Fareed's Auto Service Blog: Tips, Advice and More

Hello and welcome! My name is Fareed, and this blog is about car repair. I plan to write about smash repair, body work, painting and other aspects of the industry. I also hope to include a few posts that will help you assess whether or not something is wrong with your car. I have worked on my own car for years, and recently, I've been embraced as the neighbourhood mechanic -- all my friends come to me for help. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I feel confident sharing this info with you as I've been working on cars for years. I am happy you found my blog and hope that you enjoy reading!

How to Diagnose Fuel Delivery Issues in Your Diesel-Engined Vehicle

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Every vehicle that relies on a form of combustion must ensure that the fuel is delivered as efficiently as possible for uninterrupted motoring. This is particularly important in a diesel-engined vehicle due to the conversion process, and it's not surprising, therefore, that issues can arise from time to time. If you've noticed some inconsistencies in certain driving environments recently, how can you diagnose the issue so that you can fix the offending item?

Understanding the Pump

As diesel fuel needs to be delivered under high pressure and with high consistency, the first place to look will be the pump itself. You may have an electrical or mechanical version, but if the vehicle is quite modern, then it probably has an electronic pump which is placed inside the fuel tank. Manufacturers design these latest-generation pumps to create particularly high-pressure levels to deal with complex fuel-injected engines.

Inconsistent Acceleration

When something starts to go wrong, the first thing you may notice will be intermittent performance. You may be trying to overtake a slower vehicle with a quick burst of speed and find that the engine "splutters" instead. This is an indication that the pump is beginning to fail as it is delivering fuel in spurts instead of one continuous flow.

Unwanted Pressure

The pump is also designed to hold back fuel when you don't need it, but the vehicle is still in operation. This can happen when you are sitting at a traffic light, for example, and the motor will be just ticking over. Occasionally, the pressure valve within the pump may begin to fail, and this could release fuel under pressure towards the engine. You may notice that you have to exert additional pressure on the brake pedal to keep the vehicle in check, which can be very disconcerting, even if it is only for a second or two.

Total Failure

Eventually, the pump will fail completely, and in this case, you may be able to turn the ignition key all the way without the required effect. The engine sounds as if it wants to start but will be unable to as it is not receiving any fuel, of course.

Getting Expert Help

You may think that you can change the pump on your vehicle, as in your case it is situated outside of the fuel tank. However, it's still best if you take it in to a qualified auto servicing mechanic for help. It's not a good idea to do this yourself as there is a risk of combustion, which could have serious consequences.

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26 July 2018