In this blog post, we will talk about, “How to quiet a noisy fuel pump?” We will tell you what is a fuel pump, the causes of a noisy fuel pump, and 5 ways to quiet a noisy fuel pump.
How to Quiet a Noisy Fuel Pump?
You can quiet a noisy fuel pump by doing one or more of the following things;
- Keep the Tank Full
- Check for Fuel Contamination
- Fix the Pressure Loss
- Remove the Impurities
- Soundproof the Noisy Pump
What is a Fuel Pump?
A fuel pump is a device that provides fuel to your engine. After extracting the fuel from the gas tank, it transfers it to the carburetor to help it fire up the engine.
Fuel pumps may be mechanical or electrical. A normally-working fuel pump shouldn’t create much noise and all you should be hearing is a quiet hum.
Causes of a Noisy Fuel Pump
The normal operational noise of a fuel pump is hard-to-notice and usually masked by the sound of the engine. However, it can be heard briefly before the engine starts.
A low hum or whirring noise is what’s associated with a normally-working fuel pump. If you hear any different noise coming from the fuel pump then it’s probably a warning sign. Fuel pumps often don’t get worn out easily and are built to last the car’s life.
Even a faulty fuel tank won’t shut down completely right away and it always gives you a warning before failure. The warning could be in the form of unusual sounds and the final signs of a bad fuel pump include a hard-to-start engine.
There are many reasons why your fuel pump may suddenly start making loud, whining sounds. Most probably, your fuel pump has worn out or has been damaged.
But that’s not all, there are many reasons associated with this problem like an empty gas tank, loss of pressure, or fuel contamination.
Your best bet is to be vigilant and never ignore these sounds. Sometimes the problem is very simple as an empty gas tank but causes undue stress on the fuel pump and other parts of the engine.
Why You Should Never Ignore These Sounds?
Ignoring the whining noises coming from your gas tank is never a good idea as it may lead to a bigger problem. A fuel tank is a simple, yet a pivotal element of a vehicle’s engine, and a faulty fuel tank may cause irresolvable damages to other parts.
If you drive too long with a faulty, contaminated, or damaged fuel tank, your engine may stall. Hard-to-start and stalled engines are common aftermaths of a faulty fuel tank.
5 Ways to Quiet a Noisy Fuel Pump
If you are hearing loud, whining, or buzzing sounds from your fuel pump then it’s time to take action. Luckily, there are many things you can do to quiet a noisy fuel pump from simply filling the gas tank up to getting the pump replaced.
However, these aren’t the only two options and there are a couple of more things in between you can try to quiet a noisy fuel pump.
- Keep the Tank Full
- Don’t Forget about Fuel Contamination
- Fix the Pressure Loss
- Remove the Impurities
- Soundproof the Noisy Pump
Keep the Tank Full
If you are among the lucky few, the problem with your car may not be as big as it seems. Sometimes, a low gas level is the cause behind all the whining and buzzing.
If that’s the case, all you need to do is fill up your gas tank and that will be the end of these annoying buzzing sounds. It’s better not to wait for your gas tank to run empty as it causes an extra burden on your fuel pump.
It is best not to let the gas level drop below 25% as this puts extra pressure on the components of the fuel pump. Doing so will not only help you quiet a noisy fuel pump but will also help you avoid any mechanical fuel pump problems.
Don’t Forget about Fuel Contamination
Fuel contamination is one possible cause of a noisy fuel pump. This can be best identified by a grinding noise. Fuel contamination occurs when water gets mixed with the fuel and results in hard-to-start engines.
Fuel contamination sounds simple but is a serious cause of concern. Running your car with contaminated fuel can destroy your engine. To get this fixed, you would have to clean the fuel tank and replace multiple engine parts.
So, it is best to get your car checked if you hear any grinding noise from your gas tank as you may be running on contaminated fuel.
Fix the Pressure Loss
A pressure loss is another common cause for a noisy fuel pump. This is best characterized by stalling or whining sounds from the fuel pump.
You may need a pressure gauge to identify the pressure loss. Most commonly, a damaged pressure regulator is the problem, and replacing the regulator often kills the stalling sounds. This is a quick and inexpensive fix and you can even do this on your own.
