dcioccarelli
Dominic Cioccarelli
Hi all,
when I replaced my mechanical fuel pump with an electric one, I followed the recommendation to mount it as low as possible (in a similar location to the FI fuel pump) so that it didn't need to fight gravity too much (i.e. as opposed to mounting it in the classic location of the carb blower fan bracket).
Last night I realised the downside of this approach. I came back to the car to be greeted by a strong smell of petrol and a pool of petrol under the car. The fuel line that was exiting the pump had perished and broken at the clamp (even though it was only 2 years old!). The fuel was then wicking along the outside (cloth) sheath and syphoning the petrol out of the tank (as the pump was low down). So now I'm not so convinced about the advantages of this mounting location for a carburettor application. I'll be installing an electrically operated check valve very high up to prevent any future occurrence but this is adding an additional component and additional complexity. I may have been wiser just mounting the pump high up like most people do.
Anyway, just an observation for anyone with a similar setup.
Cheers,
Dom.
BTW: The issue of a broken fuel line draining petrol in a stationary car is obviously also pertinent to all FI applications as well, due to the location of the pump.
when I replaced my mechanical fuel pump with an electric one, I followed the recommendation to mount it as low as possible (in a similar location to the FI fuel pump) so that it didn't need to fight gravity too much (i.e. as opposed to mounting it in the classic location of the carb blower fan bracket).
Last night I realised the downside of this approach. I came back to the car to be greeted by a strong smell of petrol and a pool of petrol under the car. The fuel line that was exiting the pump had perished and broken at the clamp (even though it was only 2 years old!). The fuel was then wicking along the outside (cloth) sheath and syphoning the petrol out of the tank (as the pump was low down). So now I'm not so convinced about the advantages of this mounting location for a carburettor application. I'll be installing an electrically operated check valve very high up to prevent any future occurrence but this is adding an additional component and additional complexity. I may have been wiser just mounting the pump high up like most people do.
Anyway, just an observation for anyone with a similar setup.
Cheers,
Dom.
BTW: The issue of a broken fuel line draining petrol in a stationary car is obviously also pertinent to all FI applications as well, due to the location of the pump.