Ruddy FUEL PUMP.........AGAIN!!! Wil my troubles ever end?

[Mikester]

So a few months back i posted my fuel pump kicked in really loud, this was when i ran the tank dry then filled it up with petrol. I figured this was the rubbish gettin stuck in the pump and after a day or two, the pump stop whinning, no problems. today i ran the tank all the way down and filled up, now i have the problem again, the pump is screming loud!! I have a new fuel filter that i havnt fitted. Would that fix it?

Or if i put more fuel in iit maybe it will slosh around and stop the noise? like before? Or is there a way to clean out the tank??

[TeddyKGB]

i don't know for sure but you shouldn't really let it run so low

[Mikester]

i don't know for sure but you shouldn't really let it run so low

Last day before payday!

[nelds]

ran mine on fumes last night too 

[oggy]

The reason a fuel pump sometimes runs better with a full tank is that the petrol provides a positive suction head for the pump ie it assists the suction of the pump. As that head drops below a certain level, the pump has to work harder to to overcome the friction losses in the fuel lines and the static head involved. Certainly cleaning out or replacing the filter would help the pump - by reducing the friction losses it needs to overcome - and if you can, clean out the fuel lines. if all else fails it is time for a new pump. They do fail - usually on bearings - but it is not a difficult job to do if you can obtain access.

[Mikester]

The reason a fuel pump sometimes runs better with a full tank is that the petrol provides a positive suction head for the pump ie it assists the suction of the pump. As that head drops below a certain level, the pump has to work harder to to overcome the friction losses in the fuel lines and the static head involved. Certainly cleaning out or replacing the filter would help the pump - by reducing the friction losses it needs to overcome - and if you can, clean out the fuel lines. if all else fails it is time for a new pump. They do fail - usually on bearings - but it is not a difficult job to do if you can obtain access.

Cheers, well at the moment it is just makin a bit of a noise intermitently. But last time it done this when i ran it dry it stopped after 10/20 miles of driving. Guess i will have to wait till it stops working, but i feel its not performing as well? :/

[saul79]

you can clean the teabag on the bottom off it ,but you will need to take it out and dismantle it