Why do I have high fuel pressure...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

When I turn the car to the "on" position, before the 9 PSI fiasco, the initial fuel pressure reading was 3 PSI (regardless of how long the car had been sitting). I too, always kick on the e-pump and watch the gauge until I have 6 PSI, then start the car.

OK, let me be clear on this. Are you saying that when you go out to your car, say in the morning after the car has not been running, and you turn the key and electric pump switch on, but do not start the car, that you hear the whir of the electric pump and that it only goes up to 2 or 3 psi, even after waiting, say, 15 seconds? Or are you saying that it initially starts out at 2 or 3 psi and then, after a few seconds, goes to 6psi and then holds there? The first is abnormal, the second is perfectly normal.

[steve meltzer]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, let me be clear on this. Are you saying that when you go out to your car, say in the morning after the car has not been running, and you turn the key and electric pump switch on, but do not start the car, that you hear the whir of the electric pump and that it only goes up to 2 or 3 psi, even after waiting, say, 15 seconds? Or are you saying that it initially starts out at 2 or 3 psi and then, after a few seconds, goes to 6psi and then holds there? The first is abnormal, the second is perfectly normal.

With the key in the on position (not start) and e-pump off, my initial pressure is 3 PSI, but then, after engaging the e-pump, the pressure goes to 6PSI, as it should. This was the case BEFORE I started seeing pressures of 9PSI. (so the latter of your two possibilities) steve

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

With the key in the on position (not start) and e-pump off, my initial pressure is 3 PSI, but then, after engaging the e-pump, the pressure goes to 6PSI, as it should. This was the case BEFORE I started seeing pressures of 9PSI. (so the latter of your two possibilities) steve

OK, that's good. By the way, over the last 15 years have you ever had to pull the fuel bowls off for any reason? And were the floats ever adjusted, or just left at the factory setting?

[steve meltzer]

several years ago, i had the bowls off to fix some leaks...actually, i need to do that again. Don't recall making any float adjustments however. How might the need to increase the idle play into this, if at all? thanx for

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

several years ago, i had the bowls off to fix some leaks...actually, i need to do that again. Don't recall making any float adjustments however. How might the need to increase the idle play into this, if at all? thanx for

I can't think of any possible scenario where something wrong inside your carburetor could cause the the fuel pressure to be 9 psi from a mechanical pump. And the fact that the electric pump comes on with a 2 to 3 psi, and then levels off at 6 psi, would indicate that the pressure gauge is probably OK.

You know, the simplest, easiest, quickest, and least expensive test would be to just pull the two lines off your mechanical fuel pump and temporarily plug them together, fire her up, check the pressure on the gauge, and take her for a nice romp and see how she runs.

[steve meltzer]

all i need is time (away from work!). i'll keep you posted. s

[steve meltzer]

OK, i skipped school part of the morning and went out to the garage. At start up, the pressures were normal (3 PSI w/o the e-pump and then 6 with the e-pump). On the road, they were as they had been before the 9PSI fiasco....no more elevated pressures....all as it had been in the years before. Drove the car to work...steady 6 PSI with the e-pump, tho', as before, dropping to 3 PSI under load without it. Interestingly, when I shut the car off, the gauge read 8 PSI. Since I don't seem to have the problem I had on Sunday (going to 9 PSI), I"ll con't to drive the car and see how it goes. Seems like a bad idea to remove the mechanical pump for no good reason...might save my butt if the e-pump ever failed. Any other thoughts? thanx steve