Electric fuel pumps and fuel line questions

[45acpJr]

Ok so I am planning on switching to an electric fuel pump due to starting issues after sitting for anything more than a day. I purchased a 6 psi carter from the hotrod shop. I have two questions:

1. Is there a preferred place to mount the pump? Closer to the engine, fuel tanks, or somewhere in the middle.

2. Should I replace the existing fuel lines with all rubber lines or just reuse the existing lines?

 

[sweetk30]

12 volt key on and crank position

reuse metal lines if good .

rubber hose all = not best idea at all.

most pumps are designed to push better than pull from long distance.

our trucks have a rubber hose from crossover line from tank to inside of frame rail hard line just under the cab back wall. good place to add in a pump if i was to do it.

and get good fuel hose. most is cheep crap these days that dry rots in 2-3 years or faster.

 

[diesel4me]

I second the new fuel hose,check that its the new ethanol compatible stuff,many stores here will sell you old stock thats been hanging on a spool forever thats not going to hold up under ethanol.....dont use all hose either,put new steel lines or copper if you hate rust like me,and use a coupling to join the sections,and just join the sections of steel at each end with short lengths of the rubber hose and clamps..One thing I neglected to do when I hastily installed an electric pump in a snowstorm to aid the mechanical one on my diesel was to put a FUSE in the power wire,I just "jumped" it at the fuse box and I'm not sure now if its "using" another fuse,or if its just constantly "hot" with the key on only,unfused!..someday I'll probably have a wire fire if I dont remember to "fuse" it soon......I also just used a toggle switch with no relay too,despite that,its worked fine since the install...I guess my pump dont draw many amps...

 

[45acpJr]

Thanks for the quick replies, as far as the electrical I replaced the elecrical system already and the new fuse block has a dedicated fuse for the electric fuel pump. So how can I tell the difference between the newer hose versus the older hose?

 

[Fordum]

Also for a real short piece of fuel line its probably not critical, but in general copper/brass and diesel do not play well together...

 

[diesel4me]

I've used copper on a few gas engined trucks without issues,but I haven't used it on either of my diesels,didn't know copper and diesel dont jive,seeing home oil furnaces have used it for years ,I figured it was Ok.....--I was going to replace the lines soon though,because the steel lines on my pickup are ready to pop from rust,and some "meknic" replaced the Suburbans fuel lines with a whole roll of 3/8" "biodiesel compatable" rubber fuel line hose!...surprised I get any fuel to the injector pump with all rubber,it probably has a "pulse" with the electric pump running ,that likely absorsbs some of the fuel pressure................................I guess I'll have to seek another alternative to steel lines for my diesels..I have some of the new nylon fuel lines I saved off some scrapped trucks that might be a better choice??..

 

[Fordum]

From what I remember, there are two problems with copper and even more with brass.
Copper causes diesel to break down faster. And high sulfur content can cause pitting in copper and brass.
Like I say, its probably not a problem with a short piece of fuel line, but when I was wanting to replace a couple of the steel low pressure lines on my big genset, I wanted to use copper for ease of use.
Two different diesel mechanics advised me against it. Said it was worse when there was a copper or brass object that sat in a tank. Said it could cause a whole tankful of diesel to go bad before its time.

I also have heard that its really bad news for some of the newer fuels, like biodiesel.
With some mixtures, you get a green snot that clogs up everything.

We don't have the kind of heating systems down here that you have up North all that much.
Most of the oil type heaters I run into use a grade of kerosene instead of diesel.