Express Car Care Tech Question:

I was driving on a local Denver freeway and my truck started sputtering and then the engine finally quit and I couldn’t get it started.  I was towed to a shop in Denver and found out I had to replace my fuel pump.

What could I have done to have saved my fuel pump?

Express Car Care Answer:

This is a tough one for Denver drivers because there isn’t any maintenance recommendations for fuel pumps.  They’re inside the fuel tank and you really can’t get to them without removing the tank.  But Denver motorists can do some things to make the fuel pumps job easier so they last a little longer.

A lot of vehicles are equipped with a fuel filter on their gas line.  This filters out dirt and rust from the gas tank before it gets to the engine.  Replacing a clogged fuel filter as recommended reduces the strain on your fuel pump.

Many newer vehicles driving around Denver have their fuel filter inside the fuel tank so it cannot be changed.  A good tip for car owners is to not run the fuel tank too low – this can cause fuel starvation that excessively wears the pump.  Also, you can’t go wrong using good quality gasoline with high levels of detergent.  This helps prevent the buildup of varnish and gum all along the fuel system.

A professional fuel system cleaning will clean fuel injectors and help remove carbon deposits from the valves and combustion chamber.

All these things improve fuel economy and increase performance for Denver car owners.  Ask your helpful Express Car Care service specialist if a fuel system cleaning is recommended.