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.

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.