Fuel problems continue

[Catfish26kc]

Question everyone, shouldn’t fuel start coming out of my fuel line once it’s disconnected at the pump? I’m not getting fuel to my carb and I tried 3 different fuel pumps! Would my tank selector switch cause a problem with the thank selector valve ? I only have 1 tank I use due to a leak in the other one! I noticed my gauge acting odd and bouncing around some but not really crazy changes! Any information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

[Broken85]

Need a little more info for a good answer. Tell us about the last time it ran and what changed.

If your select valve is stuck on the empty tank, then of course yes. You could re-plumb the lines from the good tank to the feed line and bypass the valve completely to find out for sure for about $10 of fuel hose and clamps.

 

[Ricko1966]

Pull the inlet line off the pump,put a hose on it run it into a can of gas for fuel supply. Is your problem gone, back track from there. Make sure the line behind the pump and the hose it attaches to have no leaks or blockage. No problem okay make sure you can blow through the selector valve. No problem check the line behind it,keep working backward until you get to tank sock itself. If it doesn't pump from a can remove the outlet line at the pump,does it pump then. No, check your fuel pump and fuel pump cam lobe.

 

[Dmack]

Simple question...is the pushrod in the block linking the cam to the fuel pump?

 

[fast 99]

Simple question...is the pushrod in the block linking the cam to the fuel pump?

yes

 

[Catfish26kc]

The last time it ran it cut out and died! I put fuel in the line from the carb to fill the pump! It started and ran! A few miles down the road it happened again! Repeated , it started again and got me home! I’ve tried 3 different pumps and no fuel! I blew air in the line back to the tank and my son listened to it, it sounded like air coming back! I pulled the push rod out! It’s in good shape! I bought a new one and it’s exactly the same size and I slid it in ! It slides well! The other one didn’t slide as good and it seemed to stick up in the hole ! I know I can check the cam lobe but I thought I’d get some options on this! It’s cold out and I’m old so I’m waiting for a little bit of warm weather to check it! I know from past pump replacement fuel has dumped out on me when disconnecting the fuel line from the pump! It didn’t spill a drop out at all when I pulled the pump! I did stick a fuel line on the pump into a mason jar and it wasn’t pulling fuel from it! I wasn’t sure if it needed pressurized before it would pump ! Sorry for the long post! FYI 126k original miles and I’m doubtful the cam lobe is bad but who knows! I’m hoping it’s not worn out!

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Prime the pump from either side.

Use an air hose to pressurize the tank a little bit, this should push a bunch of fuel out of the line.

Selector valves can cause no fuel as well.

Cam lobe can go out because of bad pumps for too long, happened to me.

Parts store pumps are pure garbage. I think I went through 5-6 of them and they ended up taking the lobe out. I think the Edelbrock pumps are decent, ran one for about a year before I got rid of the truck.

 

[Ricko1966]

The last time it ran it cut out and died! I put fuel in the line from the carb to fill the pump! It started and ran! A few miles down the road it happened again! Repeated , it started again and got me home! I’ve tried 3 different pumps and no fuel! I blew air in the line back to the tank and my son listened to it, it sounded like air coming back! I pulled the push rod out! It’s in good shape! I bought a new one and it’s exactly the same size and I slid it in ! It slides well! The other one didn’t slide as good and it seemed to stick up in the hole ! I know I can check the cam lobe but I thought I’d get some options on this! It’s cold out and I’m old so I’m waiting for a little bit of warm weather to check it! I know from past pump replacement fuel has dumped out on me when disconnecting the fuel line from the pump! It didn’t spill a drop out at all when I pulled the pump! I did stick a fuel line on the pump into a mason jar and it wasn’t pulling fuel from it! I wasn’t sure if it needed pressurized before it would pump ! Sorry for the long post! FYI 126k original miles and I’m doubtful the cam lobe is bad but who knows! I’m hoping it’s not worn out!

I've had 2 bad fuel pump cam lobes a 307 malibu and now my 86 c10. I went through a couple of pumps,brand new they'd work a short time. Last one I put on wouldn't pump at all. Pushed up on the pushrod had my kid hit the key,BINGO pushrod was barely moving. Put an electric pump back by the tank,below fuel level,blowing through the factory pump so no mods to fuel lines to or from the pump or engine. It was just temporary still is temporary,but I have no idea how many years back that was I think 10 now.

 

[Catfish26kc]

If in fact my cam lobe is bad? Anyone have a recommendation on a good electric fuel pump at is dependable! And I’m guessing a fuel regulator? I’m planning for the bad news and hoping for something simple! And a warm spell to test that lobe….

 

[Ricko1966]

If in fact my cam lobe is bad? Anyone have a recommendation on a good electric fuel pump at is dependable! And I’m guessing a fuel regulator? I’m planning for the bad news and hoping for something simple! And a warm spell to test that lobe….

You don't need a regulator if you use a low pressure pump and blow through the factory pump. I think I'd run a facet pump because they are made in the USA and ethanol compatible. And they have real tech support here in the USA. I'm running a Airtex pump at present,but if I have to change it I'll probably use a facet. To get their contact info you'll have to Google who makes facet fuel pumps then contact,that company.They manufacture a lot of products under some umbrella name that I forget. Another thing that leads me to Facet pumps is they use them on aircraft. That speaks volumes to me,you don't run junk pumps on something that will fall out of the sky.

 

[Grit dog]

You don't need a regulator if you use a low pressure pump and blow through the factory pump. I think I'd run a facet pump because they are made in the USA and ethanol compatible. And they have real tech support here in the USA. I'm running a Airtex pump at present,but if I have to change it I'll probably use a facet. To get their contact info you'll have to Google who makes facet fuel pumps then contact,that company.They manufacture a lot of products under some umbrella name that I forget. Another thing that leads me to Facet pumps is they use them on aircraft. That speaks volumes to me,you don't run junk pumps on something that will fall out of the sky.

More great info that most don’t know. Thanks

 

[Grit dog]

If in fact my cam lobe is bad? Anyone have a recommendation on a good electric fuel pump at is dependable! And I’m guessing a fuel regulator? I’m planning for the bad news and hoping for something simple! And a warm spell to test that lobe….

Pump the brakes….any old electric pump will get you by for a little while or a long time depending on how you hook it up and where you locate it. Thats as important or more important than what kind of pump. Plus the safety factor of installing a smart relay or another means of controlling the pump to run when it should and not when it shouldn’t.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Don't buy the Holley pumps. Noisy as hell and didn't last very long.

To be honest the Edelbrock electric pumps from oreillys work really good too. They're quiet and im still on my first one. No regulator and hasn't given me any issues, Afr gauge to verify.

I have mine mounted properly though. Suburbans are easier than pickups. Mounted lower than and right next to the tank. Proper relay kit.

Have a tbi in tank sending unit to swap and get a quality regulator is the long term plan. Gonna get a tank too.