You rely on your Sprinter van for your deliveries every day. Taking care of it is crucial to extending its life and increasing its fuel efficiency. If you have 100,000 miles or more on the van, there will come a time sooner rather than later that the fuel pump goes out. RB Auto Service is going to list the signs your Sprinter van is having fuel pump problems.
High-Speed Engine Sputtering
Any automobile’s engine requires more fuel when it goes faster. It also requires more fuel when the engine is under stress, but we’ll talk more about that next. If you’ve noticed that your Sprinter starts to sputter when you are driving at high speeds, this is an indication that the pump is malfunctioning and unable to supply the excess fuel the engine needs to maintain the speed.
Engine Stress Power Loss
As we said above, the engine also needs excess fuel when it is operating under stress. For example, your fully loaded van is heavier and places more stress on the engine. Consequently, in order to maintain power, the pump must supply more fuel to the engine. If it fails to do so, your Sprinter van will lose power when it is loaded to the brim.
Spurts of Sporadic Speed
The pump can also malfunction and send excess fuel to the engine when it doesn’t need it. When this happens, your van will pick up speed sporadically in spurts. This can make driving the Sprinter van dangerous because it is unpredictable. You will feel as if you are driving a bucking bronco.
Reduction in Fuel Economy
Unfortunately, the above engine problems caused by the fuel delivery problem will create a reduction in your van’s fuel economy. You will find that the Sprinter van is not getting the gas mileage it normally gets. This problem can be caused by a faulty fuel pump.
Reduction in Fuel Pressure
A reduction in the Sprinter’s fuel pressure is also an indication that the pump is dying. Testing the Sprinter van’s fuel pressure is easy with a fuel pressure gauge. This being said, we’d be happy to test the fuel pressure for you if you prefer.
Constant Overheating
If your delivery van is constantly overheating, this could be caused by an overheating fuel pump motor. When the fuel pumps motor gets too hot, the engine temperature rises.
Difficulty Starting the Engine
Finally, difficulty getting the Sprinter van’s engine started can also point to a problem with the fuel pump. If the pump is unable to push enough fuel into the engine, it will be nearly impossible to start it.
Call RB Auto Service in Pinellas Park, FL, today for all of your Sprinter van’s maintenance and repair needs. If it needs a new fuel pump, we can install it.