Question: Fuel pump cuts off on hills? A major issue we see is fuel starvation, especially when this happens with an almost empty fuel tank. Gravity can also cause the way fuel lies in the tank to be on an incline and that will often (sometimes) pull fuel away from the injector pump. This issue is aggravated when the fuel level fell under 25% as the pump has a lesser exposure to the fuel. Studies show vehicles with less than a quarter tank of gas are 30% more likely to encounter fuel delivery issues on inclines due to this phenomenon. A malfunction that prevents the spray of fuel pressurized to a typical 40-60 PSI from getting past the fuel pump (which depends on a continuous flow of fuel for its cooling and pressure) can cause it to work intermittently.
The other factor is a fuel pump that can't maintain enough pressure when the load requirements go up -- say, climbing a hill. When the engine meets with higher resistance, it needs more fuel and if the pump is weak or failing, that can stopsmovel enough fuel. That can result in the pump briefly shutting down, and ultimately stalling or pinching power away from the engine. It is commonly revealed by mechanics that in 20 percent of cases when an engine starts to stall on a slope, the cause can be attributed to weak fuel performance where the parts may have become eroded by extended use, especially if the car is older.
The other possible reason is clogged fuel filter. When driving up a hill, the pump may have to work twice as hard to push fuel through a restricted filter and could result in overheating or stalling. While the fuel filter is rated to last around 30,000 miles, it can easily clog in areas of poor quality fuel that contain impurities, and even tiny bits of particulates can cause an up to 50% reduction in fuel flow. Trouble is it that, when asked to work even harder doing things like climbing a hill for example, the pump struggles against higher than normal system impedence (caused by the clogged filter) and this can cause engine failure.
Another infamous story was an incident where over 200,000 vehicles were recalled for fuel pumps that failed predominantly (though not limited to) driving up inclines. It turned out the problem was due to a design short-coming that allowed fuel to collect in portions of the tank distant from the pump or in an empty section where there might be no more fuel, leading to mass quantities as well as pump close down.
As Henry Ford famously stated, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. If you get a little low on gas, then encounter (a hill), it will be an issue... but that's another thing drivers can keep track of.
The cost of repairing a fuel pump that will not pump when you are on a hill is minimal especially if the issue relates to the fuel level or changing out a damaged filter, although as in more major cases this may mean replacing the entire pump. Unfortunately, repairing a bad fuel pump can cost you between $500 and $1,000 to replace an old fuel pump alone and typically costs around $100 – 300 for a new fuel filter. Taking care of regular maintenance can help prevent these problems and ensure a safer drive when navigating hills5075.
Finally, fuel starvation, weak pumps or clogged filters are another common reason why the pump no longer runs on the hill. Avoiding these problems can help to prevent expensive damage and improve automobile performance. To know more about how to keep your fuel pump in place, you can check out Fuel Pump.