Although a fuel pump failure may lead to a fire, this does not always happen under specified conditions-rare, but serious possibility. The Fuel Pump transfers the fuel inside the tank to the engine and operates under high pressure, typically in the range of 30-80 psi. When it fails, the Fuel Pump might cause fuel to leak, which could be extremely hazardous once the fuel comes into contact with a hot surface or an electrical spark. Besides, being highly flammable, gasoline can explode if it were in a high-pressure system and escaped from the controlled environment of the fuel system.
The most common cause of such Fuel Pump failure leading to fire is electrical failure. A short to the Fuel Pump wiring can generate sparks, and if this is concurrent with a fuel leak, the mixture could ignite a fire. A recall by Ford in 2016 for more than 500,000 vehicles demonstrated the fire danger with Fuel Pump-related vehicle fires. In this case, the Fuel Pump control module was prone to failure and sometimes caused the engine to stall; at other times, it could eventually increase the risk of a fuel leak that may cause a fire.
The possibility of another risk factor could be external damage: because such a mechanical accident might occur either to the Fuel Pump itself or to the fuel lines due to impacts or accidents. Sometimes, older vehicles can have weakened fuel pump housing or fuel lines due to corrosion and leak. For example, rust can corrode the fuel lines, and even a minor crack or puncture may result in considerable leakage of fuel. The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly 2% of vehicle fires involve fuel system leaks, thus the periodic Fuel Pump inspection is very essential.
Today’s vehicles have fuel shutoff mechanisms in case of a collision as a standard safety feature preventing potential fires. Still, preventative maintenance is always the best way to avoid Fuel Pump failure. Replacement of a malfunctioning Fuel Pump ranges between $400 and $800 while the resulting damage of a fire could mean total vehicle loss and possible injury, well beyond the cost of repair.
As Warren Buffett once said, “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” Such assurance of periodic check-ups and repair of faults that could arise in the Fuel Pump prevents bad occurrences like fire.
For further details on how to maintain a safe Fuel Pump system, log in to Fuel Pump.