Fuel pump failure

[peaman]

I had just left my slip headed for a couple nights at Block Island. All was normal until I pushed the throttle up to 2000 rpm, and then it was like I throttled back. I found I could run at 1800 rpm, but if I pushed to 2000, same effect. The engine didn’t stop, it just slowed way down.

After checking a few things, I came to suspect my electric fuel lift pump. No clicking when the key was turned “on”. I used a jumper wire to put 12V directly to the hot wire on the pump, and nothing.

M25XPB installed in 2020 with 272 hours. Lift pump is pictured below.

Any comments on the very short life of this pump? Apparently I should order a spare pump along with the replacement. Should I replace the pump in kind, or should I consider some kind of upgrade? Is there no means of manually purging air from this engine (it ran okay at 1800 rpm)?

 

[Christian Williams]

You've probably already changed the primary fuel filter.

Electric Fuel Pump

Does anyone know the specification for the original electric lift-pump that Ericson pared with the Universal M25XP engine? (GPH and pressure)? Our boat is a 1985 E-32. I think that the original pump was made by Facet but I've lost track of its characteristics. The pump has been replaced...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[peaman]

You've probably already changed the primary fuel filter.

Electric Fuel Pump

Does anyone know the specification for the original electric lift-pump that Ericson pared with the Universal M25XP engine? (GPH and pressure)? Our boat is a 1985 E-32. I think that the original pump was made by Facet but I've lost track of its characteristics. The pump has been replaced...

ericsonyachts.org

Once I decided it was a fuel problem, I thought maybe filter. The Racor was replaced 6 months ago, while the engine-mounted filter was last changed 18 months ago. I always add fuel from a 5 gallon jug, road tax paid (still cheaper that fuel dock), so no red dye, and so I can always see the quality of what goes in the tank. Anyways, I did replaced the engine mounted filter and that’s when I realized that I was not purging air: no tick tick tick from the engine. With that, I was completely screwed since without purging air, I could not run the engine at all, not even at 1800 rpm.

 

[Loren Beach]

It's been a long time, but I recall reading that some of the alternative "square" pumps failed often. AFAIK the other cylindrical version lift pump from Facet has been more trouble-free. Hopefully others can chime in with up to date information.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Yep.


Do you have a bleed valve? Ours is located at the base of the injectors on our M25 and runs back to the fuel tank. I didn't know what it was or what it was supposed to look like. Someone in its previous life had twisted the knob off and I was trying to bleed by turning the nut. The engine image is with the old one.


I replaced it and that seemed to solve our fuel problems. Replacing the Facet lift pump had not solved it, but if you don't have the noise, it's worth replacing. I eventually also replaced the old Racor preemptively.

- https://westerbeke.com/Product/VALVE/300050?productname=VALVE&productid=54202A30DAF73B1CA82D9285

 

[peaman]

The XPB had a big improvement in bleed over earlier models. Previously when I replaced a filter, all I needed to do was turn the key. That would run the pump, and you could hear it running: rapidly at first and then more labored as the air was purged. I do not have that fitting where yours is.

 

[vanilladuck]

When applying a known good 12V source to an electronic lift pump, you should hear something. When I rebuilt the fuel system on Rumour, I replaced the lift pump just out of caution that it might fail soon -- it was heavily corroded/rusty. Even if it doesn't wind up being the problem, you'll have an extra for about $50

https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/fuel-system-refit-with-a-racor-500.880/ (parts list included)