Fuel contamination is a primary reason for fuel pump failure and if not taken care of this would be disastrous. This is where it all starts: The job of a fuel pump is to supply your engine with clean fuel from the tank, ensuring that everything operates at just the right pressure and flow for optimal performance. This is not a problem, but when external pollutants such as dirt, debris, rust and water enter the fuel tank and then into the system they can accumulate in the pump causing heavy wear to its internal components as well as damage.
Fuel pumps are especially damaged by water contamination. With even a small water content in the fuel, it can cause corrosion of internal components of the pump rusting them and damaging important parts like the pump motor. As fuel is not supposed to mix with water, it modifies the combustion process and will lead to misfires, lack of engine performance or stalling. A water-contaminated fuel pump is 70-percent more likely to die of internal rust, says the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This causes the pump to work harder and heat the fuel as it struggles to deliver fuel, but also stops proper fuel flow from being delivered due to frozen water correct?
Another major threat to your fuel pump is sediment and debris, often added by bad or dirty fuel. Although the fuel filter is designed to be your first line of defense, it can become clogged with buildup and contaminants over time. A clogged fuel filter can make the fuel pump do more work to push fuel through the system and cause it to overheat. A pump may burn out the motor and make you lose it entirely if it overheats permanently. Figures from the automotive repair sector reveal that as many as 20% of all fuel pump failures can be attributed to fuel contamination, and this is particularly true for more mature vehicles where a degree of wear and tear on the fuel system has taken place.
In 2016, a notable case was reported of the risk of fuel contamination in practice. Thousands of vehicles may have experienced fuel pump damage after several gas stations in the Midwest sold fuel contaminated with water and sediment. Drivers in many cases have had to replace their pumps — which typically cost anywhere from $400-$600 depending on the vehicle make and model.
Above all, preventing fuel contamination is how you will keep a fuel pump healthy. A fuel filter change, buying good quality gas and avoiding gas stations known to have contamination problems can all help. In addition, it is common for a mechanic to advise that the fuel tank never go below one-quarter full at the end of as this increases the likelihood of sediment from the bottom of the tank being sucked into and clogging the fuel distribution system.
Conclusion: Fuel Contamination can seriously damage the life of a Fuel Pump resulting into unwanted repairs & breakdowns. These risks can be avoided with proper care and monitoring of the fuel system.