What are the symptoms of a damaged car check valve?
2 Answers
Car check valve damage will increase nitrogen oxide emissions, cause engine oil deterioration, and increase fuel consumption. Here is some information about car check valves: 1. A check valve, also known as a non-return valve or one-way valve, is used in hydraulic systems to prevent reverse oil flow, or in pneumatic systems to prevent compressed air from flowing backward. 2. Check valves are used in applications where reverse airflow is not allowed. For example, when an air compressor fills an air tank, a check valve is installed between the compressor and the tank. When the compressor stops working, it prevents compressed air in the tank from flowing back into the compressor.
Symptoms of a bad check valve I've encountered several times. The most common is extreme difficulty starting the car, sometimes failing to start multiple times. Fuel consumption suddenly spikes - where a full tank used to last 500km, now it barely exceeds 400km. The engine idles very unevenly, with severe vibrations felt in the cabin like an earthquake. Upon inspection, I found the fuel system's check valve had failed. It's supposed to prevent fuel backflow and maintain pressure - when broken, the fuel pump works harder with louder noise. Long-term neglect can wear other components like fuel injectors or the fuel pump itself. I recommend getting it checked at a shop ASAP before more serious damage occurs. Smelling gasoline during normal driving is also one of the warning signs.
