Cleaning the fuel pump screen with your own hands

Due to the known quality of fuel at domestic gas stations, it becomes necessary to change fuel filters more often, change or clean the fuel pump screens. Whatever high-quality filters you equip your car with, they really clean gasoline and diesel from dirt and dust with high quality, but you have to change them much more often than indicated in the manufacturer's regulations. 

We will figure out how to independently clean the gas pump and the coarse mesh, how often it needs to be done, and what symptoms indicate the need for this operation. 

When and why you need to change / clean the fuel pump mesh

To update the decision to clean or replace the fuel pump mesh, the following factors should be indicated:

• Difficulty starting the engine regardless of the weather and air temperature;
• dynamics is significantly reduced, especially felt when the accelerator pedal is pressed sharply;
• jerks and jerks when pressing the gas pedal;
• unstable idle, delayed response to the throttle pedal;
• in transient conditions, the engine may stall.

It is important to understand that such a character of the car's behavior as sluggish acceleration, the inability to overtake other cars, the need to downshift when driving downhill.

The above problems indicate one of several reasons directly related to the fuel system. Let's fix our attention on the fuel pump and discuss this issue in more detail. 

Fuel system problems fall into three categories:

• the fuel filter or grid is too clogged, which reduces the throughput of the fuel system;
• failure of the fuel pump;
• there is a problem with the fuel equipment (injector).

Also, air leakage from the fuel system should not be ruled out, it is airing that can block the fuel supply to the injectors, especially on diesel engines. Also, the fuel pressure regulator may fail, due to which fuel will be supplied to the nozzles partially under different pressure, or the supply will be blocked altogether. If your car has been parked for a long time, do not exclude the possibility of air getting into the fuel pump, which also makes it impossible to start the engine without pumping, by “thrown” the fuel pipe from the fuel rail.

As for the fuel pump, it can fail instantly and gradually, as evidenced by a sharp decrease in power. 

An experienced serviceman will advise, in this case, he will advise you to replace the fuel pump, as well as pay attention to the condition of the coarse filter (the same mesh) and replace the fine fuel filter. 

According to the general regulations, the fuel filter is replaced every 50-70 thousand kilometers, and depends on the quality of gasoline and the filter element itself. In new cars, the grid replacement schedule is 120 km, and the automaker is trying to change the fuel station assembly with the pump located in the tank. 

It is worth noting that a clogged grid of a gasoline pump and a filter has an extremely detrimental effect on engines with direct fuel injection, can lead to clogging of expensive injectors, as well as to detonation due to high temperature in the cylinder (insufficient fuel does not cool the cylinder).

So, based on the fact that the gas pump mesh and fine filter are relatively inexpensive, it is recommended to change them at least every 50000 km, or follow the factory regulations. 

How to clean the fuel pump yourself

So, the fuel pump is in the fuel tank. Modern cars are equipped with a fuel station, where a large plastic “glass”, on which the pump and the fuel level sensor are mounted, is also a filter. A coarse filter is attached to the pump, which retains dirt and other large deposits. 

So, the process of cleaning the pump and the mesh is as follows:

• since the fuel pump is located directly in the gas tank, you need to get to it through the passenger compartment or trunk. Depending on the design, the fuel station cover can be located under the seat of the rear sofa, or under the raised floor of the trunk. For this procedure, you must arm yourself with a minimum set of tools;
• then we find the cover, and before removing it, be sure to clean it of dust and dirt, as well as the place around it so that nothing gets into the gas tank;
• then we release the pressure by releasing the fuel pressure. On the cover you will see the fuel pump power connector that needs to be removed. Now we work with the starter for a few seconds until all the fuel is pumped into the cylinders;
• now we take off the negative terminal from the battery in order to remove the connectors from the fuel pipes (one tube is the fuel supply, the second is the return). How to properly remove the tube clamps - refer to the instructions for the repair and operation of your car;
• if your hatch is structurally equipped with a clamping ring, then you cannot unscrew it by hand, so you will have to use a special puller. If there is no such device, then the lid can be thrown off by attaching a flat screwdriver and tapping on it with a hammer, the main thing is not to overdo it so as not to break the lid. Stock up on the cover gasket in advance;
• before you remove the fuel pump, let the fuel drain into the tank, and then cover the tank to prevent unwanted products from entering the fuel;
• proceed to disassemble the pump. For the pump, it is necessary to remove the lower part of the housing, where all the dirt settles;
• then remove the mesh from the pump, for this it is enough to tuck under the filter retaining ring;
• evaluate the condition of the fuel screen, if it is completely clogged - there is a possibility that the fine fuel filter will have to be changed, and it is advisable to flush the nozzles. Remember that due to a clogged filter, the fuel pump overcomes strong resistance, which causes it to overheat and fail;
• if the mesh is dirty on the surface, then we clean it with a special spray, such as a carburetor cleaner, rinse until the mesh is clean on the outside. Then blow it out with compressed air. In another case, we simply change the grid to a new one, preferably the original one;
• the final stage is the assembly and installation of the fuel station in its place. We install the pump in the reverse order, and if the level indicator, after turning on the ignition, starts showing the wrong amount of fuel - do not be alarmed, after one refueling, the sensor adapts itself.

Also, after assembly, the car will not start immediately, so turn on the ignition several times so that the pump pumps fuel on the highway, then start the engine.

Tips and Tricks

To ensure that the fuel system always works properly, use the following tips:

• refuel only with high-quality fuel;
• change fuel filters more often than recommended by the regulations;
• clean the injectors every 50000 km by removing them, or add cleaning additives to the tank every year - it will also be useful for the filter;
• do not empty the fuel tank below the ⅓ level so that dirt does not rise from the bottom and clog the pump.