Long story.

My fuel pump as of two weeks ago was itself a warranty replacement from Oreillys from 2-3 years ago. That's about all I've been getting out of them--but they don't fail to pump, they start leaking gas or oil profusely.
So when they start leaking I take them off and get a free replacement.
I smelled gas a month ago but couldn't find the culprit.
About 10 days ago I fired my truck up to go to work and saw there was a wet puddle under my truck under the fuel pump. Gas evaporates quickly so I knew it was fresh but the truck had been sitting all night. I fired the engine and a "squirt" of gas coming directly out of the fuel pump out of the "hole" for the pivot shaft(which is a common point for leakages).

it was squirting like a kids toy.

I got a warranty replacement that evening and it feels lighter than the previous version, but looks the same. It worked for a few days but then 8packs thread got some traction and I noticed my truck was also losing power at 2500+ rpm but otherwise it ran fine.
Well today I was coming home, there is a semi-sharp freeway overpass merge bridge I must take at the end of my commute home: I gave it the beans to pass some people(lol) and she fell on her face BAD. I couldn't keep 50, then I lost 40, then she was struggling to keep 30. But I figured this would be an interesting time to stop and pop the hood and see what my glass fuel bowl was saying.

It was damn near empty.

I dealt with OVERFILLING the fuel bowl a few years ago and it was causing bogging especially when taking banking turns at speed. I was NOT expecting an empty fuel bowl, I was expecting it to be overfilled again.

I closed the hood and tried to drive it a half mile off the freeway and a mile further home. Didn't make it.

There is a fairly steep incline on the offramp and she couldn't make it up. It would fire up every time you turned the key but if you revved it it would die--no fuel.

Eventually I got it to start and let it idle, got out and popped the hood--to my amazement there was almost no fuel in the bowl. So that meant the engine was running on the trickle of fuel the broken pump was pushing. But it couldn't push any more.

It started and ran fine under 1000rpm. Got home, lifted the hood, fuel bowl was filled to its normal level just above half.


I took the pump off and found that there was little to no resistance when pumping the lever. Got a warranty replacement for the second time in 10 days, let see how long it lasts.

 

Big bummer. Glad you were able to get to a safe spot.

Hopefully that sorts it out. You may want to consider a Carter branded pump and pay a small up charge. No guarantee the name brand pump is any better, but at least it's a brand you recognize with a specific reputation to maintain.

I just checked my Rock Auto order and it was a Carter pump that failed,,,,,,

It's all coming from china anyway, and maybe even the same factory, but maybe something other than Carter like Delphi.

I looked up Alernatives on Rock auto. The pump that is working on my truck now looks like a US Motor works pump. My pump has the same aluminum tab on it. If you look at the diaphragm gasket it is thicker than the Carter one, as is mine. The Carter Oump is $20 on RA and the USMW pump is $38. Maybe the cost difference indicates a higher quality part??

When I get to the Raceway tomorrow I will take pictures of the tag and see if the numbers match by chance.

You may want to keep a spare pump in the truck as well with the tools to do a roadside swap. I just added that to my truck.


US Motorworks pump. Note the aluminum tag and how tick the gasket is along with a cord/fiber reinforcement.

Carter pump. Much thinner gasket and not reinforced.

 

I think the best option is to get a pump original to your year truck and engine and send it to Cowboy John in Florida or to the guy in NY State to rebuild.

Also how much does ethanol gas have to do with the failure of these pumps?

 

I am considering trying to adapt a mech fuel pump from another engine, one that is sealed differently. We'll see, may not be possible.

 

This is what I was thinking too. These pumps are pretty simple devices, a lever, a spring, a diaphragm and two (2 ?) little check valves. Are old NOS pumps available on Ebay? Maybe like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33599189883...6rzbSfZg&pfm=0

 

That "seal" is not just a seal, but it is also the diaphragm.

 

For me. Zero. Mine had less than 3 gallons of gas run through it. It was leaking oil and fuel.

I am going to send my original pump out this winter. Then and now in MA gets $125. Cowboy John might be a a better bet.

 

I don't remember the cost, but turn around time with Cowboy John was quick. He did fuel pump and carb for me.

 

That dude wants $40 for a part/shipping with no guarantees, he can get lost.

 

My thought was to rebuild it or have it rebuilt. Probably better than some offshore pos.

 

Go to rearcounter.com and put in the part number. It's pretty good at identifying who has them.

Dennis carpenter had an NOS part for mine and Green sales as well. Green sales has a lot of stuff and you can just enter the part number in their website to see if they have it in inventory. You have to call Dennis carpenter to find out what they have for NOS inventory. They don't post it. They have quite a few NOS hard to find parts.

$40 seems to be the going rate. They are usually rebuilt.

 

Do you remember what he charged you for the fuel pump?

Uhhhhhh it says right in your quote you don't remember the cost....I should pay attention.

 

Cowboy John's shipping is the cost of the medium size "if it fits, it ships box." Whatever cost that is now.

 

I am declaring my problem resolved. I am pretty confident it was a bad pump although I can't be sure it wasn't also leaking at the fitting. A bit unlucky with 2 bad fuel pumps in a row.

Did you get yours sorted out yet?

 

I also believe it was a bad pump, so far it hasn't failed and I hope it doesn't fail again,