As the title says do fuel pumps leak? The pump I’m referring to is on an 89 5.3 so placed just outside the battery and sump tank location in the boot. The reason I ask is the dreaded fuel smell. I have had the tank fully repaired, sealed and tested. I have treble checked every connection and changed hose clips to those suggested by others. The fuel pipes either side of the pump are actually double clipped now as I believe this is my problem area. When I open the boot lid after leaving overnight I can smell it. Not massively overpowering but it’s there and coming from that corner near the battery so I think. If I dive in while my senses are still fresh I would say it is coming from after the pump inlet pipe , the body of the pump smells and around the outlet pipe. With the lid up for a while the smell virtually completely goes. This is why I’m wondering about the pump. It was a new replacement fairly recently but only a cheapie from Barratts . Thoughts please as it’s so annoying!,

 

Yes, pumps can leak

Bear in mind that even the slightest oooze of fuel from any source will cause a big odor in a small, confined compartment. It doesn't have to be a drip leak. But you're probably aware of all that.

Wrap the pump and all joints in colored tissue paper and check it in a couple days. Small leaks will be evidenced on the tissue.

Odor from fuel vapors is another matter. The smell can go right through the rubber hoses. I had great results by changing all hoses to marine grade specification which has very thick walls. I've posted the spec, a simple search should show it. I'd say the fuel odor in the boot was reduced 90%

Cheers
DD

 

Hi Brinny

Just wondering why you are double clipping the Hoses on the Fuel Pump as the Hoses themselves should be a nice tight fit

Did the Hoses feel really slack when you put them on? and have you got any Photos of the Clips you are using?

Here are some pics of my Fuel Pump using just one Clip as per OEM and although I've changed it, it's never leaked at all and no Fuel Smell either, so maybe the Rubber Pipes could be your problem or maybe you are using a different type of Clip to OEM

Fuel Pump on an XJS V12 when I changed it including New Filter

 

Thanks for the photos ob. I did have jubilee clips on before and changed those for a higher quality grade of jubilee but that didn't work. I have now replaced them with a type of fuel clip suggested by greg that is more a nut and bolt. These are really nipped up but still it is there. When I go to the car I open the boot and have a sniff! Its definitely from the pump / bottom hose. I think the top one is ok. I double clipped after someone else's suggestion. If I put my nose to the pump it is strongest there and around the bottom hose connection. All others seem good.

 

Another thought.....

All this clamping, un-clamping, re-clamping, and double-clamping might be damaging the hose.

Not a criticism, mind you. It's just that I've been there and done that !

Cheers
DD

 

I think part of the reason fuel pumps were moved to the INSIDE of fuel tanks is because when they leak, who would know or care?

 

Hi Brinny

I've tried those nut and bolt clamps myself on the Coolant Hoses and they didn't work for me and so I had to take them off and replace them with Jubilee Clips which immediately stopped all the leaking

As I found the nut and bolt clamps pinched the tubing as you tightened them up which made them leak but maybe Gregs were a different type to mine

 

You may well be right.

 

Hi Brinny

Put a Jubilee Clip on each end (Just one one each end) and all your leaking problems could be over!

 

Brinny
As OB has told us in an earlier thread, you can get a pump for about 25 quid on ebay. How long it will last #, who knows, but it is an easy way to see if your pump is the trouble. I take it that the supply hose from the sump tank is new?
Greg

 

OB
On fuel hoses with much smaller diameters, the fuel clips are better than jubilees, in my experience. On larger diameter coolant hoses, I agre that T bolt clamps are not as good as i thought they would be, hence my buying the Murray clips I mentioned in a post recently. On my lower radiator hose I have T bolt clamps and they work Ok-ish, but seem to need tightening quite frequently.

 

I’m hoping I might have got this nailed and everyone who made a suggestion was basically right in what they said! The barb on the fuel pump is negligible and that coupled with a poor fitting hose along with tightening the clips to their max has given me the problem. I think. I have kept coming back to the bottom fuel pump connection and have changed the clips and pipes a few times. I’m hoping some fresh high pressure hose will cure it. Again. I have slipped a short length on to test things out overnight. The other stuff from my local supplier was 8 mm Id but seems to have swelled when it’s been in contact with fuel. I’m hoping some 7.5 Id of a far better quality will finally cure things. We shall see tomorrow.