The longer you own your Porsche, the greater the chance that you will experience a problem with its fuel pump over the life of your car. Fuel pumps play a vital role in the overall function and efficiency of your engine.
The purpose of the fuel pump is to relay gasoline from the fuel tank through the fuel filter, spread to the injectors, and finally on to each engine cylinder combustion chamber. This fires up the engine and propels the vehicle.
A leaky or failing fuel pump is a relatively common maintenance issue. After a while, a combination of constant pumping and improper upkeep can wear it down and lead to malfunctions. If you suspect that your fuel pump may be leaking or failing altogether, please read below to learn how to troubleshoot the problem and to take the steps necessary to make sure your Porsche is properly serviced.
Reasons Your Fuel Pump can Start to Leak
Running your car on a near-empty gas tank and fuel contamination are the two main reasons why your fuel pump might fail faster than its normal life span. Driving your car on or near empty can damage the fuel pump if you do it frequently.
In addition, another role that gasoline plays is to cool off the fuel pump. Running your car on empty can cause the fuel pump to overheat because not enough fuel is passing back and forth through the pump. Prolonged periods of overheating can cause other areas of your engine to overheat and will eventually cause the fuel pump to wear out.
Over time, fuel can also become contaminated with rust, particulate, debris, and dirt, clogging up the fuel pump components. This also causes it to work harder than normal to keep gas flowing.
Keep the gas tank in your car at least half full at all times. Also, inspect and change the fuel filter when necessary to keep your fuel pump healthy.
Warning Signs of a Fuel Pump Leak
These are a few common indicators that you are experiencing a problem with your fuel pump:
- Fuel Pump Noise. You may hear a whining sound coming from the gas tank area of your car. This may be every time you drive, or it may be only when your gas tank is less than half full.
- Difficulty starting your car, sputtering, surging, or stalling. If you experience any of these symptoms, gas is likely flowing through the pump too little, too much, or inconsistently.
- Power loss or fuel inefficiency. This may be a result of not enough gas passing through the pump, especially when driving uphill or when the pump is stressed. This may result in a loss of power. Likewise, you might lose fuel efficiency if more gas is being pumped than necessary.
- Engine Failure. If you experience this combined with any other symptoms noted above, the fuel pump is a likely culprit.
If you observe any of these issues, you will need to service your Porsche as soon as possible. As with most automotive issues, small problems that are left uninspected for a long period of time can gradually snowball into much larger problems or even into complete engine failure. In this case, an overheating fuel pump can cause the rest of the engine to overheat, leading to even more widespread damage.
Getting Your Fuel Pump Fixed
As noted above, fuel pump leaks are a common maintenance issue that you will likely experience one day. It is strongly encouraged that you get the repair completed by a trained and certified professional. Even a slightly misaligned installation can cause additional fuel relay issues or engine damage, so make sure you get it done right the first time.
Trust Dell’s Service Center With Your European Auto Needs
Dell’s Service Center has been serving the Green Bay, Manitowoc, and Sturgeon Bay communities of Wisconsin for over 46 years. Specializing in European auto repair, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and affordable alternative to dealerships. Let our master technicians diagnose the issue and quickly get it repaired.
If you have any problems with your European model, our friendly and helpful staff is waiting to help get you back on the road safely. Schedule your appointment today!