What You Need to Know about Low Fuel Pressure in Your Audi
Low fuel pressure isn’t a common issue among all types of cars. However, it does occur more frequently in certain German cars—particularly VW and Audi models. But what causes low fuel pressure? How can you recognize this problem in your own car? And, if you notice this problem, what can you do about it? Keep reading to get answers to these questions from our Audi mechanic in Houston, TX.
What Causes It?
Low fuel pressure typically occurs due to premature wear on a part in your engine known as the camshaft follower. The camshaft follower works alongside the engine’s camshaft to convert rotary motion into linear motion; essentially, these two parts are the team that allows the turning of the engine to translate into the forward movement for your car.
The camshaft follower is typically located between the intake camshaft and the fuel pump shaft in these engines. If constant friction from the pump shaft causes a hole to form on the camshaft follower, this can result in low fuel pressure.
Recognizing Low Fuel Pressure
If you’re not very familiar with car parts and engines, all of that information above probably made very little sense. But that’s okay. The more important thing for you to know as a driver is how to recognize this problem in your own vehicle.
The most obvious sign of this problem is your check engine light coming on in your dash. Of course, this can indicate any number of problems in your car, but regardless of what’s causing that light to come on, it’s a good idea to bring your car in to have it checked out. Other signs of low fuel pressure include a significant decrease in acceleration, black smoke emitting from the exhaust pipe (white or gray fumes are normal), higher RPMs when driving, and frequent misfiring of the engine.
Model Most Likely to Be Affected
As we’ve already mentioned, VW and Audi models are more commonly affected by low fuel pressure than other kinds of cars. Specifically, they’re often seen in models that have a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. This engine type is commonly used in the Volkswagen Tiguan, Golf, Jetta, and Passat, as well as the Audi A4, A6, S4, and S6. If you have one of these models of cars, make sure to keep a close eye out for the issues mentioned above and have the camshaft follower regularly inspected when performing routine maintenance on your vehicle.
How to Fix the Problem
If you are experiencing low fuel pressure, as you’ve probably guessed, the solution is to replace the damaged camshaft follower. Luckily, this is a relatively inexpensive part, and more modern Audi and VW vehicles have a diamond-like coating on camshaft followers to reduce wear from friction. This means that we can complete your Audi repair in Houston using a new follower with a high-quality coating so that you’re less likely to experience this problem in the future. Bring your car by Bemer Motor Cars today, and we’ll repair the problem quickly so your car can perform at peak efficiency again.