breaks down, it introduces tiny particles into the filter that causes an obstruction in the fuel system.

In light of a clogged fuel filter, the solution is to take the car for fuel system car repairs and replace the filter. 

For this repair, don’t engage the services of a roadside mechanic. Instead, ensure that you hire an adequately skilled expert for the job. 

However, if your fuel filter isn’t clogged, it’ll be best to change it periodically. Manufacturers often recommend a due time to change your fuel filter.

  • Clogged or Leaking Fuel Lines

Gasoline moves through lines in the fuel system to get to the engine. However, these lines can get clogged or leak at some point. Such leaks can expose your engine to harmful driving situations. 

The accumulated fuel can ignite, throw off the vehicle’s exhaust or shoot flames out of the pipe.

Clogged or leaking fuel lines can crop up in your car due to aging. As a result, it’s vital to indulge in the habit of periodic total fuel system car maintenance. 

  • Filing Your Fuel Tank With the Wrong Gasoline

Car manufacturers recommend a fuel suitable for each vehicle. These fuel types are distinguishable by octane numbers. Filing your fuel tank with the wrong gasoline can have adverse consequences. For instance, fueling a truck with 87-octane fuel can damage your vehicle’s engine, fuel injectors, lines and pump.

However, to avoid this problem, conduct due diligence to ensure you’re using the recommended fuel type for your automobile.

Major Takeaway: Car Fuel Systems

Vehicles depend a great deal on their fuel system to function correctly. A malfunction can disrupt your daily activity or expose you to a harmful situation. 

Thus, vehicle owners or drivers must pay due attention to their car’s fuel system and take optimal measures to ensure it’s in a good state at all times. 

Faulty fuel systems denote several tell-tale signs, such as sputtering engine, difficulties in starting the vehicle, whining fuel tank noise, power loss, fuel leak, reduction in gas mileage, and surges while driving. 

These notable indicators may accompany one or more fuel system issues ranging from a faulty fuel pump to leaking fuel lines. 

To avoid bad driving experiences, you may want to pay attention to your vehicle because it could give off signs of a possible defect from time to time. 

Whenever you notice any of the aforementioned signs, contact an expert for proper diagnosis of the problem and timely redress. If you think you can keep managing the condition, your vehicle will deteriorate further.

Nevertheless, it’d help if you didn’t wait for the first sign of trouble to take your vehicle to a revered auto shop. An intelligent approach is developing the habit of taking your vehicle for routine fuel system car maintenance.