How would you store a mildly used electric fuel pump?

On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:49:31 -0500, "WindsorFox<SS>"
> wrote:

>On 3/22/2013 10:07, twk wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Vic Smith > wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>>>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>>>
>>>> Suggestions?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Maybe coat it with a shot of WD-40 and wrap it in Saran wrap.
>>> Then bag it.
>>> I've got some fairly new parts coming off the car I'm junking because
>>> they'll fit my new car.
>>> Alternator, starter motor, coil packs, spark module, A/C compressor,
>>
>> WD-40 won't harm the pump, but in a few months it will be gummed up
>> quite well. It will then take a whole lot more WD-40 to free up all the
>> moving parts again. I would suggest spraying it with a good grade of
>> silicone oil. The silicone won't gum up, but will cost a bit more than
>> twice as much as a can of WD. Go with the silicone spray.
>>
>> My $.02
>>
>
> Personally I'd throw it the hell away. With as much trouble as it is
>to replace a Mustang's fuel pump, I'm certainly not going that far to
>install a used fuel pump that "likely has some miles left."

Don't know about the Mustang, but on the Lumina I'm junking due to
engine failure, I put a new gas tank in last year. Swapped in the old
pump that had 180k miles on it. I figured the Lumina was good for
about 3 more years until rust would make it a real eyesore, and I'd
have wet carpets.. OE pumps on that runs $250.
I play helper for my son, and we both figured it wouldn't be hard to
replace the pump if need be. The first time dropping the tank is the
hard one. Then you know the best method, connectors, etc.
Thanks twk, for the silicone vs WD-40 advice.
But on more thought I think I'll just wrap my parts in Saran wrap dry.
Should be enough to keep rust away. I don't think you can do anything
to keep seals from aging, or at least it's not something I'm inclined
to worry about. New parts for old cars is par for the course.

"WindsorFox<SS>" > wrote in message
...
> On 3/22/2013 10:07, twk wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Vic Smith > wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>>>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>>>
>>>> Suggestions?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Maybe coat it with a shot of WD-40 and wrap it in Saran wrap.
>>> Then bag it.
>>> I've got some fairly new parts coming off the car I'm junking because
>>> they'll fit my new car.
>>> Alternator, starter motor, coil packs, spark module, A/C compressor,
>>
>> WD-40 won't harm the pump, but in a few months it will be gummed up
>> quite well. It will then take a whole lot more WD-40 to free up all the
>> moving parts again. I would suggest spraying it with a good grade of
>> silicone oil. The silicone won't gum up, but will cost a bit more than
>> twice as much as a can of WD. Go with the silicone spray.
>>
>> My $.02
>>
>
> Personally I'd throw it the hell away. With as much trouble as it is to
> replace a Mustang's fuel pump, I'm certainly not going that far to install
> a used fuel pump that "likely has some miles left."
>

agree, new pumps are cheap.

"muzician21" > wrote in message
...
> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> Thanks.

Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in a box. Then hope that in 10 or 15
years, the next time you need a fuel pump, you have a car that takes the
same one that you wrapped in plastic and put in a box.

You can get the longest life out of your fuel pump by keeping the gas tank
full.

Gasoline acts as a heat sink, so if the tank runs to E and you put in
five-bucks, whatever, just to hold you till tomorrow, then tomorrow do the
same thing, and keep the tank near E most of the time, then there is no
gasoline to act as a heat sink, and the pump motor runs hot which shortens
its life.

Keep the tank filled more than driving around with it empty, and you will
have a fuel pump that lasts almost as long as the car.

"Vic Smith" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
> > wrote:
>
>>Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>>electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>
>>Suggestions?
>>
>>Thanks.
>
> Maybe coat it with a shot of WD-40 and wrap it in Saran wrap.
> Then bag it.
> I've got some fairly new parts coming off the car I'm junking because
> they'll fit my new car.
> Alternator, starter motor, coil packs, spark module, A/C compressor,
> condenser.
> Except for the condenser which I'll just plug, that's what I'm
> thinking of doing. Might be years before I use them.
> So I'm watching this to see other advice.
> I'll have to go buy WD-40. Don't like it, but I hear this is what
> it's made for.


