Fuel-supply system for an internal combustion engine

A method for operating a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel supply system includes a pump having an outlet coupled to a high-pressure region including a fluid accumulator, wherein a normal operating pressure of the high-pressure region is between 200 bar and 350 bar, and a pressure-limiting valve having an inlet coupled to the high-pressure region including the fluid accumulator, the method comprising:

• when the internal combustion engine is set into a deactivated state, actuating the pump such that, at the outlet side of the pump, a pressure is increased in the high-pressure region including the fluid accumulator to a sufficient extent that the pressure-limiting valve is opened by the pressure in the high-pressure region acting on the inlet of the pressure-limiting valve;
• and
• monitoring a pressure at the outlet of the pump and ceasing actuation of the pump when the pressure exceeds a predefined opening threshold of the pressure-limiting valve;
• wherein the pressure limiting valve has an opening pressure less than 90 bar above the normal operating pressure of the high-pressure region and a closure threshold between 50 bar and 150 bar.