I’ve never had a fuel pump fail — on any of the vehicles I’ve used through the years.
This may appear like the rambling of a crazy folk who also doubles as sardonic, but it’s not…it’s the honest truth.
Now, great chances are that you may think that luck has a lot to do with it…and, that’s where I also disagree: it’s the result of an intentional, deliberate act, one that has absolutely nothing to do with luck.
So, what’s the secret of keeping a fuel pump as long as possible on a vehicle without needing to change it?
It turns out, it’s an open secret.
Make Friends with the Gas Pump!
Some folks must make sure that the reserve warning indicator of their fuel gauge comes on before considering a fuel refill.
This is what your fuel pump hates more than anything — and the reason is as simple as it is straightforward: gasoline in the tank acts ‘coolant’ to cool down the electric fuel pump in the tank.
As the pump works non-stop when the engine is on, it gets hot and needs to cool down — much like the engine itself.
This is where the quantity of gasoline in your tank comes in.
For the best cooling effects, once you have about 1/4 of fuel in your tank, consider topping things up so that the fuel pump gets to cool itself down as much as possible.
Be Careful of the Gas You Throw In
If you’re privy to take a look at the content of the gas tanks of some drivers, you’ll be shocked at what you’ll find there: sand, sticks, and debris.
Just how these things got there is what you’ll never know!
Unfortunately, this is one of the ways of putting extra strain on the fuel filter and eventually, the pump itself.
Common sense demands that you buy your gasoline from gas stations after they’ve got their supply for at least an hour.
The hour rule is important because any sediments that may have been disturbed is likely to settle at that point.
However, if you must use a gallon, make certain that it is as clean as can be and the accompanying funnel is also spotless.
That’s All!
So, this is all I do to keep my fuel pumps in optimal working condition, all year round, year after year:
- I rarely allow my gas to deplete to reserve levels (once or twice a year, it happens, though) and
- The gas that goes into my tank is clean and free from sediments — and this is true whether I’m putting it by a pump or gallon/funnel.
So, got inspired to save yourself from the challenge of failure after failure of the fuel pump?