Is it cactus?

[stephen low]

During the last of my testing one of my pumps developed quite a noise when operating and I am pretty sure it is the Bosch 044 I'm using.

Car also cut out on both myself and my engineer, but in both cases came back to life.

Just ran the car at idle and measured the reject fuel rate at between 128 - 133 litres per hour (27 -28 secs for a litre).

Pump is rated at 300 LPH free 200 @ 5 bar.

So even allowing for idle consumption rate, am I correct in deducing the pump isn't working to spec?

Is it a case of a new 044?

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

It'll only flow that ammount if it can be fed with it. Are you sure the feed from your swirl pot etc is up to it? The run from my swirl pot down to my pump is to long I reckon and the 044 can make some odd noises at times. They also don't generate a lot of suction so you need a good head of fuel keep them properly fed.

I'm going to re do the tank setup and keep the path to the pump as short as possible and the pump as low as possible.

Cheers

[stephen low]

Well the swirl pot is high in the passenger rear arch and the 044 is central in front of the diff. so I has presumed both a reasonable head of supply over a modest distance. Didn't think that too onerous on the pump.

Is it the case that I drop the pump out and just bench test for rate? Presumably if it doesn't improve much, then I have the culprit?

I do eventually plan to go in-tank but that will happen with an ali tank in the future. Just want to get some reliable running for the moment.

Anyone else got experience with these pumps that can comment?

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Stephen, what pump is feeding the swirl pot from the main tank?. Are you taking the fuel return to the swirl pot or the main fuel tank?.

Just wondering if the 044 is starving for juice because the pump in the main tank is not keeping the swirl pot replenished.

[sambo]

Edit: sorry, I misread the original post.

[stephen low]

Sambo

I haven't said it here but am using a Carter pump to scavenge from the main tank to the swirl pot, and the fuel return hits the swirl pot.

Not sure which model the Carter is but I bought them together as part of another redundant project. That was the problem I guess, not new, supposedly little use but no idea of history. I can only guess perhaps that the bosch has been inadvetantly plugged in at some stage without fuel. That would kill its bearings quick smart.

However really now just want to knock over the issue and get some reliability, and if that means a new pump so be it, but it will be new this time!!

I might get a mechanic mate to hook up a pressure gauge to see what the pump is pushing live, that might tell us something too.

Cheers

[sambo]

Good luck with that mate. When you're so close to getting it on the road, I know this is the last thing you need!

[stephen low]

G'day all did a bit of testing on the fuel system but now I am not sure where to go look next.

The Ford manual specs for fuel delivery in an AU say -

min delivery 240cc in 10s (1.44L/min) @ 275kPa, pressure at idle 225kPa and stationary pressure 275kPa

I measured approx. 2.15 L/min (approx 130 LPH) fuel delivery off the return fuel line and pressure tested at 325kPa (3.25 bar) at idle and 340kPa stationary with no loss of pressure from the fuel rail.

The Bosch 044 pump is rated at 300LPH free and 200 LPH @ 5 bar, so it seems the pump may not be delivering at its rated capacity but its delivery is in excess of standard AU specs.

So what might be causing the fuel starvation I seem to be getting?

I'd cleaned my filters prior to this so there is no issue there and my only test of the Carter feed pump was out of the car but it delivered at an unmeasured but seemingly high rate without noise or complaint.

Where should I go looking now? Any suggestions?

Cheers