Fuel Regulator Symptoms

Fuel pressure regulators, also called fuel regulators, are important parts of a car’s fuel system. Their function is to keep the fuel pressure at a constant rate, usually around 28 pounds per square inch. The fuel pressure regulator reacts to an excess in fuel pressure by opening up an auxiliary fuel line that compensates for the low pressure. When you are having problems with your fuel regulator, several symptoms will appear to tip you off on the problem.
Fuel Flow Problems
Fuel flow problems are one of the symptoms of problems with your fuel regulators. Low fuel flow will usually cause your vehicle to stall from time to time while you are driving. High fuel flow will cause an odor of unburned gas, then you have the opposite problem; that is, the fuel regulator is allowing the fuel to flow to strongly.
Computer Error Codes
If you have a newer-model vehicle, your computer may send out error codes explaining that your vehicle is having problems. You can find these codes by using code scanning tools, which are available for both sale and rental. These machines can read the codes and translate them into easy-to-understand explanations about what’s wrong with your vehicle.
Acceleration Hesitation
When you accelerate your vehicle and notice a marked hesitation, this is a sign that something is wrong with your fuel regulator. It is not sending enough to fuel to the rest of your vehicle’s fuel system.
Deceleration Problems
While decelerating your vehicle, a faulty fuel pressure regulator could cause an excessive load-up of gasoline, which might result in your engine backfiring or a strong odor of fuel emissions.
Engine Choking
Engine choking is a sign that something is severely amiss with your fuel regulator. Choking means that the air or fuel flow to your engine is cutting off completely at times.
Black Smoke
If your fuel regulator is faulty, you may notice your engine running very rich. This means that too much fuel is running through your system. The surest sign of this problem is black smoke being mixed in with your exhaust.
Bad Fuel Mileage
If you notice that you are not getting as much mileage from your fuel as you used to, then this is a pretty good sign that something is wrong with your fuel regulator.