Reliable circulation pump for diesel fuel

[superheat6k]

I want to install a permanent fuel polishing sub-system and need a reliable 12v pump to draw the fuel through a Racor filter.

My last polishing rig used a Holley Red Top, which was great but I was rather hoping to spend less than £300 for a new one.

There are masses of cheapo 12v pumps on Ebay buy I prefer avoid buying a piece of rubbish for £12

Circulation rate nor output pressure are very high, indeed the ability to pull through the Racor is more important. And the ability to leave the thing running for several hours at a time without any concern for reliability and in particular zero fire risk.

Any suggestions please ?

 

[peteK]

Buy a car fuel pump from a scrapyard

 

[rotrax]

The Facet motorsport pumps are great. Two types, small 'cube' type or the larger cylindrical type. I use the latter.

A direct copy can be found on ebay quite cheap. They are not 'knock offs' as the Facet Patents have long expired. The technology is free for all to use.

I use one for the exact purpose you envisage and my 8KW Westerbeke Generator has a genuine Facet for fuel supply and return.

The Chinese copy appears to be the equal in performance. Long term reliability is unknown, only three years without trouble so far.

 

[Graham_Wright]

There is a reciprocating one on sale from ASAP. I have bought two (the same but not from ASAP). Both failed.
I replaced them with automotive ones bought on eBay for ~£55.

 

[Graham376]

The Facet motorsport pumps are great. Two types, small 'cube' type or the larger cylindrical type. I use the latter.

Our new engine came with one of the Facet Silver cylindrical ones 10 years or so ago. Being a bit suspicious about reliability, I bought a spare which is still in the box. They do need a pre-filter, the one in the base is very small.

 

[simonfraser]

does your diesel engine not have a return line ?
thus the engine already polishes the fuel

 

[harvey38]

I have a genset on our boat, seldom used and also has a Racor fitted, maybe I could use that fuel line as a polishing set up with a pump and diverter valve? Hmm, a thought provoking thread???

 

[burgundyben]

Copied across from your other post.

I am noticing a distinct build up of a fine black slurry in the duty Racor 900s, so there is something there presently that needs removing, and the pickups are about 40mm above the tank bases, so the offending layer will be hard to draw. But there are also inspection hatches to each tank, which are GRP. So perhaps I pump over to one tank and have a gander inside and clean them out one at a time in conjunction with the polishing system.

Until you empty the tanks, clean and scrub and dry out that bottom 40mm you're wasting money on fuel polishing because your not touching where the trouble is.

 

[CrikeyChris]

In PBO July 2022 edition there was a good article on a fuel polishing set up. The author used a Facet fuel pump (ASAP part no. 306560) to pull diesel through a Racor FG500 filter. Worth a look if you can find a copy.

 

[William_H]

I would agree that continuous fuel polishing is not the best way to go. Especially as your engine most likely returns 80% of fuel to tank so feeds huge amounts of fuel through standard filter system. As said a fuel tank which can be cleaned out and with a bottom drain for checking for water would be far more productive. If you are rally worried you might consider installing an alternative filter system with tap switching so filter can be changed without air entering system. ol'will

 

[superheat6k]

Copied across from your other post.



Until you empty the tanks, clean and scrub and dry out that bottom 40mm you're wasting money on fuel polishing because your not touching where the trouble is.

Indeed as the fuel take off is about 40mm above the tank base I suspect I have 30 years worth of crud in a neat layer just waiting to annoy me. Fortunately Grand Banks did have the fore thought to provide a decent size (~8" OD) access port on the inner vertical face of each tank. These have never leaked on their rubber gaskets, and I will be very keen this tradition continues, but I expect I have quite a task ahead.

In regard to the operating engines polishing the fuel, that does not work for accumulated or bought in and paid for water contaminant, nor as Ben explains, crud already laying in wait for me.

I might do as I did on Boadicea install a curved pickup that swoops gently down to the base level of the tanks so at least then any future crud can be collected for disposal through either the main or polishing filters.

 

[superheat6k]

I have a genset on our boat, seldom used and also has a Racor fitted, maybe I could use that fuel line as a polishing set up with a pump and diverter valve? Hmm, a thought provoking thread???

Thanks. I have already realised tapping into the generator feed and spill lines will be the simplest way to access the manifolds, and this will allow me to polish all three tanks.

 

[Momac]

My last polishing rig used a Holley Red Top, which was great but I was rather hoping to spend less than £300 for a new one.

Would this price be more acceptable?

 

[Graham376]

Even cheaper pump here - Facet Diesel Lift Silver Top Fuel Pump Road 476087 STS504D (fuelpumpsonline.co.uk) Ours has lasted for 10 years so far on 1800cc 43hp engine.

 

[Graham_Wright]

This is the one;-
Low pressure SU replacement carburettor Fuelflow 12v electronic fuel pump 15LM12 | eBay
Same as the one on my MG which is exposed to rain, mud, stones etc.

Low pressure and automatic shut-off.

 

[superheat6k]

i have ordered the Holley copy Aeroflow Black 14 PSI 140 GPH. I reckon this will do the job perfectly, plus a Racor copy 500.

Now need to measure and work out the myriad fittings I will need to insert them into the existing system.

This is the final fuel layout, drawn using Draw.io which is a free app. These symbols were all made by me using the free shapes, so if anyone wants the base file to start from please let me know. Quite easy but sometimes a bit fiddly to use ...

 

[Graham_Wright]

That is a very impressive creation. I've used Draw.io but became a bit frustrated with electrical limits (even though the options are extensive).
I now use Qcad but that is messy too.

 

[superheat6k]

I have now worked out each of the fittings list from the 'Supply' connection at the Generator supply valve, right around each new component back to the Generator spill return.

The overall project will be about £300. I'm going to install a hose connection to allow the polishing set up to be used as a Hoover for tank cleaning and also bunkering from drums.

 

[superheat6k]

I have ordered all the necessary fittings for the polishing system and I am now adding hose connections on both inlet and outlet to and from the filter / pump so I can pre-filter drums or decant the tanks into drums, or pre-fill the main filters when a change is necessary. The valve count will now be 28 (5 new) !

Today I have mounted the Racor 500 (near perfect copy) filter and Aeroflow pump.

I have also bought some translucent tube to replace the very clouded plastic sight glasses.

 

[Rikds]

This is a really useful thread. It has been suggested to me that pulling the diesel through a filter is better than pushing it through (apparently the pump may disperse water into minute droplets which might get through the system). Does anybody have any thoughts on this?