Effects of Driving a Car With a Bad Fuel Pump

Driving A Car With A Bad Fuel Pump

In this article we will be providing answers to some frequently asked questions such as can a car drive with bad fuel pump drive?

How to drive a car with a bad fuel pump? And how long can a car drive with bad fuel pump?

You may be probably wondering and asking can I still drive my car with a bad fuel pump? Well it is actually possible.

However, it is pertinent to state that we do not recommend it, unless emergency permits you to do so.

It is best that you immediately fix your bad fuel pump in your car.

Driving a Car With a Bad Fuel Pump (How Long) Can a Car Drive with a Bad Fuel Pump

Driving a car with bad fuel pump is indeed possible, but it comes with a number of problems as well.

Below are the effects of driving a car with a bad fuel pump:

 1. Sudden Stalling of Your Engine

The first effect of Driving A Car With A Bad Fuel Pump is that is can stall the engine of your vehicle.

Although it is possible to drive a car with a bad fuel pump, one of the potential issues you would likely be facing is that your engine would suddenly stop, while you are driving.

This is because a problem with the fuel pump shut off switch may arise and this would shut off the fuel pumping into the car engine, thereby causing the engine to stop all of a sudden.

However, a temporary solution to this is that you would have to reactivate the fuel pump by pressing the reset button for the fuel pump switch.

 2. No Ignition

This is one of the most common issues that you would experience, driving a car with bad fuel pump.

In this case, if your fuel pump is greatly damaged and the switch is affected, your engine may fail to start.

You may notice the engine is cranking and trying to pick up, but it will however be unable to start, as a result of the bad fuel pump.

 3. Car Surging

This is another effect of driving a car with bad fuel pump. You would experience continuous car surging anytime your car tries to accelerate.

4. Absurd Noise From The Fuel Tank

If you are driving a car with bad fuel pump, then you may be hearing some kind of absurd noise, whenever you start the ignition.

These absurd sounds are produced as a result of lack of pressure to transfer fuel from the fuel pump to the engine.

However, absurd sounds can mean other issues in your car. So it is best you simply take the car to an auto repair shop for inspection.

 5. Poor Fuel Economy

What is the use of driving a car with bad fuel pump if you constantly have to refill your tank? It is stressful and of course, costly.

When you decide to drive a car with bad fuel pump, your car will burn fuel at an unusually high rate simply because the valve inside the fuel pump is not opening thereby causing too much fuel to enter the engine compartment.

 6. Engine Overheating

Another problem that comes with driving a car with bad fuel pump is that your car engine temperature would be rising beyond normal.

This consequently causes stalling, and can affect your car in a number of other ways.

In all, driving a car with bad fuel pump is not at all advisable. There are a lot of issues and risks attached to it.

It is better to take your car to a professional auto mechanic shop for inspection and repair services.

How Long Can a Car Drive With a Bad Pump?

How long a car drives with bad fuel pump largely depends on the degree of fuel pump damage.

Normal fuel pumps are expected to work for about 100,000 miles to as high as 200,000 miles.

Therefore, a car with bad fuel pump will drive for less than 100,000 miles for sure, depending on how bad the fuel pump is.

If the damage is seriously bad, the car may drive for about 45,000 miles or even less.

How long your car will drive with bad fuel pump also depends on how you are able to manage the situation.

Usually, a car with bad fuel pump will drive for only about 15 to 30 minutes before the engine goes off.

How To Drive A Car With Bad Fuel Pump

 1. Attach a Fuel Pressure Gauge

This is the first thing to do when starting a car that has a defective fuel pump.

The work of the pressure gauge is to give you a hint about the actual fault of your car engine.

 2. Make Sure You Maintain Your Car Engine Heat

Driving a car with bad fuel pump usually causes the engine to overheat.

Therefore, whenever you want to drive a car with bad fuel pump, it is necessary to keep the car engine temperature within a safe range.

You would have to allow the engine to cool off, when the engine heat is rising rapidly.

Maintaining the heat temperature will stabilize the engine performance and allow you to drive the car for some miles.

 3. Apply Additional Pressure To Start Your Car

The last technique used in driving a car with bad fuel pump is application of external pressure to start your car.

Since the fuel pump is malfunctioning, it won’t be able to provide the sufficient pressure needed to pump fuel into your car engine.

And when your car engine receives insufficient pressure, it would begin to stall and may not to start.

For this reason, you have to add extra and external pressure to your car engine so as to provide it with the sufficient pressure needed to make it start.

However, it is necessary to note or keep in mind that these alternatives, regarding how to drive a car with bad fuel pump, are all temporary. Sooner or later, you would have to change your fuel pump.

Moreover, these methods may not work, if the condition of the faulty fuel pump is very critical.

Conclusion On Driving A Car With A Bad Fuel Pump

We hope this article has enlightened you on how to drive a car with bad fuel pump as well as the problems associated with it.

There is no need to bother yourself with the question can you still drive a car with a bad fuel pump?

The best solution is to replace the bad fuel pump of your car. It will save your unnecessary costs as well as the stress that comes with driving a car with a bad fuel pump.