Hi all, first post here...
I have a '92 F250 with dual tanks/302 V8. Truck will switch back and forth between tanks OK, fuel gauge reads properly for both tanks, and the truck will start/run/drive on either tank. However, when I'm on the front tank, the engine seems to starve for fuel -- hesitation and lurching off the line, and poor acceleration when moving. Switch to the rear tank and everything's normal.
Am I right in suspecting that my front in-tank pump is going bad? If so, how big a deal is it to have it replaced?
Fuel filter is old, been meaning to replace it but as I said, the truck is fine on the rear tank...
Thanks,
Alex M.

 

Yeah that is the fuel pump gone bad. The fuel filter is the same for both tanks. I don't know how much it will cost to have done, I know the pump is in the tank, and the tank has to be dropped. I wouldn't imagine it would be more than a few hundred, but I don't know for sure.

 

Welcome to the forum.

You haven't noticed the rear tank filling with fuel when running off of the front tank have you? This would be caused by a bad check valve in the rear tank. If not, then the front pump is probably weak. A fuel pressure gauge would verify this.

 

Thanks for the input,
A friend with an '86 460 mentioned the check valve problem, he found out the hard way when he noticed gas pouring out of the side of his truck on the highway.
The rear tank level seems to stay put when I'm on the front tank, and the front tank isn't emptying any faster than normal.
I talked to my mechanic and he thought fuel pump too. Advised me that actually changing the pump assembly isn't too hard, but dropping the tank takes some patience. In a few weeks when I use up all the gas in the front tank maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

the biggest pain in dropping the tank in my experience is remembering to unhook everything. You have the fill lines that need to come off, and the high pressure pump lines-make sure you have penetrating catalyst, those can be a major pain to get unhooked-and blocks to hold the tank dropped a little bit can help you see up underneath to know what to take off. The actual changing of the pump is simple and straightforward. Since you are doing the job to begin with-check your tank for rust, and if it is questionable, replace it. If you don't have a book on the truck that can help if you get stuck or want a quick reference.

 

I did one in the front tank of a 92 awhile back. It's not too difficult. You will need the fuel line tool to remove the lines from the pump unit. Just lower the tank enough that you can reach the fuel lines and remove them before dropping the tank all of the way. This will keep from breaking the lines.