Pressure Rise Leak Testing a Fuel Regulator

The fuel regulator or fuel pressure regulator is an engine management component that is found in one form or another on virtually all internal combustion engines. It is a component of the vehicle’s fuel system, and as its name implies, is responsible for regulating the pressure of the fuel flowing through the system. Different engine operating conditions will require different amounts of fuel, which can be metered by changing the fuel pressure. Many fuel pressure regulators use vacuum operated mechanical diaphragms to change the pressure, though there are vehicles that are equipped with electronic fuel pressure regulators.

Because the fuel pressure regulator plays a direct role in the distribution of fuel to the engine, any issues with the component can potentially cause performance issues and other problems for the vehicle.

The test parameters for fuel pumps are in the range of 0.2 sccm to 2.0 sccm with the test pressure ranging from 40-90 psig.

Pressure rise leak test method options for fuel regulators:

Lets’ look at the leak testing methods that we could choose from:

Direct methods of air leak testing:

• Pressure decay: This is the simplest method, but it lacks some sensitivity and has generally the longest cycle time.
• Differential pressure decay: Faster cycle time, better sensitivity than simple pressure decay
• Mass flow: Higher cost than the two pressure decay techniques, better choice for large volumes.

Indirect test methods:

• Helium mass spectrometry: Highest sensitivity but highest cost. Not necessary for this type of assembly
• Pressure increase: High sensitivity, high repeatability, fastest overall cycle time and lowest cost. This is the technique most suitable for this application.  As the name implies this is the reverse of pressure decay leak testing. The first step of the test involves the evacuation of the test part. The leak tester will then monitor for an increase in pressure as air from outside the part ingresses through any leak path. This test is preferred over the pressure decay test because it is not subject to the difficulty encountered with pressure decay of measuring small changes in pressure in a high-pressure system. The pressure increase test cannot have a pressure rise if greater than one atmosphere. There may be some non-linear measurement at the beginning of the test due to outgassing but a visual plot can quickly show when a real leak is being observed.

Uson can help!

If you have questions about which test method is best for your fuel pressure regulator application, contact our team of experts. The Uson Applications Team is experience in all the above referenced air leak test methods and can recommend the best equipment and test method options based on your specifications. Contact us today!