Repair 7

What Carries Gas Through the Car

Until cars run efficiently on electricity only or alternative fuels, drivers are mostly stuck using gasoline. It takes three main components to move the fuel from the tank to the engine, typically found on opposite ends of the vehicle. This system has undergone many changes since the invention of the automobile, mostly due to the advancements of automotive electronics.

Fuel Pump

The fuel pump starts the entire process of moving the fuel throughout your vehicle. The fuel pump is inside the fuel tank, within the fuel lines or on the side of the engine. This pump, if electronic, receives its power from the battery and creates the pressure needed to start the engine and keep it running. Mechanical fuel pumps get their power from the turning of the engines crankshaft.

Hoses and Lines

Every car has a series of metal lines and rubber hoses that take the fuel from the fuel pump toward the engine. Within these lines is a small filter that removes the debris from the fuel prior to it reaching the engine.

Fuel Rail or Carburetor

The fuel rail, on fuel-injected vehicles, connects the fuel lines and hoses to the fuel injectors. This rail is made of metal or plastic and is on top of the engine. On older vehicles -- mostly pre-1990s -- it was not uncommon to see a carburetor in place of the fuel rail. This component regulated the fuel flow from the fuel lines to the engine.