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If your vehicle displays any of these symptoms, you may want to bring it in before any of the next ones appear. The reason we batch them together is that each is caused by the same thing, the air/fuel mixture being off. What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Regulator? Engine Misfires / Poor Acceleration / Reduced Fuel MileageĮarly signs of a failing fuel pressure regulator include engine misfires and poor acceleration and fuel mileage. If there’s an issue with your fuel pressure regulator, too much or too little will end up in the combustion chamber, which has several side effects. If the fuel pressure is higher than needed, the regulator stops the flow and returns the excess to the fuel tank.
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This small yet crucial part ensures that the amount of fuel sent via the fuel pump, and how much pressure it has, does not go higher than it should. Say hello to the fuel pressure regulator. Once there, it’s injected into the combustion chamber and ignited. It then gets passed through a filter before continuing on in the fuel line toward the injectors. The moment you turn your key in the ignition, the fuel pump draws out a specific amount of fuel from the gas tank.
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Now that you understand what a pressure regulator is – let’s look at how it works. The fuel pressure regulator is in charge of how much fuel there is and how much pressure it has when going through the injectors. When this balance leans one way or another, it’s referred to as running rich (too much fuel) or lean (too much air). As an example, cruising at 45 mph requires less fuel than hard-accelerating from 45-60.įor proper ignition inside the combustion chamber, there has to be a precise mix of air and fuel. The amount of fuel an engine needs depends mostly on what is being asked of it by the driver. Not only that, but it also does so for the amount of fuel sent to the injectors (on vehicles with direct injection). That’s right, it regulates fuel pressure. One great thing about the fuel pressure regulator is that its purpose is nicely described in its name.
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