You probably know what to do when your car has a dead battery or a flat tire. But do you know what to do if your fuel pressure regulator is going bad?
A fuel pressure regulator helps control the amount of fuel that flows into a car’s engine. Not all engines need the same amount of fuel. The fuel pressure regulator keeps the amount of fuel balanced.
A broken fuel pressure regulator can cause performance issues. Luckily, your car gives plenty of warning signs of a faulty fuel pressure regulator. In this article, we’ll go through each one so you’ll know when you need to replace your fuel pressure regulator.
Keep reading to learn more!
1. Car Misfires
The most common symptom of a bad fuel pressure regulator is when the engine misfires. Your engine may have a hard time starting and accelerating. It may even struggle to stay running. If you notice your car is stalling or losing power, it can mean your fuel pressure regulator is going bad.
You need to schedule an appointment soon to get your car inspected.
2. Black Smoke From Exhaust
Dark gray or black smoke coming from your exhaust is always cause for alarm. If you have a failing fuel pressure regulator, the vehicle can emit dark smoke from the exhaust pipe.
A faulty fuel pressure regulator makes your car burn too much fuel which will reduce the mpg.
3. Leaking Fuel From Exhaust Pipe
If you don’t notice smoke coming from your exhaust, you may see it leaking. A malfunctioning regulator will cause gasoline to get into your car’s exhaust system. You may also notice a fuel smell if this is the case.
Pay close attention if anything but water is dripping out of your tailpipe. You will need to get your fuel pressure regulator inspected soon.
4. Gasoline in Vacuum Hose
A bad fuel pressure regulator will cause gasoline in your car to leak into other systems. Gasoline can leak out of your exhaust pipe, but it can also get trapped in the vacuum hoses on your regulator. You can check this by detaching the hoses and looking inside them to see if gasoline is stuck inside.
Take it into a shop if it does.
5. Soot Covered Spark Plugs
When looking under the hood of your car, look at the spark plugs. A broken fuel pressure regulator can cause the tips to have a black soot-like substance on them. Any black markings on it can result from oil burning in your engine.
Check all the spark plugs, not one or two. If they have soot on them, you’ll need to get them and your fuel pressure regulator replaced.
Get Your Fuel Pressure Regulator Replaced
A bad fuel pressure regulator will cause problems throughout your vehicle. These problems include engine issues, smoke in your exhaust pipe, and gasoline leaking. Pay attention to the warning signs your car gives you so you can schedule your car for an evaluation ASAP!
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