Fuel Pumps Pump Fuel; Pretty Simple Really!

For once we have an engine component that does exactly what its name implies. The fuel pump in fact pumps fuel. Ta-Da! Now let’s take a look at exactly how it goes about performing that little task.

One note before we continue: in some older engines, especially older motorcycles, a fuel pump is not used at all. Instead, gravity provides the impetus in relaying fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. But those days are long gone and today fuel has to be pumped from the tank to the engine.

Older model cars had the fuel pump mounted on the engine and a sort of negative pressure is created to draw the fuel from the tank. Today, with the advent of fuel injection, most fuel pumps are located in the fuel tank itself and a positive pressure process is used in pumping the fuel.

Whichever process is used, there are a ton of things that can go wrong in the pumping chamber, the diaphragm, the valve, or the inlet and outlet ports, so replacement parts are occasionally needed.   Depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle this can be either bad news or worse news regarding availability of those car parts and the cost of those used car parts.

Auto part stores are the best bet for those of you who are not mechanically inclined or for that matter for those of you who do not have friends capable of helping with the repair. Newer models can be a bit tricky to work on, so if you are one who can’t do the work then certainly an auto parts store can at least save you a bit of money compared to the cost of going to a dealership.

If, however, you can do the work then by all means go to a salvage yard. Huge savings are waiting for the person who is willing to shop around a bit, and all reputable salvage yards have warranties on their parts so concerns should be minimal on that matter. In today’s world of tough economic times, replacement parts do not have to be expensive. There are savings to be had on used parts for the discerning shopper, but making several phone calls is preferable to spending too much.

Whether we are talking about the fuel pump or the alternator or the whole darn engine, salvage yards are the way to go for a person interested in saving money, and seriously, who isn’t interested in saving money? Okay, maybe Bill Gates, but other than Mr. Gates, who else isn’t interested in saving up to 60% on used parts?