20 replies to this topic

[Lplus]

ah thanks so in this respect electrical pump doesn't offer an advantage over mechanical then (assuming all seals in good condition) ?

That would be my personal opinion.

[Ethel]

You could rig up a plastic fuel filter as a visible gravity feed to the  carb. Some see through hose in an inverted U might also let you see if there's any drain back through the pump.

[mbolt998]

ah thanks so in this respect electrical pump doesn't offer an advantage over mechanical then (assuming all seals in good condition) ?

I suspect it might provide a bit of an advantage. It can probably build pressure faster and it isn't having to turn a big cold engine over as a side-effect.

[68+86auto]

An electric pump is definitely an advantage (but a mechanical pump is still fine). The mechanical pump has the same issues as an electric one in regards to valves and evaporation. The fuel can evaporate as well as the valves will slowly leak back. The benefit of an electric pump is that as soon as you turn on the ignition it fills the carb very quickly.

[leyland73]

While a mechanical fuel pump is filling the float chamber, if the car has been sitting a while, it will also build oil pressure as the engine is turning over. This can only be a good thing and prevents the main bearings being starved of oil in those first seconds after the engine starts.

[KTS]

An electric pump is definitely an advantage (but a mechanical pump is still fine). The mechanical pump has the same issues as an electric one in regards to valves and evaporation. The fuel can evaporate as well as the valves will slowly leak back. The benefit of an electric pump is that as soon as you turn on the ignition it fills the carb very quickly.

 

another benefit of changing to an electric pump is that it safeguards against issues associated with mechanical pump failures; 

• contamination of engine oil with fuel resulting from ruptured/leaking pump diaphragms
• snapped pump levers dropping into the gearbox