Indeed, a faulty fuel pump can cause overheating in an engine, as it has a great influence on the correct fuel pressure and flow to the engine. With a malfunctioning Fuel Pump, proper amounts of fuel for combustion may not be correctly delivered. This will lead to an imbalance in the air-to-fuel ratio, resulting in incomplete combustion. According to the findings of one study by the Automotive Repair Industry, 15% of engine overheating problems are due to Fuel Pump failure.
A low-performing Fuel Pump decreases the supply of fuel, which makes the engine have to run lean: too much air and not enough fuel. This can also make the engine temperature rise since lean combustion produces more heat. In extreme cases, overheating can cause serious engine damage. If something happens to the Fuel Pump, the ECU commonly performs compensation by adjusting fuel injection; it could only do this to some degree, after which the increased demand for fuel can’t be matched anymore. Moreover, clogged and destroyed Fuel Pumps also barely manage to hold their pressures constant and can then provide an uneven supply of fuel. Such fluctuations will similarly affect the performance and can increase overheating conditions. Fuel Pumps are designed to give a continuous flow of fuel to the engine at a certain pressure, usually around 50 to 60 psi in most vehicles, but when the pump is malfunctioning, the pressure drops or fluctuates. This inconsistency can cause the engine to misfire, overheat, or experience performance issues.
Examples from the automotive sector support the claim that Fuel Pump issues can lead to engine overheating. A 2020 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that in several vehicle models, engine overheating incidents were more related to poor fuel delivery by malfunctioning Fuel Pumps. On the other hand, repair shops find that replacement of a malfunctioned Fuel Pump usually solves all overheating and performance problems, pointing to a direct link between pump failure and engine temperature regulation problems.
In short, a faulty Fuel Pump can cause an engine to overheat by failing to deliver adequate fuel, leading to inefficient combustion, temperature imbalances, and potential damage to engine components.