Cleaning fuel pumpscreens. Help?

[LJFiler]

I have a question about a friends truck it is an 06 cummins 4x4 3500. He would be a member but does not have a computer to access this great site. He is always asking me to research things on this site. We picked up some bad fuel in Oklahama coming back from a hunting trip in Missouri. Now he has algea/mold or whatever you want to call it growning in his tank and starving his truck for fuel when it gets to 1/4 tank. I told him to drop his tank and clean it out and to get some kind of biocide to put into the tank after he cleans it out. The question is that once he took the sending unit and pump pump out of the tank whatever growing in the tank is growning on the screens that are on the fuel pump that keep large particles from entering the pump is there a way to remove these screens or replace them? What is the best way to clean them if they can not be removed or replaced. Any information would be greatly appreciated.



Larry

 

[JFaughn]

I haven't done one on that yr md , but most all trucks / cars with in tank pumps that I have worked on you could get the screen separate at a good parts house .
Pry off & press on .

 

[RHestand]

I can't help you very much on how to clean the screens,( I don't remember what mine looked like) but I would think a small brush and solvent would do it. If not, I would think the Dodge dealer should have them.

I hope your friend has better luck than I with algae(?) in a Ford diesel.

A few years back my family and I were traveling cross country and I got a load of bad fuel. The local Ford dealer had to clean and/or replace the whole fuel system. With 20k miles on the clock, I thought maybe Ford would help, but they said "not for fuel contamination". I can't remember how much $,but it was not cheap.

My contamination might have been worse than your friend's, mine would only do 15 MPH at WOT.

On a lighter note, since the tank is coming off anyway, you might consider taking this opportunity to inst. a new and improved fuel tank venting system kit.

Myself and a lot of the TDR guys are using them. You save about 10 minutes and some frustration on the last 4 to 5 gals. of fuel(foam?) at each fill up. It's well worth the $35, and the convience should be a small concession for having to pull the tank off anyway.

Hopefully all the junk stayed in the tank. Good luck,Ray

 

[jhenderson]

I wouldn't think a dirty screen would only come into play at a 1/4 tank. More likely the fuel pick up was free from it's socket on the bottom of the sending unit

 

[sag2]

The reason it is worse at 1/4 tank is the pump uses a venturi effect to pull fuel into the small cup at the bottom of the pump unit. Below a 1/4 tank the fuel can not fill it from above and must be "pulled" in.

The screens are not service alone, so you will need to clean or replace the assembly. I would use a bleach solution, and wash it with diesel in between. I would not pump the bleach through the pump as it might be fairly hard on it. Otherwise use a fungicide for treating diesel, then flush with clean diesel. The tank it open enough you can get your arm in to clean it up.

 

[LJFiler]

Thanks to those who responded. I will pass along the information. My friend's cousin is going to take the fuel tank to work and stream pressure wash the tank. Also going to put some biocide in the tank to help make sure that we kill everything in the tank as well as the pump and lines. Going to be changing fuel filters more frequently for a little while to make sure that the problem is solved. Again thanks for the information.



Larry