Many other reasons may also cause pressure loss and you may face this issue due to a weak pump or even a dirty fuel filter. A blocked fuel line, clogged inlet strainer, and improper tank venting may also cause pressure loss.
Remove the Impurities
Sometimes, engine gunk, dirt, or other impurities find their way to the fuel tank. This causes them to malfunction and makes whining noises.
You would need to call a mechanic or get your car to the nearest workshop to solve this problem. Impurities in the gas tank may lead to a bigger problem in the future so it is best to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Soundproof the Noisy Pump
Sometimes you just can’t get rid of the noise no matter what you do. The issue may just be a damaged part or a loose connection, yet it seems irresolvable.
In such cases, soundproofing the noisy fuel pump is all you can do. Covering the areas near the fuel pump with soundproofing, an insulating mat can help you curtail the sound to a great extent.
These self-adhesive insulating mats are best for this purpose as they can withstand high temperatures and don’t lose any adhesiveness. To quiet a noisy fuel pump, you can insulate any area from the engine compartment and trunk to doors and car cabin.
This is also an excellent way to soundproof an electric fuel pump. Normally, electric pumps make more noise than their mechanical counterpart and this is an effective way to counteract the extra noise.
When to Replace a Noisy Fuel Pump?
Replacing the noisy fuel pump is often the last resort if nothing seems to work. Most often, vehicle’s fuel pumps get damaged due to drivers’ ignorance and mistakes.
As mentioned earlier, these pumps are built to last the entire length of a car’s life. However, if you have a habit of driving on lowly-filled or empty fuel then you may ultimately find yourself with a faulty fuel pump.
Similarly, fuel contamination is another common issue and you may have already faced it once or twice. The best way to prevent your fuel pump from getting damaged is not to drive your car with contaminated fuel and get it towed to the nearest workshop.
Nevertheless, mechanical faults are bound to happen and if ways like getting the pressure fixed, cleaning the fuel tank, or fixing the damaged parts don’t work then you probably have to replace the fuel pump.
However, the cost of a fuel pump is relatively low as compared to its importance, and driving a car with a faulty fuel pump is never worth the risk.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we talked about, “How to quiet a noisy fuel pump?” We discussed what is a fuel pump? the causes of a noisy fuel pump, and 5 ways to quiet a noisy fuel pump.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to Quiet a Noisy Fuel Pump?
What causes a noisy fuel pump?
A damaged or faulty fuel pump often makes a whining noise. You may also hear this noise if you are running low on fuel or running with contaminated fuel.
This sound usually comes from your gas tank and gives a clear indication of a problem with the gas tank or fuel pump. A fuel pump shouldn’t make a loud, whining noise in normal condition and what you should be hearing is a low hum.
Does the fuel pump make noise when going bad?
Yes, a loud howling or whining noise from a fuel pump is an indication that your pump is worn out or damaged. This noise may also come if you have low gas or if your gas tank has been contaminated due to bad fuel.
A normally working fuel pump shouldn’t make such whining or howling noise in any case. A low hum is what you should be hearing rather than a loud whine. So, it is best to get your fuel pump and gas tank checked if you are hearing anything more than a quiet hum.
How can I start my car with a bad fuel pump?
There are a couple of ways you can get your engine fired up even with a bad fuel pump. Firstly, you need to have a fuel pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in your automobile engine.
If the gauge shows low pressure, you need to apply external pressure to aid the ignition in starting up your car. Lastly, maintain the engine heat and get on your way to the nearest workshop to get that fuel pump fixed.
Can a car drive with a bad fuel pump?
Driving with a bad fuel pump is not an option because if your fuel pump has worn out you won’t be able to even start the car. However, if there is still a bit of life left in your pump you can get the engine running with a little external help.
Getting a pressure gauge is an excellent idea if your fuel pump is wearing out. It will help you monitor the pressure and let you know if you need to apply external pressure to fire up the engine.
However, fuel pumps don’t normally go bad as they are built to last long times. They can even last longer than 200,000 miles and withstand rough wear and tear.
References
https://www.motionraceworks.com/blogs/motionblog/4-tips-to-making-your-electric-fuel-pump-quieter
https://itstillruns.com/noisy-fuel-pump-mean-its-bad-12215988.html
https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/quiet-down-noisy-external-electric-fuel-pump.214007/
