Electric fuel pump recommendations

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Bittercats
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Location: East TN
Isuzu vehicle(s): 1983 Diesel P’up

Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by Bittercats »

Hey everyone,

I have a fuel delivery problem. A while back, I had to put in a new fuel tank, and when I did I replaced my fuel line and put in an in-line hand pump to pull fuel from the tank to the filter, in order to prime the air out of the system.

It worked for about 2 weeks - fuel held in the line and the truck was running great! Then the pump failed. I was going to order a new hand pump, but in the process of looking at reviews I found that most people were saying that all the hand pumps they’ve tried fail easily.

Can anyone recommend a reliable electric fuel pump (preferably, in-line) to get fuel from the tank to the filter so I can be done with this and have a working vehicle again? I’d be open to installing an in-tank e-pump, if y’all would recommend it for longevity over an in-line. My hopes were to just save me some time by bypassing having to put one in the tank.

Thank you in advance,
M.
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JoeIsuzu
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by JoeIsuzu »

And you're dead set on using an auxiliary pump rather than fixing the issue that's causing the need for it?

Jack
Bittercats
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by Bittercats »

Well, I just don’t know how else to get the fuel to the injection system otherwise. I was afraid that if I removed the hand pump and tried to bleed air at the injectors by cracking the line and cranking I’d stress the lift pump til failure.

Should I be worried about that? How does one bleed air from fuel lines after replacing old lines?
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Paul
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by Paul »

You cannot damage the injection pump by cranking as long as there has been fuel in it recently. So, you can probably get it running this way.

But, if you repeatedly have trouble starting after sitting a bit, you probably have a leak in the fuel system letting air in which lets the fuel drain back down into the tank. Best to try to fix this.

Paul
'84 P'UP 2 wd diesel, 5 spd with 0.78 fifth gear and differential back to 3.73.
Bittercats
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Location: East TN
Isuzu vehicle(s): 1983 Diesel P’up

Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by Bittercats »

Thank you. There’s not been fuel running through the pump for months now. Should I try and prime the pump and then bleed out by continuously cranking after I got some fuel to pull through it?
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puttputtinpup
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by puttputtinpup »

Bittercats wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 10:46 am
Hey everyone,

I have a fuel delivery problem. A while back, I had to put in a new fuel tank, and when I did I replaced my fuel line and put in an in-line hand pump to pull fuel from the tank to the filter, in order to prime the air out of the system.

It worked for about 2 weeks - fuel held in the line and the truck was running great! Then the pump failed. I was going to order a new hand pump, but in the process of looking at reviews I found that most people were saying that all the hand pumps they’ve tried fail easily.

Can anyone recommend a reliable electric fuel pump (preferably, in-line) to get fuel from the tank to the filter so I can be done with this and have a working vehicle again? I’d be open to installing an in-tank e-pump, if y’all would recommend it for longevity over an in-line. My hopes were to just save me some time by bypassing having to put one in the tank.

Thank you in advance,
M.
When changing the tank out, you must have taken loose the rubber lines from the tank to the steel lines that begin near the tank, and those run up to the firewall. Did you REPLACE any of those rubber lines? Did you remove any rubber lines, then reinstall the same line & same clamp? Were all the rubber fuel lines under the hood replaced and good clamps?
Any loose or cracked hose can allow air into the system. Assuming you have no air leaks at the fuel filter gasket itself.
Once you're sure all lines have been replaced and clamped well, remove again the smaller return fuel line from the banjo fitting at the injection pump, place a temporary longer piece of hose on the fitting and stick the open end into a half jar of fuel. Take an air compressor blow gun and stick it into the filler neck, wrap a rag around it to kinda seal off the opening. Have a helper hold the jar with return line in it as you gently blow air pressure into the tank. That'll force fuel through the lines, filter, pump, and back out the return. Don't put too much pressure to it or else it'll blow your lines off.

Back up....Before you blow the air into the tank, you can put a bit of air pressure back into the return line at firewall to tank to be sure it's not clogged. As you're replacing rubber lines, and you have the supply line off at the firewall, blow back into the tank in case the supply line in the tank isn't blocked with rust or sludge. REMOVE THE FUEL CAP WHEN BLOWING BACK INTO THE TANK.

Back to the bleeding.....When fuel flows clear and bubble-free, stop and put the rubber return line back on. Now crack the fuel lines at the injectors. Crank the engine over until you see fuel trickle from the injector lines. Tighten the lines back up and this time it should start up.

You can bleed also by taking a brake bleeding hand vacuum pump and connect it to the return fuel line (removed from back of injection pump). That'll pull fuel through the system and remove the air.

I hope this helps
Bittercats
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by Bittercats »

Thank you so much! I’m gonna go for the break vacuum pump bleeding method. I’ll let ya know how it works!
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puttputtinpup
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Re: Electric fuel pump recommendations

Post by puttputtinpup »

For bleeding the system, yes. But 1st be 100% certain you addressed all possibilities of air getting into the fuel lines.
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