fuel pump-read it!

My 1998 sierra uses a an internal fuel pump located in the gas tank. I’m guessing this is pretty much the standard on a lot of trucks these days. Anyway if you have any vehicle with an internal pump change your fuel filter regularly. A clogged fuel filter makes these things work over time and shortens the life and are expensive to replace!!! I obviously learned the hard way on this one. filter=$10.00 pump =several hundred. One other thing I was told is to not fill up when the truck is hot and its really cold outside. That pump gets hot (especially if your filter is clogged and its workin hard) and super cold fuel will sometimes short out the pump…The mechanic I spoke to has replaced a ton of pumps this year because of it. All on GM vehicles.

As my other 1/2 is a mechanic I believe the part about the filter replacement as regular maintance, also never fill vehicle with it running it puts pressure on the sending unit float. with the key on it tries to raise and the fuel coming in when refueling pushes it down .. Thus premature wear on sending unit. Also always use NEW pumps purchased staight from the dealers. The aftermarket pumps just dont work as well as or last as long as the the ones straight from the dealers They cost more but last longer and shop rates are high so by good parts and repair less !!!!!

Yeah when I replaced my fuel filter, I could hardly blow through the old one, while the new one I could easilly just breathe through. And like Phish said, the most expensive one is maybe $15, so get that one, because that is quality for a good price and they arent changed that often.

How about for Diesel engines? Any thoughts?? I may know a little bit about fishing, but when it comes to vehicles

My 99 has a small pressure leak in the fuel pump system. It causes me to have to crank the vehicle two – three times to start. I called GM and they said it was the fuel sending/pump unit in the tank. $800.00 to replace. I’m in the wrong business!!

GM and problably all makes recommend changing your fuel filter every 30,000 miles. Scott check your manual it will tell you. If not I would change it every fall so it doesnt freeze up in the winter.(most diesel filters collects water from the fuel)

Time to come to the dark side Kooty.

I went through a similar situation although I received some different information.
My 2002 Silverado apparently hit the magic number, 90-110k miles. Then I unknowingly made the terminal mistake of running the fuel tank below 1/4. We have all heard for years that this is foolish, from a filter stand point, but things are different now.
A couple mechanic buddies exclaimed to me that unfortunately this was a chrysler design that both ford and GM decided to inherate. The primary fuel filter and fuel pump are located in the tank. The fuel in the tank actually provides cooling for the pump. If you run the fuel down below 1/4 tank, the pump is not being cooled. As stated earlier, if you then refuel (all fuel stored below ground is 45-55 degrees), the cold fuel hits the hot pump and in short order you are dead on the road. 99% of the time this occurs exactly as stated, so the entire fuel tank needs to be emptied before they can drop it to access the filter/pump component.
Moral of the story, replace you easily accessible filters frequently and keep your tank above 1/4 full.
Remember what your dad used to say “it does not cost any more to fill up when you are at a 1/4 tank than it does when you are at empty”
cheers

Another reason to go Triton!
Kooty, sounds like another round of repair rage in the garage?
I’ll pick up Gary, just let me know when…

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Another reason to go Triton!
Kooty, sounds like another round of repair rage in the garage?
I’ll pick up Gary, just let me know when…

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Famous last words: “Hey, watch this!”

As he reaches into his pocket, and lights a smoke!

I replace mine yearly. However my 03 GM uses a special tool to remove the gas filter therefore I’m forced to pay someone else to do it and that is highly irritating for a normal wear item.

I authorize up to 10 fuel pumps a day, most GM. Astro Vans, Full Size Chevrolets, etc etc etc.. All ballparking between $550-900. It’s insane, sad, frustrating, etc.

If anyone wants to either do it yourself.. or just check that your mechanic is not soaking you for the part, you can compare the pricing via part number at

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

Fuel pumps are good for preventative maintenance on vehicles but I’ve replaced fuel pumps on several GM vehicles that have had regular history of filters.

GM had a bulletin out at one time that talked about a 4 pin wiring harness on fuel pumps. Basically saying that if any of the pins we’re damaged or corroded, mis-aligned.. then excess resistance & therefore prematurely burns your pump.

I hate vehicles. (unless they’re equipped with a paddle or a trolling motor)

Fish on

Kooty, the only thing decent you run is a Crestliner. Yammy’s, Ski-Cant’s (Doo’s)) and Chevys all are junk !

As Tuck said that is the reason you go Triton (Ford). 200,000 miles on mine and not a flicker. Original Fuel Filter and all. Knock on Wood

Kooty get rid of that Junk and get a Polaris, Ford and a Mercury and all your problems will be gone.

Hey Scott,
Having had diesels for a few years, I can tell you what I do for my routine maintenence. I have a Duramax and like you, tow a 620 all over the world it seems, and I have always changed my oil at 7500 mile intervals. Every oil change, a filter gets replaced (of course oil filter, but I mean other). Once will be the spin on tranny filter and the air filter, the next oil change it will be the fuel filter. And so on…. It may be a bit of overkill on the fuel filter part, but I have never had an issue. Growing up in the farm country of Iowa, I was always taught that a diesel would run forever with clean fuel, clean air, and clean oil.

Dean Thorn

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Another reason to go Triton!
Kooty, sounds like another round of repair rage in the garage?
I’ll pick up Gary, just let me know when…

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Ah hem. You mean “HEMI”

big g

Hemi-Schmemi……….Unless you’re talking an Aries Hemi!!!!!

Hey Kooty….How are the knuckles doing from last nights brake job!!!!!! I was hoping for a funny story this morning…

Now that I would like to see. My first car was an ’84 Aries, 4 on the floor, 2.5 Litre monster !!! Ah… the good ol’ days….

big g

I work at a GM dealership and have never heard of some of these things. Fuel filter change is regular maintainence. not filling the vehicle when the pump is hot and it is cold is BS or filling when the engine is running is also not true. There is a recall ot there for GM Trucks that include replacing the fuel pump and the connector on the wiring harness to the pump and the connector on the sending unit it’s self. These pumps are shorting out because of a manufacture defect not anything else. there is no preventative maintainence for the pump problem. they can go at 50,000 miles or 150,000 you never know.

Thanks for coming out with that Josh. I had the BS flag half way out of my pocket, but did not have enough facts to throw it.
Good info!

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Another reason to go Triton!

Kooty, sounds like another round of repair rage in the garage?

I’ll pick up Gary, just let me know when…

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Ah hem. You mean “HEMI”

big g

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Big G, you can sit on your “Hemi!” I can see it!

My dealer also highly recommends Chevron Injector cleaner. One bottle every six months.. $6 will save you hundreds for a new injector..

I agree with josh 100% I have run into the gm conn. problem many times The pins get loose in the 4 pin conn. check that before replaceing the pump I fix 25% that way

’04 and newer GM gasoline fueled trucks now have no external fuel filter.It is now part of the fuel pump pick-up assembly.So to change the filter,you might as well replace the pump with it.At least what I was told.I guess it is a different type of fuel system,to reduce vapor emissions(us DIY wrenches spilling all that fuel when changing filters ).Like those check engine codes you get when you don’t properly tighten the filler cap .