Fueling & Injection Fuel Pumps | Injectors | Rails | Regulators | Tanks

Strange fuel pressure issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 29, 2003 | 11:42 AM
  #1  
SMOKINV8's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, IL
Default Strange fuel pressure issues

Let me first list the problems that I'm dealing with here:

1.) The fuel pressure very gradually bleeds off the longer I drive the car. Usually if I drive for around 15 minutes, it'll go from 61psi to around 57-58. 30 minutes takes it down to 52-53.

2.) When I turn the key on (once) to prime the lines, it doesn't usually prime up very much (as in MAYBE 10psi). If I crank it over a couple times, you can see the fuel pressure shoot right up to the 60psi, but it starts bleeding off pretty rapidly.

3.) When I shut the car off, the pressure bleeds off rapidly as well.

4.) If the pressure starts out at 61psi, at WOT, the fuel pressure drops down to around 52 or so and stays there until I let off the throttle. If I do the same at a lower initial psi, it drops off even more than that. I saw it hit 48psi once, from an initial 56, and that was all the testing I did.

The problems all started when installed a new fuel pump. At first the car wouldn't start, and that was traced to the fuel pressure regulator clip not being seated properly, letting all the fuel leak out. After that was put back on properly, I had the fuel pressure slowly bleeding off problem, so I figured I must have just fubared the FPR. I then installed a return line and an Aeromotive external FPR trying to solve the problem. Well it didn't.

Does anybody have any idea's about what could be wrong??
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2003 | 02:11 PM
  #2  
1dirtyZ's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 1
From: the not so stock tribe
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

it sounds very similar to the symptoms of a fule line leaking from the pump. what happenes is that the fule line from the pump to the top of the module either gets punctured somehow or the clamps you used come loose somehow.

make sure you use hi pressure fule injection hose ( better yet get aeroquip fule injection hose, doesn't mind being soaked in gas) from the pump to the top of the module. another thang to do is to use 2 clamps down where the pump meets the hose, prefrrably t-bolt clamps to insure that they don't gouge the hose. and make sure the clamps are tight!

hope this helps!
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2003 | 09:33 PM
  #3  
red ws6 99's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces, NM
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

Sounds like a leak on the line from the pump to the sender unit. If you used a walbro pump, it has a 5/16" connection and the sender is 3/8" connection. Just about everyone uses just a single 3/8" hose. Which of course means you have to crank the heck out of the clamp to not get a leak. I have stated this many in many posts but no one really seems to listen. Really cranking the clamp down will somewhat work, at least to the hose breaks.

Gary
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2003 | 10:53 PM
  #4  
theblur98ss's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (71)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 0
From: East Brady, Pa
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

I would agree that it's probably a leak at the pump. I would also check the 'plastic' line from the tank to where it goes into the filter. Twice now I've had pressure problems and found kinks in the line. I have since replaced it with a better line.
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2003 | 08:46 PM
  #5  
CAT3's Avatar
Restricted User
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 7,603
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Vista, AZ
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

At least you still have fuel pressure, my line burst in a couple places (can be seen in my link) and it would barely get any gas...like there was no "rattling" from being lean cause there was not enough fuel. Used a 5/16 hi press fuel INJECTION hose and fuel injection clamps...no problems now. Yeah the smaller hose is a not really easy to get on, but it goes on and doesnt get pinched by the clamps.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2003 | 10:07 AM
  #6  
SMOKINV8's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, IL
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

I thought about the leaky line between the fuel pump and the sending unit, but that only makes sense to a certain degree. If it was leaking like that, wouldn't it cause lower fuel pressure all the time, not just after a 15-20 minute drive?

Also, this was a Racetronix Plug 'N Play system, and everything that was in the kit seemed like it was pretty simple to put together. The metal band clamp included with it was cinched down pretty tight on that hose. I made sure of this just because of all the posts I'd read in here regarding that same issue. I didn't want to have to drop the tank AGAIN.

Also, at one point I did have kinks in that plastic fuel line, but I replaced it with an unkinked one.

CAT3- You mentioned the line getting pinched by the clamp.. I believe that the hose used DID overlap a little after I'd tightened it all the way down. Does that potentially cause a problem, even if everything is tight?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2003 | 09:23 PM
  #7  
1dirtyZ's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 1
From: the not so stock tribe
Default Re: Strange fuel pressure issues

you don't have to drop the tank, do what a lot of people already do , cut an access panel!
swapping fule pumps becomes a 10 min job then!
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:37 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE