Fuel pump frustration
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 892
Likes: 85
From: Western Massachusetts
Fuel pump frustration
It’s dust off time after a long winter here. We had a couple warm sunny days 10 days ago and the salt had been washed off the roads so I took a short ride around the neighborhood. It was good for the 54 and me. Last fall I saw that the fuel pump looked a bit wet. It was oil not gasoline. I assumed the gasket between the block and pump was the cause. Yesterday I changed the motor oil in the 223 six. While under the truck I checked out the fuel pump and the leak doesn’t seem to be from the gasket area. After doing some research online apparently these cam driven pumps have a history of this. There are many reports of short lived failures. This was already the second new pump purchased. The first pump was installed during the engine rebuild early on in the restoration. It failed (leaked gas), before the restoration was done. I just ordered pump number three, a carter this time.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 951
Likes: 343
From: Newton Illinois
I had a similar experience with napa fuel pumps on a 390, 2 different pumps both failed after a few hundred miles by squirting engine oil out the vent hole.
after the second failure I switched to a edelbrock pump which was pricey but it has worked great for 2 years.
I think it is just that the quality of parts is not what it was.
after the second failure I switched to a edelbrock pump which was pricey but it has worked great for 2 years.
I think it is just that the quality of parts is not what it was.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 534
I had exactly the same thing happen on my 223! I went through 3 pumps including a stock pump. I have a thread on it somewhere but it just seemed so implausible that I would have multiple failures and I kept looking for other issues. Mine couldnt make it up a hill and would bog out as I approached 55 mph. Once I got a working pump on everything is good.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 336
From: Bakersfield, CA
I have been through 3-4 fuel pumps in the last year, my last one leaked so much oil I had to apologize to anyone I visited. I recently switched to an electric pump but it has it's own teething issues as well--but no oil leaks.
I turned my failed mechanical pump in for a free warranty replacement and stashed it under the seat just in case.
I turned my failed mechanical pump in for a free warranty replacement and stashed it under the seat just in case.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 892
Likes: 85
From: Western Massachusetts
I don’t know if the first pump was the original but it’s long gone. Fortunately I’m able to get non ethanol gas in nearby New York state. It’s all this truck has used under my ownership. If this trend continues, I will switch to an electric pump.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,382
Likes: 5,388
From: Central PA
Get your old pump rebuilt by someone like Cowboy John. I had an original style pump with glass bowl I sent to him. He sent it back looking great with ethanol proof rubber. Google his name and you'll find his contact info.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 951
Likes: 343
From: Newton Illinois
If i were going to use a electric I would use a regulator with a return line because with a deadhead regulator the pump is going to be working under full load all the time and get hot and I would carry a spare.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 534
I used a US Motor works pump not a Carter pump. So far so good. I had 2 Carter pumps fail.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...mp-failed.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...mp-failed.html
Knuckle Bandage Sales Rep
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,676
Likes: 1,245
From: Maine
Wow, lots of new fuel pump failures mentioned here and dismal new part quality. Unrelated to the Ford truck pumps, I am now on new electric pump #4 on an old Datsun I have. OEM pumps are non-existent for those so the only option is to find electric replacements. And they are terrible. They will either fail right out of the box or within 2 hours of usage. I use new filters between the tank and pump and have a clean tank and a pressure gauge inline. Part quality is horrifying. I have bought higher priced pumps each time hoping for an improvement. This fourth pump I'm on is already groaning which means it will fail soon, and it cost more than double the cost of the first one. I have little confidence in aftermarket parts anymore. The good news is that I can now change a Datsun fuel pump almost one-handed and soon will be able to do it with the engine running and not leak a drop.
I second Abe's suggestion to use Cowboy John in Florida to rebuild Ford carbs and pumps. He is great.
I second Abe's suggestion to use Cowboy John in Florida to rebuild Ford carbs and pumps. He is great.
Last edited by pineconeford; Apr 4, 2026 at 08:52 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 351
From: Mandan, ND
If you would choose to rebuild it yourself, either with a cowboy John kit or Now and Then Automotive kit, open it up and check how valves are held in place. Ford pumps have a little metal spider that holds valves in place with a screw. Aftermarket, at least some, have valves pressed in. The usual kits have the valves for use with the spider. They aren’t that complicated.
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