The diesel injection pump in a diesel engine is what sends fuel from the gas tank through the fuel filter and into the fuel rail. The fuel is then distributed from there into the injectors and sprayed into each cylinder as the vehicle runs to make sure that there is the right amount of fuel in the cylinder for combustion.
This makes sure that the engine operates properly and stays cool while it is running.
It will cost you about $500-$1200 to replace a fuel pump in your truck. You will spend about $200-$300 on labor and parts will be about $400-$800. There might be other parts of your engine that will need attention during this repair process.
If you are ready to learn more about the cost of fuel pump replacement, read on!
What is the Cost of a Fuel Pump Replacement?
There are many variables that can affect your overall costs associated with this repair process.
The cost of labor is usually quite minimal, but if there are other problems in your engine that are diagnosed at the time of the fuel pump replacement, this might affect the overall cost of your fuel pump replacement service.
The cost for fuel pump replacement is fairly standard for most models of Chevrolet trucks.
This is not a terribly hard part to access and it is not as extensive a repair as something like a fuel injector replacement service. This is why the overall cost is not as high as some other services.
See the below comparison chart of some of the costs related to different makes and models of Chevrolet trucks and the costs associated with fuel pump replacement.
| Vehicle | Labor Cost | Parts Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500 | $500-$800 | $200-$500 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD | $500 | $200-$600 |
| 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $600-$800 | $1,000 |
| Chevrolet 6.6 | $500-$800 | $300-$600 |
Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Pump
When your fuel pump starts to fail, you will notice very recognizable symptoms related to the failure that is quite easy to trace back to the fuel pump.
There are not many other items that will cause these symptoms in combination and you should immediately be concerned that your fuel pump is going bad if your truck is showing these symptoms.
Sputtering engine
The engine might be stuttering or sputtering and idle might not sound right. This is often an early warning sign that there is an issue with the fuel delivery systems within your engine.
Overheating engine
This is a common sign that the full pump is already on its way out. The failure of the fuel pump leads to the engine running without enough lubrication, which can cause major damage to it and eventually make it seize up completely.
Low fuel pressure
This is another common early warning sign that you should not ignore. You might see that this is reading low by looking at your gauges or you might experience decreased engine power and other symptoms that your vehicle is not performing quite right.
Loss of Power
This is a common sign in trucks and is seen early on when hauling heavy trailers and other kinds of heavy loads. This can impact your ability to accelerate or climb hills in a dramatic way.
Engine Surging
This can feel like your engine is trying to go in and out of gear or maybe it will just seem like a really rough idle when the real problem is that the engine is getting inconsistent amounts of fuel delivered to it by the fuel pump.
The engine will not turn over
When your fuel pump has gone bad, your vehicle might not even start. There are often sensors that will tell the vehicle that the fuel pump is no longer delivering fuel to the engine and prevent it from running without any fuel.
Possible Additional Costs Related to Your Fuel Pump Replacement
If you have been operating your vehicle for too long with a fuel pump that is bad, you might have to pay for additional diagnostics to rule out other issues.
It can become hard to find the extent of the issues related to this breakdown without doing extensive checks to verify all the other parts of the engine are in good order after being operated without sufficient fuel.
Engines that have severely overheated might need many parts replaced, and it is possible to render your vehicle’s engine unsalvageable due to driving with a lack of fuel for too long.
There are many systems in your vehicle that might be related to the fuel pump and could be damaged by the operation of the vehicle without sufficient fuel delivery to the engine.
Expect anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 of additional repair costs if you have started to experience issues with your truck losing dramatic amounts of power, overheating badly enough that it shuts off the engine, and other major issues that prevent driving it while the fuel pump is damaged.
How Long Should a Fuel Pump Last?
OEM fuel pumps should last for about 100,000 miles. This lifespan can be affected by some environmental conditions like operation for long periods at very high temperatures or driving extensively in locations at high elevations.
Contamination of your fuel or fueling with dirty fuel can lead to fuel pump failure as well. The fuel pump might experience issues related to dirty fuel and pass them along to the fuel injection system.
The fuel injection system is a much more expensive fix, so you should avoid this problem by always buying diesel fuel from locations that sell a lot of products each week.
Small stations, as well as cheap stations, can sell you dirty fuel that will ruin many parts of your diesel engine.
Make sure that you keep a bottle of fuel cleaner on hand at all times to dump into the fuel tank if you think that you have accidentally bought dirty or bad fuel.
You will normally not experience issues with your fuel pump prior to the average expected lifespan, however.
It is far more common for people to experience issues with the fuel pump in their truck related to high mileage vehicles that have many miles on them relative to their age.
How to Save Money On Your Fuel Pump Replacement
You could potentially take care of this replacement process yourself if you have some mechanical experience. The process of replacing this part is not that complicated if you have done some work on diesel engines before.
Remove the pump relay within the fuse box and then look for the diagram that is inside of it. Crank your engine, let it stall, and then disconnect the battery. Open the gas cap door and unscrew the flange in the filler pipe.
You will then need to be able to raise the back end of the truck on jack stands. You will remove the fuel tank shield and remove the ground strap. Disconnect all the connections and electrical connections to the fuel pump module within the tank.
These are usually quick-connect items that can be easily disconnected.
You will then install the new fuel pump and reconnect all the lines and electrical connections.
Make sure that you fully reassemble all the parts of the engine and fuel tank before you try starting the truck up to see if your work has taken care of your problem.
After reading this process you can see why the labor involved at a dealer or mechanic is not that expensive.
You might be better off just committing to paying for the service to be done for you if you do not have the proper tools or working space to take care of this replacement process on your own.
There is no sense in getting halfway through the replacement process and then realizing that you cannot complete it successfully.
Fuel Pump Replacements Are Often a Necessary Process for High Mileage Vehicles
For vehicles that are driven many miles in a year or which haul loads long distances, a fuel pump replacement is part of the expected wear and tear on the engine.
You can help avoid paying for this part to be replaced by making sure not to fuel with dirty fuel and be sure that you are not idling your vehicle for long periods in the heat or driving only short distances around the block and back.
Making sure to take care of your engine involves carrying fuel cleaner with you on long road trips and being aware of early warning signs of fuel pump failure.
This is one of the repair processes that it is wise to budget for in advance if you know that you will be putting a lot of mileage on your truck in a given year.
Fuel pump replacements will not usually break the bank and being prepared for the set lifespan of the average OEM fuel pump will help make this necessary part of truck maintenance and truck ownership easier to take care of when the time comes. You may be interested in our guide on Fuel Lines Replacement.