Fuel pump aftermarket part numbers

[bigmac]

I've been concerned reading several of the posts here where people are replacing the fuel line that connects the pump to the regulator. Here's a tip for those of you replacing the fuel pump with these aftermarket pumps: You have to be careful of the hose your use. Not all fuel line is created equal.

If you go to the auto store and ask for fuel line, they'll give you whatever they have in bulk. Might cost you $3 or $4. This is generally going to be a bad thing.

Fuel line is SAE rated, and the ratings are:

Fuels hose types generally available at the auto parts store -

SAE 30R7 is for EFI return line, or carburetor supply (low pressure, non submerged)
SAE 30R9 is for outside-the-tank EFI supply (high pressure non-submerged)
SAE 30R10 is for all in-tank use (high pressure, submerged)

This is very important! When I went to NAPA and asked for fuel injector line, they gave me hydraulic hose. It met the pressure specs, but not the permeability requirements. I asked for the good stuff, and they tried to give me 30R9 ($15 for 18 inches). I noted that that stuff said "Not for submersion in gasoline". When I looked it up, I found that indeed, the 30R9 will swell and crack, and ultimately fail if submerged in gasoline. It will work from the pump module to the injector rail, meets the pressure requirements, but can't be submerged, such as in our MasterCraft fuel tanks.

Just sayin...connecting an in-tank pump requires fuel line that meets SAE 30R10. The stuff is expensive, but the lesser tubing I see many of you using will have a limited life-span in your fuel tank.

The optimal setup I see would be the corrugated, non-kinking stuff that most OEMs are using these days, including MasterCraft in their new fuel pump modules. I can't find a source of that stuff, and autoparts people just give me a blank look when I ask them about it.

This stuff...(ignore the fact that it's burst

[rhsprostar]

Good point Bigmac, It seems like a lot of people are reusing the original line, which is fine but if it is kinked or in any way seems to be in "not perfect condition", better to replace it.

Please also make sure that your hose fittings are on perfectly, with no leaks. If there is a leak you will see symptoms like, hard-starting or having to wait 5 seconds before cranking, everytime to get the motor to start. With a leak, the pump effectively loses its prime each time you shut the boat off and has to reprime the whole system each time you restart the motor. Easy fix but a PITA because you have to remove the module again.

[stu]

Oh, well, just means more Duff Beer for me while working on the boat!

[rudaire]

fuel hose

Napa sells submersible fuel hoses for around $25 per foot that meet all the specs of an in-tank hose. They only sell them in 1 foot lengths, and usually don't stock them, but can get them quickly from their central supply, or so I hear. I haven't bought mine yet.

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=5091&location_id=541

I plan on using a reducer, as pictured and buying a foot of both 1/4 and 5/16. I'm sure I'll have enough for 1 or even 2 people to use my scrap if anyone cares..

Can anyone who has done this estimate the total length I'll need?

Also, trying to be sure the reducer is also suitable for in-tank use is even more challenging...
dave

[rudaire]

Darn.. Doesn't look like gates makes submersible hose in 1/4.....

[rudaire]

I cannot find 1/4 submersible fuel hose anywhere.. I mean.. any where..
Are we sure the inlet barb at the top of the fuel pump module is 1/4 and not 5/16?? This sucks
dave

[bigmac]

Are we sure the inlet barb at the top of the fuel pump module is 1/4 and not 5/16?? This sucks
dave

I'm not sure that we're sure of that. It wouldn't make sense, really, since virtually all automobile fuel line fittings are 5/16 or 3/8

[bigmac]

After futher inspection notice that their peace of crap fuel line was kinking after I reassembled everthing. I went to advanced auto and baught fuel line for $1.25 installed it and presto magico, she run better than she ever did.

As noted in another thread, that $1.25 fuel line isn't SAE-rated for submersion in gasoline (SAE 30R10) and will likely disintegrate on you sooner or later (sooner according to Gates Corporation).

[amesgardner]

Thanks bigmack and rhsprostar!!!

[rudaire]

As noted in another thread, that $1.25 fuel line isn't SAE-rated for submersion in gasoline (SAE 30R10) and will likely disintegrate on you sooner or later (sooner according to Gates Corporation).

I've read more than one account of people using non-submersible fuel lines on other forums for trucks etc where they only lasted 4 days. More forums report them lasting at least a year, but many advise to replace or at least inspect yearly.. Funny thing is Ducati motorcycles DO use a 1/4" in tank line, and the ducati mechanics (in the USA) apparently use regular EFI line when they replace the pumps since the submersible is hard to source. I don't know what pressure the pump runs however..

dave

[stu]

I cannot find 1/4 submersible fuel hose anywhere.. I mean.. any where..
Are we sure the inlet barb at the top of the fuel pump module is 1/4 and not 5/16?? This sucks
dave

I'm sure it is 1/4 on my module since I just did the job a week ago. The 5/16 hose was simply too big for it and I doubt you'd be able to get a good seal, even if you clamped the hell out of it. The 1/4 fit perfectly on the module barb. I'll send a PM to jsullivan who just did this job too and ask about it.

As far as the reduction coupler, I tried something like that except made of brass and I did not go with it b/c I wanted to leave extra play/length (like the factory hose was) so the plastic cylinder could slide up and down, and the coupler interfered with natural bend of the hose and set up a kink point just above it.

The hose I bought from Advance Auto was Thermoid Fuel Injection Hose, 1/4 " X 18" inches, and I cut about 5 or 6 inches off of it.

[bigmac]

The hose I bought from Advance Auto was Thermoid Fuel Injection Hose, 18 inches, and I cut about 5 or 6 inches off of it.

I'd sure keep an eye on that, be prepared to inspect it yearly. It's gonna have a tendency to disintegrate.

[stu]

I'd sure keep an eye on that, be prepared to inspect it yearly. It's gonna have a tendency to disintegrate.

I'm gonna change it as soon as we come up with with the right thing to replace it with and a source to get it.

I'm glad I made no hose-type recommendation at all in my aftermkt fuel pump change post. Based on earlier posts, I just went to the auto store and asked for "EFI" rated hose. I have gone back and made note of bigmac's submersion issue in my post.

By the way, the factory hose that came with my module was heat-molded on the ends and was definitely not reusable, IMO.

[rudaire]

So if i follow all of this correctly, we haven't found a 'forum approved' suitable hose to connect our replacement fuel pump to the module because the module requires a 1/4 hose, and there seems to be no source for fuel submersible 1/4 inch hose. And also that re-using the factory supplied hose it dicey. Is there a way to remove the 1/4 inch barb on the module and replace that with a 5/16? Or is there any other solution available for this other than buying the mastercraft complete module?

dave

[stu]

Rudaire, I think you are part of a "work in progress."

ps, I wish I could be out on the water this wkend too. Throttle cable.