The idea of spraying the pump with a lubricant is okay, I suppose. But WD-40
is the worst stuff you will ever find for this. WD-40 is great to free
sticky mechanisms, but you must wash it off once the mechanism is freed.
WD-40 has a component that when everything else evaporates/dries up, turns
to goo that will glue stuff shut so tightly that a fresh shot of WD-40 might
not be able to free it.

"gpsman" > wrote in message
...
On Mar 21, 6:44 pm, muzician21 > wrote:
>
> Suggestions?

I'd opt for the recycle bin.


+++++++++++++++++++++
That's a good call. Craig's List today, then buy one next year when you need
it, or next decade is more like it.

"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
...
>
> "muzician21" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in a box. Then hope that in 10 or 15
> years, the next time you need a fuel pump, you have a car that takes the
> same one that you wrapped in plastic and put in a box.
>
> You can get the longest life out of your fuel pump by keeping the gas tank
> full.
>
> Gasoline acts as a heat sink, so if the tank runs to E and you put in
> five-bucks, whatever, just to hold you till tomorrow, then tomorrow do the
> same thing, and keep the tank near E most of the time, then there is no
> gasoline to act as a heat sink, and the pump motor runs hot which shortens
> its life.
>
> Keep the tank filled more than driving around with it empty, and you will
> have a fuel pump that lasts almost as long as the car.
>
>

Electric fuel pumps are DC since they are run off the 12 v battery and there
is no external electronic circuitry to perform AC switching. That means
there must be brushes and slip rings. I have always wondered how sparking
does not ignite the fuel. Perhaps all is OK if the pump is totally
submerged, but how about if you are running out of fuel. How do you
prevent the pump from igniting the gas in the tank?

On 03/22/2013 08:07 AM, twk wrote:
> In article >,
> Vic Smith > wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>>
>>> Suggestions?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Maybe coat it with a shot of WD-40 and wrap it in Saran wrap.
>> Then bag it.
>> I've got some fairly new parts coming off the car I'm junking because
>> they'll fit my new car.
>> Alternator, starter motor, coil packs, spark module, A/C compressor,
>> condenser.
>> Except for the condenser which I'll just plug, that's what I'm
>> thinking of doing. Might be years before I use them.
>> So I'm watching this to see other advice.
>> I'll have to go buy WD-40. Don't like it, but I hear this is what
>> it's made for.
>
> WD-40 won't harm the pump, but in a few months it will be gummed up
> quite well. It will then take a whole lot more WD-40 to free up all the
> moving parts again. I would suggest spraying it with a good grade of
> silicone oil. The silicone won't gum up, but will cost a bit more than
> twice as much as a can of WD. Go with the silicone spray.
>
> My $.02
>

1. "silicone spray" you buy at the automotive store or supermarket is
mostly petroleum distillate - i.e. mostly stuff like wd40. the
percentage of silicone is minimal.

2. silicone in fuel will quickly screw up oxygen sensors.

on both counts, either don't bother with anything, or just use wd40.
it's not like it turns into cosmoline.


--
fact check required

On 03/22/2013 12:47 PM, Jeff Strickland wrote:
>
> "muzician21" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in a box. Then hope that in 10 or 15
> years, the next time you need a fuel pump, you have a car that takes the
> same one that you wrapped in plastic and put in a box.
>
> You can get the longest life out of your fuel pump by keeping the gas
> tank full.
>
> Gasoline acts as a heat sink, so if the tank runs to E and you put in
> five-bucks, whatever, just to hold you till tomorrow, then tomorrow do
> the same thing, and keep the tank near E most of the time, then there is
> no gasoline to act as a heat sink, and the pump motor runs hot which
> shortens its life.
>
> Keep the tank filled more than driving around with it empty, and you
> will have a fuel pump that lasts almost as long as the car.

urban legend. when early fuel injection pumps failed, it was because
they were cheap carp, not because they weren't getting any cooling.
fuel circulates through the pump. as long as it's pumping, it's getting
"cooled". [and why "cooling" is considered so important is a complete
mystery. windshield wiper motors can run indefinitely "uncooled".]


