Fuel Pump

[RednBlack]

I have heard, and I agree, letting your tank get low on fuel, lets the fuel pump heat up, leading to an early demise. Opinions?

[dykz34]

That's what I've heard also... can't speak from experience though.

[Juglenaut]

True in most cases and climates.

Mine went at 153K in my Euro.

By design it is not suposed to matter, but by defects in quility even a small percentage can effect life at such temps.

I was told by GM techs that the pumps are coreless meaning no brushes, but even then a cold magnet last longer.

I didn't think of brushless motors in a fuel pump before, but now it makes sense that if there were no brushes then there would be no arcing.

It may be quality in materials as I had Brushed motors that lasted a long time under harsh use and I still use them. By comparison brushed motors die before brushless motors even break a bearing.

Rare earth magnets are still expensive to make so many companies that make fuel pumps decided to use grades that are cheaper to make like neo dyne or wet magnets.

[Lyle's GTP]

Ummm. So, I guess this means that this keeps the fuel pump submerged in fuel. It lasts longer, because you have less heat build-up in the fuel pump. Well, any idiot will tell you that a cooler electric motor lasts longer. Interesting thought.

Here's a bone for you guys to chew on. Putting reliability and down time aside. What if you always run your tank low to save weight. Therfore saving on the cost of fuel. In the end, when your fuel pump finally "prematurely" dies will it be worth what you have saved on fuel. Just a thought.

Lyle

[pocket-rocket]

After the 1/2 mark, neither of my cars have a problem reducing the weight of the fuel, lol. The pump in the 91 has about 155k on it, and is showing no signs of going bad *knocks on wood*. The 92's has about 135k on it. I wonder how the good aftermarket ones last compared to OEM. I guess most peoples cars here die or get wrecked before getting a good mileage comparison between OEM and aftermarket.

[RednBlack]

The way I understand what I was told, don't repeatedly run on super low tank, (Low gas light on), the reason being, keeping enough gas to keep the pump submerged. 1/4 tank should do that, and that only adds up to about 30 lbs. With the gas prices fluctuating the way they do, I add 5 bucks at a time untill it hits a low spot, then I fill up. Given the price of a pump and labor,(time for me) and downtime, I figure it's the safe thing to keep 1/4 tank in it at all times. That's what I run at the track also.