Electric Fuel Pump: The Howling

[msinabottle]

Today, I removed Winston's fuel filter and pump, I used a pair of needle-nosed Vise-Grips as a hose hemostat. I could see that the fuel filter element was dark, so I hacksawed open the housing to find the element entirely dark red with rust, and rust dripping from the area around it. I also caught the first rush of gasoline behind it in a pail, and that had some rust and a little water in it. Later on I used my Mity-Vac to suck about a half-quart of additional fuel out of the lower tank outlet, which was clear. It was new fuel hose, the endings were sharp, flexible and clear.

Then I did Tram's Fuel Pump drill, I found two clean coffee cans, filled one with diesel fuel, put some fuel line on the end of the pump, used my battery charger--with its nice on/off switch and circuit breaker--and put a dollop of Marvel Mystery oil into the diesel. The pump very promptly filled the empty can from the full can, running fairly quietly, the fuel took on a slight pinkish tinge, perhaps a bit from the Marvel Mystery Oil, perhaps from the rust.

I ran the fuel back and forth and it got pretty opaque. I reversed the flow once, and didn't get any spew of gunk into the clean fuel, then I ran the mix again and the pump quieted down. The ground wire was corroding, I replace the end of it with a crush-on connector and a star washer.

I bolted everything back on with a new fuel filter--and I haven't heard a thing from Winston's fuel pump since, even with the engine compartment and the side door open. Those noting the similarity of this post to the 'Winston's Bad Day' post please note that I wanted folk with fuel-pump trouble to benefit from what I learned today. Winston's running well, now, and seems to have plenty of fuel pressure, I'm going to look into a new tank when I can. I'd like to get a filter like they had in the '40's to strain rust and water out of gasoline, as it is, I'll lay in a stock of fuel filters and change mine at every oil change.

To all who offered help or good advic--Thank you!

[r39o]

You can always take the tank to a radiator shop to have them clean it. That doesn't cost too much and you can replace the tank top lines at the same time. It will last a long time if you don't let be empty a lot. I think new tanks are way under $200, last I looked.
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