Feeding sluggishness in a car may be due to many reasons; the fuel pump can be one major factor. The usual pressure at which the fuel pumps pump the fuel is from 30 to 60 psi. If the pressure falls below this range, then it is not possible for the engine to get enough fuel to make it run properly. According to automotive studies, about 25 percent of drivers face sluggish acceleration problems in their cars, which is due to improper fuel delivery.
When a fuel pump starts to wear out, it cannot maintain the correct flow rate consistently and rightfully impacts the engine's performance. A driver may notice that his car, which could originally return 30 miles per gallon, has dropped down to about 22 mpg-giving a hint of potential issues with the fuel pump. Notably, automotive expert John Paul is quoted as saying, "A failing fuel pump can often masquerade as other problems, but sluggishness is a common symptom."
More specifically, poor fuel delivery causes an engine misfire, particularly at times of acceleration. In a study by the Automotive Diagnostic Association, it is estimated that 15% of all engine misfires are attributed to fuel delivery problems, which can be further pinpointed to a malfunctioning fuel pump. One first-person testimony described how a technician discovered that, following repeated misfires, the problematic source was a fuel pump running at only half its designed capacity.
Another determining factor is the age of the fuel pump. Most of them have an average life existence of about 100,000 miles beyond, after which sluggish performance may be expected. Of course, such problems can be detected earlier through periodic checks; for example, after every 20,000 to 30,000 miles, the fuel pump and filter may need to be checked so as to avoid major disappointments regarding performance.
In general, the sluggishness of a car can be one symptom of trouble in the fuel pump. On time examination and maintenance is the best way to ensure very good performance of a vehicle and sustain the life of the critical components in a vehicle. Check out Fuel Pump for more on your car's fuel system.