Pipe identification: fuel tank area

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twindad65
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Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:16 pm

Can someone tell me what the two pipes forward of the in-tank fuel pump/sensor assembly are (car is a pre-facelift 325 cabby with a two-pump fuel system if it helps, but actually these pipes seem present on all fuel systems as far as I can tell)? Both have metal pipework connected by short-ish lengths of rubber hose. I've just noticed that a clip from the thicker length of hose has clearly been resting very tightly on top of the thinner one for some time, and has left a sizeable dent (which actually looks more like a hole) in it...

Cheers,

Tim
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Brianmoooore
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Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:13 pm

All vent pipes, except for those that connect to the pump/level sensor.
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twindad65
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Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:24 pm

OK: thanks Brian. So one of these pipes being compressed for a signifcant period wouldn't make any contribution to 'fuel pump over-exertion' and resultant wear then? Worth replacing the hose? If it were holed would it be likely to emit significant fumes or vapour?

Cheers,

Tim
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twindad65
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Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:27 pm

Odd: having started the car following the discovery of the squashed vent pipe and freeing it up a bit, I'm sure there has been a reduction in whine from the external fuel pump. Unless it's wishful thinking?!
clipper
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Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:31 pm

twindad65 wrote:Odd: having started the car following the discovery of the squashed vent pipe and freeing it up a bit, I'm sure there has been a reduction in whine from the external fuel pump. Unless it's wishful thinking?!
Didn't you relace the lift pump too (or has it not arrived from Istanbul yet ?)

That stopped the whining from my external pump completely (don't know how long it'll last though...)
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
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twindad65
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Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:00 pm

Not yet, though it did arrive today. Quicker than some Ebay purchases from this country! Just need to find time to put it on now: was yours a direct fit? No issues? Is your mpg better now? I've got a Bosch external pump to go on if required: suppose my only worry is if the root cause of the pump wear is crud in the tank, in which case I could be doing this all over again! Fingers crossed!
clipper
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Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:39 pm

twindad65 wrote:was yours a direct fit? No issues? .
No issue at all, 10 mins to fit.
twindad65 wrote:Is your mpg better now?
No ! It's worse ! Car runs better though.
twindad65 wrote:I've got a Bosch external pump to go on if required: suppose my only worry is if the root cause of the pump wear is crud in the tank
Easy to check. when you take out the old lift pump check the condition of the gauze at the bottom, also shine a torch in the tank, mine was spotless clean metal :D

I cut my old unit open to do a post mortem, the pump had failed due to the carbon brushes wearing away. How many miles has your car covered ?

Since changing my lift pump my whiny ext pump is running totally smooth and quiet.
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
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twindad65
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Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:15 pm

The car has only done 94k miles, but the second owner who I bought it from hardly used it at all for the last 5 or 6 years he had it. I have to say that given that it's spent a lot of time unused (and had hardly any fuel in it when I drove it home having bought it) I'm a bit concerned about the possibility of a rusty tank: just have to hope the the gauze on the old pump looks as pristine and white as on the new one! Another issue I've heard of is a dent in the tank under the pump, blocking the flow. I guess you just don't know 'till you take the thing out! I think it could probably do with a new fuel filter too, but I imagine if this was in desperate need of replacement you'd get running issues: my car runs almost perfectly and pullss like a train, but just whines in that classic 'worn fuel pump' way!
clipper
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Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:07 am

Oh well, time will tell !

Mine has done 200,000 miles so to find that the brushes had worn away was not really a suprise.
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twindad65
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Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:59 pm

I've done it! Put the new lift pump on tonight, and no more whining!!! It took me about an hour once I plucked up the courage to go for it, but everything came off nice and easily. Now I know what noise I'm listening for if I ever have problems again: it's very obvious when it's working! The old pump seems to have failed because a metal contact on the pump body had snapped. Oddly the old pump wasn't rusty, but did seem to be suffering a build-up of what looked oddly like limescale (a powdery white substance) in some places: I think that may have contributed to the failure. Any idea what this might be?

Very pleased with myself (although I know in the grand scheme of things it's a fairly trivial job), but I couldn't have sorted it without the input from Zoners, so cheers!!!

Tim
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