Several years ago there was a thread about low fuel lights where it was stated that running the fuel down to the light might damage the fuel pump because the fuel surrounding the pump cools it. There was one dissenting comment which was:

I don't really buy the cooked fuel pump theory, unless someone can explain I'm wrong. Is the fuel pump immersed in the gaoline in the tank? That doesn't sound like such a good idea. If it's just cooled by the fuel flowing through it (most pumps are cooled by the liquied they are pumping), then as long as you don't run out completely you're good. If you do run out, just turn off the ignition and it stops, and doensn't burn up.

No one replied to the poster's comment and I am left wondering which view is accurate. Is the pump cooled by the surrounding fuel or by the fuel flowing through it? Both? Or even perhaps neither!

Thanks in advance for clarifying the issue.

 

Running the tank dry and fuel pump continuing to run with no fuel running through it burns it out.

The fuel acts as a lubricant and coolant for the pump.

 

The fuel pump is submerged in the tank. Running the tank down to the point it's about to run out if gas exposes the pump to air, causing to get hot. Wether or not that will make it fail is up for debate, but the getting hotter part, and the fuel acting as a coolant is 100% fact.

There is a fuel pump hat on the top of the tank, the pump is mounted inverted on the underside of that hat. It hangs down over a half foot, into the fuel in the tank.

 

Oh great, another mod to add to the neverending list... Fuel Pump Cooler!

I'll put it at the bottom of the list with the other useless mods, ie throttle body spacer, etc....

 

bigger muffler bearing

 

Your wrong,.....bigger muffler bearings don't help unless you are in extremely cold environments, for moderate climates you want tapered needle bearings, at least 36 or more for a 2 1/4" exhaust, or 40+ for 2 1/2" exhaust. But those counts don't factor in back pressure so.....

 

Are those muffler bearings the hydraulic kind?

 

Headlight fluid, you can get it in either regular or halogen, personally i use the halogen fluid, i think it works a little better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_0THARUP9A