The Symptoms of Fuel Pump Failure in Your Porsche

Fuel is one of the largest driving factors in buyers’ choice to buy a car or not, no pun intended. Picking the right car these days has a great deal to do with what kind of gas mileage it gets. Performance vehicles tend to have a notorious reputation for low gas mileage; however, in recent years, developers of cars such as Porsche have turned that fact around. The most current Porsche models rival the gas mileage of some of the more fuel-efficient vehicles on the market today. Although, that assumes that the Porsche in question is being cared for properly. Ongoing vehicle care should always include fuel system maintenance in order to keep your fuel efficiency at top-notch. If you own or drive a Porsche, you’ve likely invested a great deal of effort in caring for it, since most Porsche owners take a great deal of pride in their automobile, rightfully so. It’s important to stay on top of routine maintenance and care when it comes to your fuel system, and failure to do so could lead to problems like fuel pump failure. Because fuel pump issues are most common in certain Porsche models, it is essential to be able to recognize the symptoms of fuel pump failure in your own Porsche. Here are some of the signs that your Porsche might display when the fuel pump isn’t functioning properly:

Engine is Running Hot

The dashboard in your Porsche is the central hub for alerting the driver of the functionality of various components in the vehicle. The dashboard will let you know when you’re running out of windshield wiper fluid, when your tire is losing air, or when there is a problem with the engine. Of course, it also tells you the temperature that your engine is running at. Like all other vehicles, your Porsche should maintain a steady temperature that runs generally right between hot and cold. If you notice that your temperature gauge is on the warm side, or even hot, then there could be an issue with the fuel pump. If the engine temperature is off at all, you should bring your Porsche into a trusted automotive specialist for an inspection.

Lowered Fuel Economy

This may go without saying, but if your fuel pump is failing, you will experience a noticeable difference in the fuel economy of your Porsche. Usually this symptom is due to the ineffective ratio of air and fuel being produced, which causes a decrease in performance overall. Lowered fuel economy is simply one of the many performance-related problems that your Porsche may encounter, but it is certainly one of the most noticeable to drivers for the aforementioned reasons. Keeping track of your gas mileage can help alert you to issues with your fuel system, namely your fuel pump.

Starting Issues

One of the most detrimental signs of fuel pump failure is difficulty starting the engine. The fuel pump supplies the engine with fuel which is combined with air to ignite the engine. Unfortunately, a Porsche that won’t start could be experiencing any number of other problems that are the root cause of the issue. Since fuel pump repair and replacement can be expensive, an accurate differential diagnosis should be performed by a professional Porsche automotive specialist to eliminate other less-expensive problems as the possible source of the starting trouble.

Decrease in Power

Perhaps second on the list of most disturbing symptoms of a failing fuel pump is a decrease in engine power. Those who drive a Porsche will certainly notice a difference in performance, as this is one of the hallmarks of the brand. A Porsche may experience a decrease in engine power if it isn’t receiving enough fuel. This could be due to a few different fuel system issues, so it’s important that your repair technician is thorough and concise with his work.

Since 1984, the Porsche experts at Euro Plus Automotive have been providing the areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, the San Fernando Valley, and greater Los Angeles County, CA, with dealership-quality repair and maintenance work. While Porsche is certainly a luxury brand vehicle, we believe that all drivers should be able to provide the same quality care for their cars, which is why we offer special financing and warranty options for our clients. If you think your Porsche may have an issue with the fuel system or fuel pump, please contact us to schedule a diagnostic procedure. We look forward to restoring your car back to its optimal performance level.

Porsche Cayman image credit goes to: SusanaValera.