1982 Corvette Fuel Pump

What is a Fuel Pump? What Are The Different Kinds of Fuel Pump Set Ups?

Fuel pump is one of the vital car parts. In order to understand how it works, and to learn to detect if it is not working properly – you need to learn more about it. This text will help you learn what a fuel pump is, how it works, and most importantly – how to figure out if something is wrong with it.

A fuel pump is a very important or (let us say) the essential car part crucial for internal combustion engines and devices. Fuel pump has one major function – to create a strong positive pressure and push the gasoline (transport it) to the car engine. Old school engines did not require these fuel pumps to start with, because they were relying on gravity to help engines receive fuel through a hose, from a compact fuel tank. In more recent designs and models, which are considered non-gravity feed inventions, fuel needs to be pumped in order to get from the tank to the engine. Fuel gets delivered to the carburettor under very low pressure, but is contrary to that, injected to the fuel injection system under extremely high pressure.

The fuel tank is the place where the fuel is being stored before being used during vehicle operation. The fuel pump is the part which basically pushes the fuel from the tank to the engine. It leads the fuel to the fuel injector, and from there the fuel gets infused into the car engine.

There are different types and kinds of fuel pumps for various vehicles. Two types are relevant and still exist and are vital for vehicles nowadays – mechanical fuel pumps and electric fuel pumps. Mechanical option was used in the past for various vehicles. This type of the fuel pump can be seen in your vehicle's camshaft. Diesel fuel pump today, is a smaller version and it is an electronic device or component inside your vehicle. It is positioned inside the fuel tank of your car. Electric fuel pump requires power which is delivered to it from the battery of your vehicle.

Different kinds of vehicles require and have various pumps for fuel inside. For instance, carburetted engines have mechanical pumps also known as the low pressure pumps. These fuel pumps are positioned (mounted) outside of the fuel tank. On the other hand fuel injected engines use different kinds of fuel pumps. They are connected to electric fuel pumps and they are positioned inside their fuel tank. There is another option – one where vehicle is equipped with 2 fuel pumps. One is always constructed to work as a supply pump, which means it has low pressure and at the same time high volume. Other pump is located close to the engine, and it has very high pressure and low volume.

Fuel pumps are crucial for safe and proper functioning of your vehicle. Always visit mechanic if you experience any difficulties and keep in mind that safety always comes first!

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