Causes of failure
A common problem with BMWs is the failure of the high pressure fuel pump. This is a device that serves to compress the fuel that is supplied into the fuel pump in order to increase the pressure. High pressure is needed when injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber so as to ensure that the engine runs efficiently. The high pressure fuel pump in a BMW may malfunction and fail for a number of reasons.
1. Leaks in the injector pump
Because of the high pressure that is created when injecting fuel directly into the fuel pump, there is an increase in the chances that a leakage can occur. These leaks will interfere with the functionality of the engine due to carbon build up.
2. Poor quality of oil
Using oil types that are different from the recommendations of the manufacturer may also trigger the high pressure fuel pump to fail. This is because the quality of oil may affect the rate of wear in the fuel pump.
3. Lack of oil change
Failing to change the oil in your BMW will also increase the friction between the camshaft and the lobes. When the oil levels are too low, then the friction increases. This will in turn increase the rate of wear and tear and further cause the pump to produce less pressure.
4. Solenoid failure
A solenoid is used to control the volume in a high pressure fuel pump. It does this by changing the port location in the pump. When this fails to happen the pressure in the fuel pump is lowered, causing failure in the pump.
Signs that cause malfunctions
1. Losing power when accelerating or going uphill
Accelerating, going uphill, or carrying heavy loads all require the car to burn more fuel. Burning more fuel necessitates the fuel pump to put in more work in order to keep up. Experiencing difficulty in these situations could be a sign of fuel pump failure.
2. Failure of the engine to start
When the fuel pump fails completely, it will not be able to inject fuel into the combustion chamber at all. This will automatically lead to a complete stop of the car since no fuel will be reaching the engine to run it.
3. Car jerking when accelerating
When the engine stutters in the process of acceleration, the pump is likely to be failing. This stutter or jerking is caused by the failure of the fuel pump to inject fuel into the engine consistently due to the irregular pressure in the pump. While the situation may only last a moment before going back to normal, this is a sign that you need to check the fuel pump in your BMW.
4. Surge in the engine
Surging in the engine occurs when the car accelerates even when you have not pressed the gas pedal. It happens because when the fuel pump starts to fail, the parts will wear out at different rates creating a mismatch that causes the pressure in the engine to be inconsistent. These inconsistencies can cause a surge, which can be very dangerous when driving.
