The fuel pressure regulator maintains consistent fuel pressure in the fuel rail. It uses a spring-loaded mechanism to mitigate fluctuations in the fuel injection system.
What if the fuel pressure regulator isn’t working properly?
Let’s explore the symptoms of a faulty fuel pressure regulator, plus other common questions about it.
This Article Contains:
Let’s dive in.
Top 13 Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator Symptoms
There are two overarching symptoms when a fuel pressure regulator breaks: too much or too little pressure. These symptoms then create additional issues in the engine, exhaust, or fuel system.
A. Engine Performance Issues
You’re likely to experience engine issues like:
1. Misfires with a Decrease in Acceleration Power
An engine misfire and loss of acceleration power may result from an unbalanced air fuel ratio (caused by high or low fuel pressure). These symptoms occur in two ways:
- The vehicle can lose power while you’re driving.
- There may be a lag between engaging the gas pedal and increase in speed.
Poor acceleration presents a significant safety concern, so have your vehicle looked at immediately.
2. Engine Won’t Crank or Turn Over
A faulty fuel pressure regulator may not deliver the necessary pressure to each fuel injector, meaning your engine receives insufficient fuel. Initially, your car may start after a few tries. But your vehicle won’t start after a complete fuel pressure regulator failure.
3. Stalling and Sputtering Engine
If your fuel pressure regulator isn’t working properly, your vehicle is likely to stall when you start your car.
Why?
If the fuel pressure regulator gets stuck open, it can create lean conditions, and the engine won’t receive enough fuel to operate. This fuel pressure regulator symptom can happen alongside signs like sputtering, rough running, or an engine that won’t start.
4. Rough Engine Idling
Another bad fuel pressure regulator symptom is rough idling, which happens due to excessive or inadequate fuel supply to the engine cylinders.
5. Illuminated Check Engine Light
Cars’ computer systems detect engine performance problems and trigger the Check Engine Light in response.
However, since many issues trigger the Check Engine Light, you won’t immediately know if you have a bad fuel pressure regulator. You’ll need a mechanic to check the diagnostic code to see if the fuel pressure regulator triggered the dashboard light.
6. Black Spark Plugs
If the fuel pressure regulator releases too much fuel into the combustion chamber, it can cause spark plug blackening.
How?
Carbon deposits from unburnt fuel in the combustion chamber concentrate on a spark plug (which ignites the air fuel mixture), leading to blackening. Excessively fouled spark plugs can also result in a misfire.
B. Fuel System Issues
The fuel pressure regulator is part of the fuel system, which includes the fuel line, fuel filter, vacuum hose, etc. When it fails, other fuel system issues occur.
7. Fuel Leakage
When the diaphragm or seals on fuel pressure regulators break, you’ll experience a fuel leak. If a fuel leak happens, you’ll likely notice a strong fuel smell.
8. Fuel in the Vacuum Hose
The vacuum hose helps maintain negative pressure or vacuum within your car’s system. However, when the fuel regulator breaks, fuel can leak into the vacuum hose. It’s likely a broken diaphragm that resulted in a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator.
9. Reduced Fuel Economy
An optimal air and fuel ratio is necessary for good fuel efficiency. A broken fuel regulator disrupts the equilibrium. Too much or too little fuel pressure can reduce fuel economy. Too much pressure floods the combustion chamber, resulting in the burning of extra fuel. Low fuel pressure means the cylinders don’t get optimal fuel supply. The engine overworks to compensate, which can also reduce fuel efficiency.
10. Noisy Fuel Pump
Fuel pumps hum when drawing gas from the fuel tank. But a faulty fuel pressure regulator causes a noticeably loud fuel pump noise.
If the fuel regulator is bad, your fuel pump may not receive enough gas from the fuel tank. A lack of fuel causes excessive heat, resulting in the pump wearing out and getting louder as it works harder.
C. Exhaust and Emission Issues
Here’s how a bad regulator can affect the car’s exhaust.
11. Backfiring
If a bad regulator allows too much fuel into the engine, not all of it burns up before the exhaust valves open. This creates a fuel leakage into the exhaust headers, where it combusts and causes backfiring.
12. Fuel Dripping Out of the Exhaust
Excess fuel from the engine may drip out of the exhaust.
How does that happen?
If the extra fuel isn’t completely burnt, it’ll flow out of the tailpipe.
13. Black Smoke from the Exhaust
Excess fuel produces black smoke when it burns. While there are other reasons for black smoke exiting the exhaust, it’s likely due to a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator if it occurs with engine and fuel issues.
Still have some unanswered questions?
Read on to find answers.
4 Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator FAQs
Let’s review some common queries about the causes, safety, and costs of bad fuel pressure regulators.
1. How Does a Fuel Pressure Regulator Fail?
There are several ways a fuel pressure regulator can malfunction, including:
- Getting stuck closed due to poor maintenance and clogging. It increases the pressure in the fuel rail, causing each fuel injector to provide too much fuel.
- Getting stuck open due to clogging or damaged diaphragm. It returns excessive fuel to the fuel tank, decreasing pressure in the fuel rail.
- A ruptured diaphragm due to wear induced by alcohol-based fuels (ethanol and methanol). Fuel then leaks into the vacuum hose.
- Damaged casings (O-rings) due to aging and excessive heat exposure, resulting in the fuel pressure regulator being unable to hold pressure.
Note: Many of the symptoms of a bad fuel regulator are the same as a clogged fuel filter. So, it’s best to reach out to a mechanic for a diagnosis. However, you can test it yourself if you have a fuel pressure gauge. The fuel pressure gauge should read between 5 to 10 PSI.
2. How Long Do Fuel Pressure Regulators Last?
While there isn’t a precise estimate, fuel pressure regulators last a long time with regular maintenance and typical driving conditions. However, it’s recommended that you test yours every five years.
3. Can I Drive with Fuel Pressure Regulator Failure?
No, your vehicle won’t work with fuel pressure regulator failure since it can’t deliver an optimal airfuel mixture to the engine.
If the engine doesn’t receive the correct airfuel mixture, you’ll experience a loss of power or lack of acceleration when engaging the gas pedal, among other issues. So, driving with a faulty fuel pressure regulator is ill-advised.
4. How Much Does Replacing a Fuel Pressure Regulator Cost?
Replacement costs mainly relate to whether your fuel pressure regulator is manual or electronic. Typically, electronic regulators are more expensive. It can cost between $150-$1000.
Final Thoughts
Bad fuel pressure regulator symptoms include a lit Check Engine Light, engine misfire, poor acceleration, and many other issues, which can present safety concerns.
Suspect your fuel pressure regulator is failing?
Get in touch with a reliable auto repair service like AutoNation Mobile Service. We’ll have a mechanic resolve the issue right in your driveway, so you needn’t risk your safety. Plus, we provide a 12-month | 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
Contact us today for any car repair or maintenance service.