The fuel pumps are generally designed to deal with abrupt changes in RPM and are capable of continuous fuel supply in the case of either rapid acceleration or deceleration. In newer cars, the fuel pump works together with the ECU, increasing or decreasing performance depending on the instantaneous demands of the engine. Such an arrangement provides for almost instantaneous increases or decreases in the flow of fuel, thus enabling efficient handling of rapid RPM changes. In common vehicles, the fuel pumps run within a pressure range that is usually 30 to 80 psi. If the pump is healthy, this pressure tends to remain constant through quick RPM changes.
Most high-performance vehicles use higher-flow fuel pumps as the factories have found that to keep fuel delivery to the right levels at high variances of RPM, higher-capacity pumps are needed. For example, on some vehicles, the high-performance fuel pumps deliver up to 255 liters per hour to ensure that enough fuel reaches the high-revolution-per-minute engine. In such situations, a fuel pressure regulator becomes very important. This prevents the lean state, the state when there is excess air and a lack of fuel. These could result in misfires, loss of power, and even potential engine knock. Performance fuel pumps are made from the right materials and components that can bear the stress rapid changes present, allowing proper fuel flow and constant fuel pressure.
The more this happens when internal components wear out-such as an impeller or a motor-the older the fuel pump gets, which cannot keep pace with rapid changes in RPM. As fuel pumps get older, efficiency decreases; such decrease in efficiency reduces their capacity for fast fuel delivery and sustaining pressure. This can be a valid reason for hesitation or poor response to quick accelerations. Another reason mechanics would say is that a fuel pump should generally be changed every 100,000 miles, or whenever necessary, to ensure consistency in performance and fuel delivery.
The other improvement in the fuel delivery technology deals with variable-speed fuel pumps. Such a pump will change its speed dynamically to meet engine demands, thus making fuel delivery much more efficient by not over-delivery during low RPMs but assured flow when sudden, quick acceleration is required. This design offers efficiency and reliability for vehicles designed to operate under various conditions.
As the late automotive icon Carroll Shelby once said, “Performance is all about power and precision.” Precision cannot be compromised in fuel delivery, particularly on quick changes in RPMs. For highly demandable fuel pumps, visit Fuel Pump.