EFI Fuel Pumps

[flexmerc]

All,

I recently installed the Holley Sniper EFI kit on my bronco. Prior to the installation, I also used the Wild Horses EFI fuel kit, they seem to have a way of taking the "user error" out of the equation and having all the parts and pieces together. Well, I torqued down the (+) positive terminal on the Fuel pump and broke the terminal off, that's on me.

So I went on the internet to order a new one, because I order this EFI kit about 6-8 months ago. Doing my research, it seems to me the general consensus is that EFI fuel pumps DO NOT have a great track record, some break after a month, after 10 miles and some people report them working for years.

My Question:

Why do EFI pumps have a horrible track record, what is the "better" solution, buy a $500 EFI pump, carry an extra in the truck?
I would never go on a road trip, without a proper contingency plan, why would I drive down the road with EFI pumps that have a track record for breaking?

 

[Broncobowsher]

A lot of the good fuel pumps are cloned in China. Cheap low grade pump that looks, packaged, and is sold as the real one.

I'll also add that a lot of pumps also suffer from poor installation. No sock on the fuel pickup so debris gets into the pump. Or an undersized prefilter that will starve the pump of fuel. Aeromotive has a nice write up on crappy prefilters. https://aeromotiveinc.com/fuel-filtration/

 

[56f100bbw]

Another highly cloned part in China is the Sanden compressor if it’s $100 on eBay they’re cheap junk Most will say sanden type that’s a red flag if it’s in a new sanden box should be ok

 

[jhill52]

Agree totally with Broncobauser. I worked with EFI pumps for years. A GENUINE Walbro should work for years. Pump good strainer on the inlet mount it in tank and make sure the tank is clean.

 

[jhill52]

I agree totally with Broncobowser. I worked with EFI pumps for several years. Lots of cheap copies from China. A Genuine Walbro will run for over a year continuously. Key is a clean tank to start, a good inlet strainer and mount it in the tank.

 

[flexmerc]

Thanks guys, I purchased this Summit Racing Pump, Part number SUM-G3138; currently everything is good to go, and I mounted the pump per the instructions. I did cut the corner a bit on the return line, I had a extra Fuel Filler Neck so I drilled a hole, and used a bulkhead AN connector, all is well for now.

I will end up pulling the trigger on a full 23Gal in tank pump eventually; but thats another story.

We shall see how this pump works out....



https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g3138

 

[Broncobowsher]

The only thing I don't like about using the filler neck for the return is the fuel waterfalls back into the tank. Agitates and aerates. OEMs put the return at the bottom of the tank. This is in the Holley instructions now as well. A lot of people have used the filler neck for a return. It does work. But even Holley doesn't recommend it anymore.

 

[welndmn]

Don't forget, the most popular EFI pump, the E2000, was used in most Ford cars and trucks for 15 (or more?) years. So there are millions of out there and you don't hear from the people who never had an issue.

 

[Yeller]

Don't forget, the most popular EFI pump, the E2000, was used in most Ford cars and trucks for 15 (or more?) years. So there are millions of out there and you don't hear from the people who never had an issue.

Yep, just changed one that went 20 years to the month, felt it was due, it didn’t owe me a thing

 

[nvrstuk]

Steve... the haters are gonna say "never fix something that isn't broken"... lol

20 yrs... wow... that's a long time... congrats on that kind of lifespan on any part that actually does something!!

 

[toddz69]

Don't forget, the most popular EFI pump, the E2000, was used in most Ford cars and trucks for 15 (or more?) years. So there are millions of out there and you don't hear from the people who never had an issue.

Just a clarification - E2000 is a model made by Airtex. I don't believe Ford ever actually used them as an OEM supplier. To the best of my knowledge, Ford used Bosch as their external EFI electric pump supplier and most of those were the Bosch 69100 pump. Ford only used external pumps for a few years with EFI (85-89 in pickups, for example).

That's not to say the E2000 pump is not a good one - I think it is!

Todd Z.

 

[toddz69]

Steve... the haters are gonna say "never fix something that isn't broken"... lol

20 yrs... wow... that's a long time... congrats on that kind of lifespan on any part that actually does something!!

In the spirit of 'fixing something that isn't broke', I just took out my Bosch 69100 external pump last month after 23.5 years of faithful service in my truck. Still working great with a rough calculation of 130-140K miles of service on my truck - often in extreme conditions of heat, etc.

And I didn't buy it new - it had already lived a long life of service when I plucked it from the framerail of an '88 truck back in '97 for $20....who says external pumps don't work well....

Todd Z.

 

[BanditBronco]

Man those are some impressive numbers! I do usually swing under a couple f150's at the junk yard when I stop by and see if the nice isolated mounting bracket and pump are still there. 100% the cheapest, easiest way to run an efi pump.

 

[nvrstuk]

Geeeez Todd, that's some genuine Ford commercial material there!

Seriously tho, OE quality stuff just can't be beat and that many years as a frame mount proves that it works... no doubts there!

I run a Walbro GSL392BX. I need a little more capacity for some reason and I mounted their frame mount unit inside the tank- as per Walbro engineers recommendations. Typical long nvrstuk story but it's their same pump as their internal one but the electrical and fuel connections are easy and extremely secure.

 

[Yeller]

Steve... the haters are gonna say "never fix something that isn't broken"... lol

20 yrs... wow... that's a long time... congrats on that kind of lifespan on any part that actually does something!!

I wasn't clear it was dead..... and an NOS OEM pump when I installed it. It was in my buggy and only gets driven on Sunday, and they are always high quality miles;D

I run the Airtex one on my Bronco, my Dyno guy was impressed it kept up, he said he's had several that would not produce enough volume at 60psi to run 400ish horse power.