To prevent your fuel system from getting clogged, let us service it every 30,000 miles. This gives us a chance to flush the system to remove the dirt and sediment. It also gives us the opportunity to replace the fuel filter. A clogged fuel system can cause serious engine problems, including a dead engine. Let’s talk about the signs that your fuel system is clogged below.
Difficult Starts
As we just mentioned, a clogged fuel system can make it difficult to start your automobile. In fact, your engine may not start at all. If it does start, it may take several cranks before it ignites. This difficulty is a sign that the fuel system is not sending enough fuel to the combustion chamber for engine combustion. This can be caused by a clogged fuel system or a faulty fuel pump.
Misfiring/Stalling
If the engine does fire up, it will misfire if it does not have a steady stream of fuel. For example, if the fuel injectors are clogged, the cylinders are not getting a continual spray of fuel while the engine is running. This will cause the cylinders to misfire, and, as such, your engine will misfire. In severe cases, the misfiring may cause the engine to stall completely.
Rough Idling
For example, imagine that you are sitting at a red light and your engine is idling roughly. The idle gets rougher and rougher before the engine stalls. You ignite the engine again only to have it continue to misfire and idle roughly. This is a sign that there is a fuel-delivery problem in the engine. In other words, your fuel system may be clogged at some point.
Whining Noises
Now, imagine that you are walking through water. You realize that this is extremely difficult and your legs feel very heavy. The water is resisting your legs. A clogged fuel system will also resist the fuel pump as it attempts to push the gasoline or diesel fuel into the engine. Consequently, this will overwork the fuel pump motor and it will start to whine in the fuel tank.
Dead Fuel Pump
If you don’t have this problem resolved as soon as possible, you may end up with a dead fuel pump. As the motor overworks and overheats, it will eventually stop working altogether. This leaves you with a clog in the fuel system and a dead fuel pump that needs to be replaced.
You need not worry. We can inspect the fuel system and find the clog. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
