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Old 05-18-2011, 05:24 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Chevrolet Cruze ECO "returnless" variable pressure fuel pump

GM is promoting the crud out of the Cruze ECO these days, with gas prices being near record highs.

Just spotted this tidbit about the car's variable pressure fuel pump, which does away with the need for a fuel return, and reduces load on the engine (through reduced electrical demand):

Quote:
The microprocessor behind the Electronic Returnless Fuel System electronically manages the delivery of fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. It is controlled by the brain of the Cruze’s fuel system – the fuel system/chassis control module. The control module can raise or lower the pressure in the fuel line by speeding up or slowing down the fuel pump. This allows the system to make more efficient decisions on the amount of fuel provided to the engine compared to vehicles with a standard fuel system whose fuel pump runs at full speed all the time.

The system reduces voltage to a point where the pump doesn’t deliver excess fuel. The lower fuel pump speed results in less power consumption, which reduces the electrical load on the alternator. That reduces the strain on the engine, resulting in increased fuel efficiency.
source: GM - Canada - News & Information

Neato.

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