Yes, Fuel Pumps can most definitely affect emission results. An old, weak, or bad fuel pump will ultimately cause the air-to-fuel ratio in the engine to be compromised, and eventually this will lead to incomplete combustion. When an engine runs lean-meaning there is too much air and less fuel-it generates higher amounts of NOx, extremely harmful pollutants. On the other side, if the Fuel Pump delivers too much fuel and the engine is running rich, much higher amounts of hydrocarbons, HC, and carbon monoxide, CO, are emitted, thus failing the emission tests.
In fuel-injected engines, fuel pressure needs to be maintained between 40 and 60 PSI for proper combustion. If the Fuel Pump cannot maintain this pressure, it alters the balance of the air-fuel mixture of the vehicle's engine. Since it upsets the balance, it directly relates to the efficiency of the catalytic converter that was put in place to reduce hazardous emissions. A weak or faulty Fuel Pump decreases the effectiveness of this system; therefore, harmful emissions increase.
More than 280,000 Volkswagen vehicles were recalled back in 2020 due to a fuel pump defect that caused engines to run erratically, thus increasing Volkswagen's emissions. Such is a case where a minor problem in the fuel system leads to great environmental impact and legal compliance problems.
The faulty or underperforming Fuel Pump can also be responsible for turning on the check engine light very frequently in relation to error codes P0171 and P0172, referring to system too lean and system too rich, respectively, indicating fuel system efficiency and emissions. These kinds of problems may be avoided if periodic checks of the Fuel Pump, along with other related components, are made; hence, making it quite easy for the vehicle to clear an emission test.
As once said by automotive expert David Vizard, "Fuel systems are the backbone of engine efficiency, and without efficiency, emissions rise." Ensuring that the Fuel Pump delivers fuel properly will be one sure step toward reduced emissions and better health for your engine.
For more tips on maintaining your Fuel Pump and ways to improve your vehicle's emissions performance, visit Fuel Pump.
