Lift pump

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
Well about a couple months ago my lift pump broke so I replaced it. The new one lasted a month before oil started leaking out of it. So I had it replaced under warranty. Well the replacement just started pumping fuel into the block. So I bought an electronic one. I believe I'm suposed to mount it down near the tank? And what do I do with the return/ pressure lines from the mechanical one? Just hose clamp them together.
 

riotwarrior

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Posts
14,782
Reaction score
492
Location
Cawston BC. Canada
Well about a couple months ago my lift pump broke so I replaced it. The new one lasted a month before oil started leaking out of it. So I had it replaced under warranty. Well the replacement just started pumping fuel into the block. So I bought an electronic one. I believe I'm suposed to mount it down near the tank? And what do I do with the return/ pressure lines from the mechanical one? Just hose clamp them together.

If you look in the tech articles there are a few different approaches to this and with subtle differences.

Just sayin

Al
 

icanfixall

Official GMM hand model
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Posts
25,858
Reaction score
681
Location
West coast
Well all you need to do is tell us what electric pump you have and we can tell you where to instal it... If you got a pump fom genlightning then your able to place the pump anywhere in the fuel suction system. These are the diesel pumps found on the refer units way up top of the trailers and they suck fuel from way back under the trailer by the spare tires and road chains.. Thats sucking a long ways. About how to rig it al you do is remove the mechanical. Get any big block chevy block off plate and install that to cover the hole being careful not to get the plate up on the top machined surface of the block pump area.. Thats a sure way to have an oil leak. That suction line can be fixed anyway you want. Some replace the hard line all the way to the filter inlet. We do need to know what pump you bought so we can help more.
 

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
It is a mr. Gasket pump from advanced auto parts. It's a 4-7 psi pump that sais to mount near the tank. However I have seen people on line mount the same pump under the hood
 

riotwarrior

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Posts
14,782
Reaction score
492
Location
Cawston BC. Canada
It is a mr. Gasket pump from advanced auto parts. It's a 4-7 psi pump that sais to mount near the tank. However I have seen people on line mount the same pump under the hood

As mentioned...go to the tech section, there is a thread there on that exact pump by yours truly!

Hope this helps.
 

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
Ok looks pretty simple. Did the pump last or did you end up switch back to mechanical?
 

TWeatherford

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Posts
1,172
Reaction score
10
Location
Flagstaff, AZ
The best way to eliminate your mechanical pump is to block it off with a chevy big block fuel pump block off plate, or make your own. I think summit has them for about $10. I do not recommend a mechanical pump to anyone. I've used one for a long time because I used to run WVO, and electric pumps capable of reliably pumping WVO are very spendy, like $400. I have had multiple mechanical pumps on it, airtex, delphi (which are actually airtex pumps in a delphi box) and carter, and they are all pathetic. Only one I haven't tried is one from the ford dealer because they're like $130. I used to think the mechanical pumps are ok, until they all started failing on me, and until I moved to a colder climate. After installing a fuel pressure gauge, I have noticed that below about 10 degrees, they do not produce pressure. They'll maybe do 1-2 psi at idle, but with any throttle will drop to zero (and you would never know it without a gauge - the engine runs fine). This is with pump diesel, that I blend with PowerService myself. My best guess is that the rubber internals can't do its work when its cold and stiff. Add being a pain to change, hard to prime after a fuel filter change, the possibility of filling your crankcase with diesel and its hard not to just go electric.
 

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
Well the auto parts store said it would take them a week to get a block off plate. So I went ahead and made my own out of some copper plate laying around.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

HammerDown

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Posts
2,272
Reaction score
142
Location
Glenolden Pa
The best way to eliminate your mechanical pump is to block it off with a chevy big block fuel pump block off plate, or make your own. I think summit has them for about $10. I do not recommend a mechanical pump to anyone. I've used one for a long time because I used to run WVO, and electric pumps capable of reliably pumping WVO are very spendy, like $400. I have had multiple mechanical pumps on it, airtex, delphi (which are actually airtex pumps in a delphi box) and carter, and they are all pathetic. Only one I haven't tried is one from the ford dealer because they're like $130. I used to think the mechanical pumps are ok, until they all started failing on me, and until I moved to a colder climate. After installing a fuel pressure gauge, I have noticed that below about 10 degrees, they do not produce pressure. They'll maybe do 1-2 psi at idle, but with any throttle will drop to zero (and you would never know it without a gauge - the engine runs fine). This is with pump diesel, that I blend with PowerService myself. My best guess is that the rubber internals can't do its work when its cold and stiff. Add being a pain to change, hard to prime after a fuel filter change, the possibility of filling your crankcase with diesel and its hard not to just go electric.
Comments like the above still get me scratching my head...I must be one lucky SOB as I've had great reliability with the two mechanical lift pumps since 1988 and just over 200,000 miles.;Sweet
Same goes for the so called POS fuel selector valve, rear POS E-brake and so on and so on.
Oh, and champion GP's never gave me any issues either, besides burning out ;Really
 
Last edited:

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
The original lift pump on my truck lasted about 27 years. Then a few months ago it let go. And the airtex ones are the ones that keep failing on me
 

rob93

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Posts
141
Reaction score
0
Location
South Florida
Well the auto parts store said it would take them a week to get a block off plate. So I went ahead and made my own out of some copper plate laying around.
You must be registered for see images attach

If you have a Pep Boys around with the Speed Shop inside they have the block off plates right on the shelf. I got one today. I don't think the Speed Shops are too common though
 

OLDBULL8

Good Morning Ya'll.
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Posts
9,923
Reaction score
342
Location
Delphos , Ohio
I used to think the mechanical pumps are ok, until they all started failing on me, and until I moved to a colder climate. After installing a fuel pressure gauge, I have noticed that below about 10 degrees, they do not produce pressure. They'll maybe do 1-2 psi at idle, but with any throttle will drop to zero (and you would never know it without a gauge - the engine runs fine). This is with pump diesel, that I blend with PowerService myself.

Geez, those poor suckers in Alaska must carry a half dozen spares.
 

PackRat239

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Posts
311
Reaction score
0
Location
Illinois/ SW Fla.
Not sure I agree. The mechanical pumps have a good history of reliability, take about 10 minutes to change, and they are not supposed to provide pressure, just volume. The only thing that I agree with is that they can put fuel into the oil if they fail. For 30$ for twenty years of service, I think they are a good deal. YMMV
 

PackRat239

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Posts
311
Reaction score
0
Location
Illinois/ SW Fla.
Electric fuel pumps are supposed to push fuel, not pull it, so the closer to the supply the better. They will work, sorta, at the engine, but they really are not very efficient there.
 

S-west

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Posts
474
Reaction score
0
Location
Ct
If you have a Pep Boys around with the Speed Shop inside they have the block off plates right on the shelf. I got one today. I don't think the Speed Shops are too common though

I have an advanced auto and car quest near me. I have never even seen a pep boys or speed shop. Took like 20 minutes to make one so it wasn't too bad.
 
Top