Beginner’s Guide to Fuel Transfer Pump: Things to Look For

A fuel transfer pump can be very useful in many situations. As the name suggests it is a tool that will help in making fuel transfer easy for you.  It basically eases your job of transferring fuel from one source to another.  It can be very beneficial if you are planning a long distance trip with your friends. It can be one of the most beneficial investment but you have to be very careful while picking the product. There are innumerable options available in the market but that certainly does not mean that you buy transfer pumps without considering a few important factors.

A fuel transfer pump or a gasoline pump comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. A motorized fuel transfer pump can be very beneficial for the farmers and contractors dealing with constructions. If you have a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles or trucks then you must know the importance of having a fuel transfer pump and a fuel tank. If you are planning a long distance trip with friends, if you have a job that requires you to travel to various locations or if you love traveling then having fuel transfer is a must.  In fact, it can serve the purpose of the mobile gas station if you are traveling to a distant location.

How to choose the right fuel transfer pump?

While buying a fuel transfer pump there are a number of things that you must consider. These points will help you in delivering the best output out of your fuel transfer pump.

What should be the flow rate?

The flow rate of the transfer pump can be easily determined by the size of the fuel tank that you are planning to refill. The speed of transferring the fuel must be controlled. To help you decide what flow rate will work for the kind of transfer you have to do let’s have a look at the following points.

•    Low speed (50 litres per minute): Vehicles like cars, forklifts, vans that are small are best suited to be refilled at this speed.

•    Medium speed (70 litres per minute): Larger vehicles like trucks, huge vans, agricultural vehicles, and various public service vehicles are perfect for this speed.

•    High speed (90 litres per minute): This speed is basically advised for large capacity fuel tanks like coaches, busses, heavy plant, mining vehicle and articulated vehicles.

Different types of fuel transfer pumps

Fuel Transfer pumps

As discussed above, there are different types of fuel transfer pumps and they come in various sizes and have different flow rates. Most popular fuel transfer pumps are definitely portable 12 volts or 15 volts which is basically a fuel pump and meter combination.

This type of fuel pumps needs a suction pipe which is cut off from the bottom of the tank and screws into the pump inlet on the bottom of the pump. Generally, these types of fuel pumps are used in tractors, trucks and other machines that are driven by engines. These type of transfer pumps offer flow rates between 10 to 30 GPM.

Centrifugal Pumps

The centrifugal transfer pump is made up of materials that are compatible with the respective fuels. These types of pumps can either be straight centrifugal or self-priming, which primarily depends on the need. Most of the times the electric motors that are used in the centrifugal transfer pumps are explosion proof this is important if you want to transfer gasoline. These pumps come in various other sizes that range between 1-1/2 ports to 6 or even larger ports. Flow rate ranges from 30 GPM to 1,000 GPM.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is the edition for diesel fuel vehicles like trucks and various other vehicles. Pumps that use this type of additive are generally different than fuel transfer pumps. DEF transfer pumps must be constructed of stainless steel and must have pipe fittings. DEF must have hoses and a special type of filters designed for them.

Useful Maintenance Tips for Fuel Transfer Pump

A properly maintained Fuel Transfer Pump can efficiently serve your needs for years. Though you might have to make some minor repairs and replace some parts, which is necessary to keep it fully functional, you will not have to buy a new gasoline transfer pump for years be it a battery operated pump or an electrical fuel transfer pump. If you want to add a few years to the life of your gasoline or diesel transfers pump then you will find following tips pretty helpful: 

      

Fuel Transfer Pump Maintenance Tips:

• Before you install the pump on a diesel generating set, make sure that the model and specifications are correct. Start with removing rust preventive oil and then choose gasket of appropriate thickness. The gasket should not be too thick or too thin otherwise piston will run improperly. Tighten torque uniformly to prevent damage to the pump.
         
• Regularly check and clean the coarse filter core in the pump. Inspect strainer regularly and repair or change if it is damaged.

• You can find a rubber seal between the hand oil pump body and the hand oil pump piston. Inspect the rubber seal regularly but do not remove. Replace if the rubber seal is damaged.

• ‘Four spring’ is divided into oil outlet valve spring, oil inlet valve spring, piston spring and tappet (roller) spring. Ensure its elasticity for plunger oil transfer pump. Replace it on time if the elasticity spring is broken or weakened. You can also make adjustments by adding a pad to avoid damage to the diesel generator.
  
• Press back hand oil pump of the generator set after using. When the pressure between the rubber ring and hand oil pump is not tight, it causes leakage. Tighten the button in order to prevent it.

• Inspect every part of the diesel transfer pump after you have not used it for a long time. If you notice sag, wear, pocking mark on the valve surface or any other similar phenomenon, repair or replace the damaged part before it starts damaging other parts.

