Understanding Diesel Fuel Pumps

A diesel fuel pump’s main purpose is to pump fuel (in the form of a vapor mist) directly into the combustion chamber of an engine where it is mixed with compressed air and then put under pressure so that it ignites forcing the engine’s pistons to move.

A diesel fuel pump needs to develop great pressure to do its job correctly and therefore creates pressure ranging from 15,000 psi all the way to upwards of 30,000 psi. Typically, the higher the pressure the finer control of injection volumes.

Diesel fuel pumps utilize a device called a governor which acts as a safety device and cuts off the fuel supply if the crankshaft’s speed (which indirectly drives the fuel pump) starts moving at a high speed that may endanger the engine.