“It’s probably the fuel pump.” You often hear about the fuel pump “going” on a car. But did you know just how important of a car repair this can be? At All Around Auto Repair we care about your car as much as you do and want to help you keep it running at peak performance for as long as you own it.
A Clean Gas Tank Improves Engine Performance
If you own your car long enough, the odds are good that at some point the fuel pump will need to be replaced. It’s not an inexpensive car repair, though not as expensive as having to replace your gas tank as well. That’s why it’s crucial that a car’s gas tank be cleaned when replacing the fuel pump.
The non-profit Car Care Council recommends thoroughly cleaning the gas tank every time the fuel pump is replaced. Taking this one simple step has great benefits.
- It ensures maximum engine performance
- Fuel efficiency is increased
- Leaks can be detected, and the tank can be reconditioned if necessary
- The straps and mounting can be checked for corrosion
How much action does your car’s gas tank see? In vehicles that get 20 mpg, about 5,000 gallons of gas will flow through the tank every 100,000 miles. And while a fuel pump catches some of the bad stuff, smaller contaminants can make their way past a filtering system.
Cleaning out old dirt, debris, rust, and other contaminants that have accumulated at the bottom of the tank protects your new fuel pump and helps your car or truck run more efficiently. Here are the steps a mechanic takes to properly clean a gas tank.
- Once the tank is removed, all fuel is drained into an approved container.
- Accumulated debris and contaminants are cleaned from the top of the tank, especially around the module or hanger assembly.
- The lock ring and module or hanger assembly is removed.
- The tank is flushed with water before installing the new module or hanger assembly.
- A soap and water solution is used to clean the inside of the fuel tank. Because of their internal baffling, this can be difficult to do on modern fuel tanks.
- Compressed air is circulated through the tank to thoroughly dry it out. It takes about 30 minutes for a tank to completely dry.
Your mechanic can then check the tank for signs of physical damage or rust, in which case it must be repaired or replaced.
The goal is to get your car’s gas tank as close to its original condition as possible. This ensures your new fuel pump will operate as efficiently as the original one did when your car rolled off the assembly line.
Learn Other Car Repair Tips
Everyone wants the best fuel efficiency their car can deliver. Cleaning the gas tank when replacing the fuel pump is a smart car repair for achieving that goal. Conveniently located in Windsor, All Around Auto Repair is Sonoma’s County most trusted source for car repair and regular maintenance.
We provide the car repair services you need to keep your vehicle running well any time of the year. Contact us online today to learn more, or call us at 707.837.0646 to schedule an appointment.
