Bio-ethanol May not Be The Biggest Hit But it Packs a Punch

Over the past few years car companies have been pushing theuse of alternative fuels for vehicles. Most of these have gone unnoticed,mainly due to the fact that they are less potent than gasoline.  The fuel pump and fuel pump assembly areable to handle Ethanol without issue and the engines can as well.

The facts about Ethanol are easily seen, while the fuel maynot work well in normal engines but once a few key components are changed towork with ethanol…watch out! The main issue caused by the way ethanol ignites, newinjector timing and ignition are the main issues. Companies like Honda or Toyotahave not really tried to push this set up because the cost to the averageconsumer would be around $3000 and not many of us are just willing to drop thatmuch coin.

The companies that have been able to take advantage of theethanol change are companies like Ferrari or Koenigsegg. While most of us willnever be able to afford anything that these companies off…especially Koenigseggwho mainly makes cars that cost close to a million dollars, the technology isthere for the taking.  New technology isalways showcased in the more expensive cars and trickles down to the rest ofus, usually in the Mercedes S class. Ferrari recently released the FF which isa 4WD that makes 650HP but tune it for Ethanol and that number jumps to around875HP. That’s right no forced induction just a good tune. Koenigsegg tuned theAgera R from 927HP up to 1,100HP just by using Ethanol and there are many otherexamples of this fuel doing great things. Maybe sooner than later it willbecome main stream…oh and did I mention that it is a renewable fuel source.

The Lexus LF-LC Photos Leaked

Are you having some car problems?  Is your starter giving you issues?  Does it seem like Mr. Fuel Injector calledin sick?  If everything car related hasjust got you feeling like you want to trade in your vehicle for a razor scooterhold on a second.  Here are some picturesto make you go to your car happy place.

Photos of the Lexus hybrid super car currently called TheLF-LC have been leaked onto the internet. This thing looks like it could eat aPrius.  The vehicle definitely fits intothe sharp and youthful demographic which Lexus has been aiming for in the pastfew years. The car was designed at Calty Design Studio in Long Beach, and theyget a huge pat on the back from me. The edgy lines and distinctive grill aresure to attract a large crowd when it is unveiled at the American InternationalAuto Show in Detroit on Monday. 

Even though a few pictures were leaked there are still manymysteries about the supercar.  What we doknow is that it is a four seater, it’s a hybrid, and it looks amazing.  The rest of information out there right nowis just speculation.  Considering thatthe LF-LC shares a very similar design to the LF-A, it is forecasted that theLF-LC will provide similar power.  Toyotahas a history of giving their concept cars codenames that clarifiespositioning.  It is a guess that LFstands for Lexus Future, and the LC means LS Coupe.  This crazy hybrid could go on sale in 2015under the name LC600h.

"C" You Later Low Gas Mileage

You know who worked really hard this year and deserves abreak? You’re fuel pump, that’s who.  Youtake for granted all the hard work the fuel pump assembly does for you.  Without it you wouldn’t get to work, or getto the in-laws for the holidays.  OK, somaybe in the second example we wish the fuel pump would stop working so wecould skip the in-laws. Nonetheless, they deserve a break.

It appears that Toyota is going to give the fuel pumps intheir new Prius C a huge break.  These fuelpumps are going to have a nice and relaxing job, since the new Prius C issupposed to get 83 miles per gallon. That’s a little bit better than the standard Prius model.  According to Toyota the Prius C will get thebest city fuel economy of any hyrbids that do not plug in.

The car was introduced last week at the Tokyo Motor Show asthe Toyota Aquas, but it will be officially introduced as the Prius C in thestates next month at The Detroit Auto Show. The cost will be somewhere around $21,700.  The car will have a 1.5 liter four cylinderengine to go along with its electric motor. The total horsepower of the vehicleis going to be around 98.  This is about40 horsepower less than the normal Prius and the Prius V.   

You will be able to buy this miniature Prius thisspring.  And, Toyota is forecasting that alot of you are going to buy it.  Theyexpect to sell 12,000 a month in Japan and hope to have a 20 percent increasein global sales this year.

Fuel System Issues

Any car can be crippled with a fuel issue and it doesn’t matter how well you care for your car. The main issue to remember it may not always be the fuel pump or fuel pump assembly that is to blame. Many people get the news that their engine is not getting enough fuel and assume a fuel pump issue. In fact most mechanics will give the old “fuel pump don’t work” but believing this can be an expensive mistake. There are many parts in the fuel system that can cause an issue from leaking to low pressure.

If the fuel pump is bad there will be no pressure coming from the pump even if the mechanic were to hook direct power to the unit. A low pressure system may be caused by a blockage in the system or even low voltage from the alternator. A major cause of fuel issues is the FPR or fuel pressure regulator which is a unit that controls the flow of fuel to the injectors. If this unit were to function incorrectly it would cause low fuel pressure at the injectors and the car would have issues running and starting.

Cracks in the fuel lines and bad seals in meeting points can cause fuel leaks that can not only cause low pressure in the fuel system but can also be dangerous due to the highly flammable nature of the fuel.  If there is a fuel leak in the system it could be caused by old dry rotted line or cracks in the system from impacts of rocks and other debris from the road.

If the issue is tracked back to the fuel pump it may be a much smaller issue than the whole pump. If the wiring has a short and cannot get the proper voltage to the pump then the electric motor cannot function at full power and will not provide the correct pressure. Sometimes the voltage sent from the alternator is just too low and cannot power the pump unit enough. In the end it is better to check out the cause of the issue then just throwing in new parts and hoping it fixes the issue.

How to Wire a New Fuel Pump

Installing any auto part can seem like a simple job until you have your whole car torn apart and realize everything is not right. Many a shad-tree-mechanic get the shock of their week when they pull out a fuel pump only to find the wiring to the fuel pump assembly is different than theirs. The first reaction is of course …rage, those sons of $^&*#^’s but this may not be needed. Most modern cars use similar set ups for fuel pumps or updated wiring harnesses that are a simple 5 min wiring job.

Now before you start any job it is essential for you to know that the job is not out of your knowledge range. Just keep in mind this is a machine that will be hurling you down the road at enormous speed. It is not a great idea to be guessing at how it works. So it must be said, if you don’t know how…let someone who does. Oh and don’t ever smoke while installing a fuel pump. When starting the wiring job, determine what colors your factory wires are from the factory harness.  Once you have them you can find a wiring diagram usually supplied by the fuel pump supplier or on their webpage under the help section.

Most new aftermarket and even OEM fuel pumps use a GT280 style electrical piggy back. This unit is a more efficient connection than the older units and has less heat that it creates. The connector was redesigned to reduce the risk of fire and will be easily wired in. Once the wire colors are matched up, attach the wires and use screw on covers to be sure there are no exposed wires. Exposed wires means the chance of spark, spark can mean fire and in the eternal words of Phil Hartman “Fire BAD”.

With the whole new pigtail wired in the installation process is as simple as clicking the new clip into place and lowering the assembly into the tank. Now turn the retaining ring on the pump to secure it and you are good to go.