Topic: Fuel Pumps

[chrisfranklin]

I ordered a fuel pressure gauge with a 6ft hose so I could drive and get a reading at the same time. 

If it turns out that my fuel pump has seen better days, what do I replace it with -- an oem unit or some kind of higher output aftermarket unit I don't know about?  Thanks.   

[Jeffy]

You'll also want to consider an external pump as opposed to the internal one.

[aka-justin]

So, is that two pumps (in tank and external) or just one pump you're suggesting Jeffy?

[aw12345]

Just one something like a frame mounted pump from a Ford car or truck should do just fine, as long as it is from a port injected engine

[chrisfranklin]

I'll see what kind of pressure I'm getting at highway speeds.  If it looks off, I might be looking at a fuel pump, so I may end up seeing what kind of pump I can get off a port-injected Ford at a parts yard.   I'll have to do a little homework on Ford's port injected engines -- we're probably talking most of their engines from the 90's to present day, right?

[Jeffy]

So, is that two pumps (in tank and external) or just one pump you're suggesting Jeffy?

You leave the one in the tank but not hooked up.  You then use the external one as your pump.  it will pull through the other pump like it wasn't there.  You can remove the in-tank pump but you'll have to figure out how to set up the fuel pickup.

[chrisfranklin]

The drive from LA to Vegas and back I did in the last 3 days was awful.  I've done it before, but this go around, I was on a tight schedule which made it a lot worse using my rig.  

I-15 N has a 70mph speed limit (75-85mph traffic speed) and you are hitting 4000 ft altitudes (power declines).  My jeep seemed like it was having problems at highway speeds in the first place (what this topic was about).  

So heading over, the drive was a bear.  I was zinging along at 4000-5000 rpm in 3rd just to try to stay somewhere around 60mph in the right side "slow lane" they have for 18 wheelers.

Coming back was the same thing, only it was night instead of morning and there were these crazy W-to-E head-winds on top of everything else.  And then the temps were in the high 40's and I just had  doors and a long bikini-type top (I had extra clothes at least).  I'm forced to zing along even more in 3rd gear on parts of the highway so I almost ran out of gas burning through it coming back (filled my modified tank with 20.5 gallons at some middle of nowhere rip-off Shell station that was charging $4 something a gallon for the cheapest grade, 87). Only good news coming back was that I wasn't trying to make it to some event at a certain time.

But all that has made me especially interested in diagnosing/fixing any fuel system problem with my rig.  Still, fixed or not, my Jeep is probably staying home the next time I need to drive to Vegas and back.

[aka-justin]

Chris, that's some high rpms.  I guess its not a problem if you're looking for a reason to get a new motor  

Thanks for the info. Jeffy!  I'll keep my eye out for fuel pumps.

[chrisfranklin]

That's some high rpms.  I guess its not a problem if you're looking for a reason to get a new motor  

I've got these 19lb Ford Injectors and intake setup that lets me kind of get away with that.  I figured I'd be burning a ton of oil at those rpms for higher than normal, but when I checked oil a couple of times last weekend, I couldn't see any change.  On mine, at least above 4200-4300, engine does start to sound rough, though.  I don't recommend revving it like that for any length of time if you can avoid it.