--
fact check required

In article >, jim beam >
wrote:

> On 03/22/2013 08:07 AM, twk wrote:
> > In article >,
> > Vic Smith > wrote:
> >
> >> On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
> >> > wrote:
> >>
> >>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
> >>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
> >>>
> >>> Suggestions?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Maybe coat it with a shot of WD-40 and wrap it in Saran wrap.
> >> Then bag it.
> >> I've got some fairly new parts coming off the car I'm junking because
> >> they'll fit my new car.
> >> Alternator, starter motor, coil packs, spark module, A/C compressor,
> >> condenser.
> >> Except for the condenser which I'll just plug, that's what I'm
> >> thinking of doing. Might be years before I use them.
> >> So I'm watching this to see other advice.
> >> I'll have to go buy WD-40. Don't like it, but I hear this is what
> >> it's made for.
> >
> > WD-40 won't harm the pump, but in a few months it will be gummed up
> > quite well. It will then take a whole lot more WD-40 to free up all the
> > moving parts again. I would suggest spraying it with a good grade of
> > silicone oil. The silicone won't gum up, but will cost a bit more than
> > twice as much as a can of WD. Go with the silicone spray.
> >
> > My $.02
> >
>
> 1. "silicone spray" you buy at the automotive store or supermarket is
> mostly petroleum distillate - i.e. mostly stuff like wd40. the
> percentage of silicone is minimal.
>
> 2. silicone in fuel will quickly screw up oxygen sensors.
>
> on both counts, either don't bother with anything, or just use wd40.
> it's not like it turns into cosmoline.

1. I did say a "good grade" of silicon oil. Maybe I should have said a
high percentage of silicone. I have a 100% silicone oil spray on my
shelf right now. It was about 3x the price of WD-40 and well worth it.

2. I also didn't mean to flood the pump with the entire contents of the
can. A light coating inside and out should protect the pump nicely.
Hardly enough to damage any sensor.

Something covered in WD-40 and wrapped in plastic, will get gummy in a
couple of months time. No doubt about it.

--
For all you know this message was...
Sent via an exclusive network, on a snobby portable computing device.

On 3/22/2013 16:14, uncle_vito wrote:
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "muzician21" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Wondering what considerations there would be in storing a used
>>> electric fuel pump that likely has a fair number of miles left in it.
>>>
>>> Suggestions?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in a box. Then hope that in 10 or 15
>> years, the next time you need a fuel pump, you have a car that takes the
>> same one that you wrapped in plastic and put in a box.
>>
>> You can get the longest life out of your fuel pump by keeping the gas tank
>> full.
>>
>> Gasoline acts as a heat sink, so if the tank runs to E and you put in
>> five-bucks, whatever, just to hold you till tomorrow, then tomorrow do the
>> same thing, and keep the tank near E most of the time, then there is no
>> gasoline to act as a heat sink, and the pump motor runs hot which shortens
>> its life.
>>
>> Keep the tank filled more than driving around with it empty, and you will
>> have a fuel pump that lasts almost as long as the car.
>>
>>
>
> Electric fuel pumps are DC since they are run off the 12 v battery and there
> is no external electronic circuitry to perform AC switching. That means
> there must be brushes and slip rings. I have always wondered how sparking
> does not ignite the fuel. Perhaps all is OK if the pump is totally
> submerged, but how about if you are running out of fuel. How do you
> prevent the pump from igniting the gas in the tank?
>
>

Generally it won't get that far. Once it sucks even a little air the
pressure should drop enough that ti shuts off. Some cars have a float
check too. I know someone with an 86 Grand National and with a 1/4 tank
backed down a loading ramp so no one could park close enough to ding it.
Wouldn't start when he got back. Pulled it out level and it fired right off.