• Corrosion is expected when the diesel generator set is not used for a long time. Pump body, piston, the tappet and tappet body are most likely to fall victim to rust. So, take all necessary rust preventive measures. The lubricating oil in the sump of the fuel injection pump often contains water and other impurities. So, replace the lubricating oil on regular basis.
     
These maintenance tips might not be helpful if you buy diesel transfer pump of below average quality.  Therefore, buy the best quality Transfer Pumps in Australia.

Top 5 Transfer Pump Myths Busted!

Utility gadgets have made our lives a lot easier. From smartphones that keep us connected to screwdrivers that get us along with broken machinery, it’s hard to imagine the kind of life we live today without these utility gadgets. Transfer Pump is one such gadget that saves us hours of hard work and moves any kind of liquid from one place to another with the touch of a button. These pumps have become a daily need for people facing water scarcity and a handy help for the urban settlers. Although being a real time-saving option and a durable product, these pumps have certain myths surrounding them. 

We have taken these myths in consideration and provided appropriate clarifications after consultations with Transfer Pumps Australia dealers. Let’s see what they have to say!

They Can’t Transfer Thick Oil

This claim is absolutely incorrect as transfer pumps can transfer any kind of oil, from thick to thin. The myth has arisen due to certain low-quality pumps that are unable to handle viscous oils and give up after a period of time but if you go for professional transfer pumps, they never fail to transfer thick oils and neither is their transfer rate ever affected. Hence, this myth is completely false. 

Also read : Stop Siphoning Fuel With Mouth, It Can Be Dangerous. Use Fuel Transfer Pump

They Are Not Portable

This is too a sham statement as there are several models of handheld transfer pumps available on the market that can work as well as the industrial pumps. Many pump manufacturers have lightweight performance models that can easily take care of your transfer needs while you are on-the-go. These can easily fit into your car boot space or a pick-up truck.

Their Batteries Last Only an Hour

Transfer Pumps Australia manufacturers now offer newly invented transfer pumps that are battery operated. These pumps have a capacity to run for several hours at a stretch and never fail to complete the transferring process. These can transfer water, fuel, oil and many other liquids at a rate of up to 5 liters per minute. They can handle a volume of 80 liters in a single charge. 

They Get Stuck In Sludge

Gone are the days when transfer pumps got stuck due to sludge. All the new transfer pumps can take care of sludge without any problem while being energy efficient at the same time. Make sure that the liquid you are transferring doesn’t have solid objects in it such as bolts, nuts etc. Those can clog the working of the pump. 

They Are Not Preferable For Outings

As mentioned earlier, several handheld pumps now allow you to take them anywhere you go. This is especially important for long rides where you need to refuel after short whiles. Transfer Pumps in Australia are highly popular for this particular advantage among the long distance riders.

Inspecting and Correcting Problems of Water Transfer Pump - 2

In the last blog, we have discussed how you can inspect and correct water transfer pump problems you might have to encounter. There are some problems that can stop the progress of the most household chores and industrial processes. When the pump stops working and there is not any backup, it is important to locate the problem and treat the pump to restore the adequate supply of water. There are some issues in the pump that you can address on your own. However, it is not recommended if you do not know the pump from inside out. If it appears that you cannot repair the pump, calling a professional is a wise move. In continuation of the previous blog, here are some more water transfer pump problems.

Problem Incorrectly set or stuck pressure regulating valve. Inspection Inspect valve setting and look for a defect in the valve. Solution    Reset and clean the valve. If it is required to replace the valve, replace it.

Problem Leak on well to pump suction Inspection If it is a shallow well unit, attach a pressure gauge on the suction side. In case of deep well system, install the pressure gauge on the pump. After closing the discharge line valve, apply 30 PSI pressure to the system using an air compressor. Now shut off the compressor. If the system is unable to hold the pressure, there is leakage.             Solution Make all above ground connections tight. You might have to pull piping and repair leakage.

Problem Low level of water in the well.    Inspection Check the depth of the well against the performance of the pump. Also make sure that the ejector of the proper size is used.      Solution Replace the ejector or the pump if undersized.

Problem Combination of the pump and ejector is wrong. Inspection Check the ejector and pump model against the performance charts.   Solution If the ejector is of wrong model, replace it.

Problem Frozen pipes Inspection Check the temperature of the pipe.   Solution Heat the pit or the pump house.

Problem Plugged impeller, or defective or worn pump parts.   Inspection If the delivery is low, it is because of defective or worn impeller or other part of the pump. Therefore, disassemble and inspect the pump.     Solution Repair or replace pump parts.

Problem Plugged ejector.   Inspection Remove and inspect the ejector. Solution Clean the ejector and reinstall it.

Problem Plugged or defective foot valve. Inspection Check the water delivery. If it is low, the foot valve might be partially clogged. If there is no delivery, the foot valve is completely clogged. Pull and inspect the foot valve. Solution Clean or repair the foot valve. Replace if required.