Baja

I started to change out my lift pump and while I had it on the bench, I pushed in the pump arm. Out came a bunch of fuel from a little hole on the side of the pump housing. It shot out very hard, almost getting me in the face, glad it didn't. I repeated the process, always getting some fuel to shoot out. I can't imagine that this is correct. I know that it was not doing this while in the truck, because there would have been fuel all over the place. What is going on here? Also, the pump arm would very easily slide out if I pulled on it, is that normal? Please help, thanks in advance.

infidel

The only replaceable part of the lift pump is the 10¢ o-ring that seals the hand primer.
Replace it.

Baja

Replace the o-ring, or the whole pump? The fuel did not come out of the hand primer, it came out of a hole in the housing of the pump itself. The hole is cast or drilled into the housing, very close to where the pump bolts to the engine.

infidel

I would start with the o-ring, if it still leaks replace the pump.

Baja

I ended up replacing the pump. Not all of my problems are solved, but it did do a lot of good. Thanks.

russ300h

The pushrod just slides right out, nothing wrong there. In fact someone on another site recommended reusing the old pushrod as it had already "worn in" with the cam. Obviously wouldn't do that if there was anything wrong with it or it showed any abnormal wear.

Baja

I used to get tons of air in the system, to the point of the fuel being more foam than liquid. Now there are just intermittent pulses of bubbles going through. I have replaced everything in the fuel system except messing around with the IP and the main tank itself. I don't know what to do next except the IP, and I am not sure that the IP is the problem. I am not too interested in throwing 1000.00$ + at it. Any ideas??????
When I removed the pushrod, I could not even tell where the cam hit the lobe of the rod, there were no wear marks of any kind, just polishing of the end. There were wear marks where the rod passed through the internal seals of the lift pump.

infidel

Before you mess with the IP you should check the lines inside the fuel tank module. Pre '97 modules were put together with sharp tipped self tapping screws that had a habit of poking holes in the lines. Usually when this happens though you won't suck air with a full tank.

Since you are running WVO I assume you have a separate heated tank, it's lines and plumbing could also be leaking. Remember the fuel feed line is suction and may not show a wet leak but could very well suck air.
Good way to find leaks is to pressurize the tank(s) to no more than 10 psi with air and take a listen.

Baja

First and foremost I want to say a huge THANK YOU!!!!!! to all the DTR members who have helped me through this. I think that my air problems have been solved. What was happening was this, hole in the fuel line but it was not wet, leaking valve at the water separator, and the lift pump pulling air under load only. It would work fine under a static test. As a spin-off, the diaphram in the AFC was faulty. For me, that was a lot of headaches as I repaired one thing after another. The new lift pump cleared all air, no bubbles in my clear viewing hoses. Knock on wood!
Now, back to my original problem: my loss of all of my low end power. I want to check the governor lever under the fuel plate.