Another fuel pump whine Q pics of fuel tank

[soul4t]

Hi,

My Fuel pumps whining...has been for a while, I'll check for a dent in the fuel tank as I've seen suggested here, but there's an E36 down the road that's going for scrap soon and I wondered if the fuel pump will fit...I think I remember checking the pump and sender are different, but can I seperate the two and fit it in? I could probably get it off the guy for cheap so I'd have a spare... I'll check the reg in a bit if it's necessary...

[Brianmoooore]

Depends what you mean by 'fit'! With a few cable ties, a short piece of fuel hose, a couple of jubilee clips and a bit of soldering, an E36 pump can be fitted to an E30 frame, but it'll be without the inlet filter, and it'll be difficult to get the pump to pick up from a near empty tank.
I'd only recommend it as a short term fix while you source the correct one.

[soul4t]

Hmm, ok cool, Thanks mate...

Is the buzzing an actual sign of a worn/wearing pump?...mine doesn't look like it's been touched...cars just coming up to 80'000...pressure's good...

[soul4t]

Hi,

I had a peer at the bottom of the fuel tank and I'm not sure if it's dented or not...sounds weird I know, but the left side looks like it's curving up...possibly dented, it's near the fuel pump assembly, but I'm not certain...Here are some pics:








Just a couple of pics!

Does the buzzing mean that the pump is struggling/complaining?[/img]

[daimlerman]

This is a dented fuel tank,alongside a new GSF supplied replacement.

[soul4t]

Ahh, thats helpfull!

So they do slope up at that end...I'm guessing/assuming that the pump-sender unit sits just above the emboss looking circular bit (top right in the pic above), so if there's no denting there, it's probably not the cause?

[daimlerman]

Ahh, thats helpfull!

So they do slope up at that end...I'm guessing/assuming that the pump-sender unit sits just above the emboss looking circular bit (top right in the pic above), so if there's no denting there, it's probably not the cause?

Yes,that's the fuel pump location,the elderly tank in my photo was distorted enough for the pump to make it's presence heard,but the pump continued to work for another 4 years before demanding replacement.

[soul4t]

Ah, I see...I think I've had the noise for about that length of time and only thought to investigate when someone mentioned and showed me that theirs was silent! I assume there's no preventative work that can be done to relive the pump of it's burden...gsf, seem to only offer me the 63l tank...I'll keep an eye out for both pump and tank then!

[soul4t]

Swapped out pump and sender, pumps definately alot quieter and of course I have a replacement!

[Brianmoooore]

A fuel pump in full working order sounds extremely noisy if you power it up without the engine running, but it's not nearly as noticeable with the engine running.
Some later E30s had pump assemblies where the actual pump was enclosed in a black sleeve made of sound deadening material, but I've never made a direct comparison to see how effective the sound deadening is.
If you do have a tank that has been dented upwards to the extent that it's touching the pump, a length of 2" x 2" through the pump hole and a 4lb lump hammer cures the problem, though be careful not to flatten the transfer pipe on 62 litre tanks.

[milescook]

Interesting. My pump is very noisey after say 10 minutes running and i have stripped out the car. No apparently fuel pressure issues tho so I guess its fine? Replaced the fuel filter recently as a service item anywaymade no effect on the noise.

[GooneriC]

Any problem If i had to use an aftermarket external pump on my early model chromie ? IF so can anyone recommend something to use until i get myself an oem pump?