If you haven’t thought about cleaning your vehicle’s fuel system, you’re not alone. Most people end up neglecting this important aspect of car maintenance. A clean fuel system is key in vehicle power, performance, fuel economy and driveability. A dirty fuel system can affect a number of systems in your vehicle. It will also cause you to pay more for repairs down the road.

The fuel system starts in the gas tank. Fuel lines, fuel filters, fuel injectors and fuel pumps are what feed the gas/air mixture that is ignited by the spark plugs. There are any number of things that can happen when you don’t maintain the fuel system. Some of these are addressed here:

• The fuel pump has a clogged screen filter. Because the fuel pump is responsible for sending fuel to the engine for combustion, anything that hinders the flow of fuel will cause problems. If the screen at the bottom of the filter becomes clogged with debris found in the gas tank, you may have difficulty starting your vehicle. You may also notice backfiring, stalling and hesitation when accelerating. The best way to avoid problems like this is to have the fuel filter cleaned or replaced.
• The voltage going to the fuel pump is low. This can occur when your car battery is bad or the wires leading to the fuel pump are incorrect or broken.
• The fuel lines are cracked or clogged. These lines should be replaced.
• The fuel filter is old and/or clogged. Fuel filters will get clogged over time and need to be replaced. Some say a fuel filter should be replaced between 20,000 and 40,000 miles. Others say that because fuels are cleaner, the time frame for replacing a fuel filter can be stretched out longer.
• One or more fuel injectors need to be replaced. Fuel injectors can last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. The amount of time it takes before one or more injectors fails depends on the type of gas used and how often you have the fuel filters changed.

One last item to note… it’s important not to let the level of gas in your vehicle get close to empty before filling the tank. When you wait until the gauge reads close to empty or the gas light comes on, the fuel lines will be sucking in more debris, which will cause problems with the fuel system. Instead, try to fill your vehicle when the gauge reads ¼-tank full.

The best way to make sure your vehicle is operating its best is to maintain all the engine components, including the fuel system. Make an appointment to have us clean your fuel system today.