Mechanical V. Electric Fuel Pump

scott carey

Registered User
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Posts
2
Reaction score
1
Location
culpeper VA
What is Ya'lls consensus on Mech. V. Elec lift pumps? My lift pump has failed and wanted an opinion. Since they will run without either I'm not sure if it makes that big a difference.
 

Booyah45828

Full Access Member
Joined
May 2, 2017
Posts
879
Reaction score
671
Location
Ohio
You need some sort of lift pump. The injection pump will pull some fuel if the lift pump fails, but HP drops and longevity falls off greatly if used that way.

My bus has a mechanical pump and it works great. I'll probably replace it with another mechanical if it ever fails.

Some people have air intrusion issues that they don't want to find, so they use an electric pump to mask those issues.

Some have high HP injection pumps that require different flow/psi then a stock pump provides, so those guys are forced to run an electric or belt driven mechanical setup.

If I would ever install an electric, it would likely be in-tank, or at least mounted down on the frame rail. They seem to work better the closer they are mounted to the fuel.
 
Last edited:

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,152
Location
Central NY
Personally I'm sticking with my mechanical pump. I've had issues with low pressure at high rpm/load with an electric fuel pump, as have some others on here. Mechanical pump is pretty much half the cost of an electric pump that will be sufficient.
 

Farmer Rock

just a fella' without a 10mm socket
Joined
Oct 27, 2020
Posts
1,423
Reaction score
1,313
Location
Glen Rock,PA
Somebody better get the can opener, because we are opening ourselves a can of worms here!
There are the guys who love electric pumps and the guys who love mechanical pumps, so it all comes down to your preference. I personally use electric pumps and have never looked back. The great thing about the electric pumps is when you are priming the system, you don't have to crank the engine over and kill your batteries or starter to purge the air, you just turn the key on, and by the time the GPs are cycled you will be fully primed and ready to start. And just for the record, I don't mask any air intrusion problems at all, I always fix those problems, but the electric pump will start my truck in the morning while your sitting there cranking away or using ether! Also, the mechanical pumps can sometimes rupture the diaphragm, causing fuel to fill the crankcase.
The mechanical pumps are reliable, and they are a direct replacement, as well as being pretty cheap. But It Is worth the effort for the electric pump IMHO.



Rock
 

Cubey

Van dweller
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Posts
4,066
Reaction score
1,580
Location
USA
Holley Red is good choice. Heavy duty pump, no fuel pressure regulator needed, repair kits can be bought for them. They are noisy but I don't get why people with old diesel trucks worry about that.
 

MtnHaul

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Posts
616
Reaction score
258
Location
California
Without getting into the performance side of the question I'll just say that I find it much easier to replace my e-pump than the mechanical pump. Sure the mechanical pumps don't seem to fail frequently but a well thought out e-pump install can be much easier to service should the need arise while on the road, in the field, or out in the styx.

Resume the beating. . . .
 

Cubey

Van dweller
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Posts
4,066
Reaction score
1,580
Location
USA
Sure the mechanical pumps don't seem to fail frequently but a well thought out e-pump install can be much easier to service should the need arise while on the road, in the field, or out in the styx.

That's why I went electric on the RV. The engine is closer to the radiator compared to trucks so it's more cramped in there. I put the electric pump down on the frame rail where it's very easy to access. I need to get a repair kit for it though "just in case".
 

The_Josh_Bear

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2016
Posts
1,916
Reaction score
1,498
Location
Western WA
For stock or mild the mechanical is very good. I would only add to buy a genuine Motorcraft/Ford unit as the copy-cats can't even handle 5 psi and 30gpm. And they fail much faster.

I also put in a Facet Duralift but it's not suited to run even my simple maxed-out IP. So I kept it and hooked it up in PARALLEL to the mechanical, with a check valve in between the mechanical and the tee where the Facet comes in. This keeps any fuel pressure from the Facet away from the mechanical(incase the diaphragm ruptures), and also eliminates air intrusion.
I trigger the facet relay with the cold start circuit so every time I cold start the pump runs while I heat up glow plugs. Fast starts. Same thing for filling a new fuel filter, easy-peasy.
 
Top