Does An Electronic Fuel Pump Have To Be "primed" Before Installation?

[exponential]

Hi guys.

Will be fitting a new fuel and oil filter in the next couple of days.

I know the oil filter has to be primed but does the fuel filter need priming too with it being electronic?

Is it just a case of turning key to number 2 position and let it prime itself?

Silver cylinder on top of the engine above EGR by the way.

Focus 2009 (59) 1.6 diesel.

Mike.

[Danwel]

Yeah just turn the key like you said a couple of times and that should do the trick. When I changed my mps one that's all I did although that was cam driven

[exponential]

Hi danwel.

Excellent! :)

Dont know why i get excited about doing an oil/filter change?

Its like its my baby and im doing my best for it..LOL

Sad i know.......haha

[jeebowhite]

Best bet is to fill it with diesel first, then install, then you can use the bleed nipple to put a syringe in and fill it to the brim, then you might need to just turn the car over a couple of times and should be good to go!

[exponential]

Please forgive my inexperience with this but can you explain how I put the fuel in jeebo?

I presume I put in by unscrewing the plastic nut on top of the filter or have I got it all wrong?

I see the bleed nipple at the bottom but what is the protruding plastic part coming out of the side??

[exponential]

I thought these electronic filters were "self priming" but how can that be?

The new filter is full of air. If you just stick the "in" "out" pipes onto it then turn the key a few times, fuel will flow but also push air into the system at the same time won't it?

[jeebowhite]

Yeah,

The easiest way is to just inject fuel into the in pipe, and just keep going till it starts to leak. Alternatively I think near the screw is the nipple which you should be able to put the syringe into.

[exponential]

Thanks jeebo! :)

I guess I need to buy a jerry can and a large pipette eh.

Im just a little concerned about air in the fuel lines but im sure it will be fine.....

[exponential]

How about this....

I prime the filter to the brim, leave the filler cap off, connect the two fuel lines and electrical connection then fire up the car.

whilst I am doing that, my mate screws the cap back on whilst the engine is running and, hey presto! No air in the system...

Would that work or would a huge amount of fuel escape whilst the engine is ticking over?

[jeebowhite]

Nah, your best off priming by filling, then connect it, then continue to inject fuel manually until it overspills. It should only take a few turns before the air trapped in the system is injected into the engine, followed by fuel.

[exponential]

Nah, your best off priming by filling, then connect it, then continue to inject fuel manually until it overspills. It should only take a few turns before the air trapped in the system is injected into the engine, followed by fuel.

Thanks jeebo.

Once again invaluable help......:)

Will post again after its done.

Mike.

[ben1191]

Hi guys.

Will be fitting a new fuel and oil filter in the next couple of days.

I know the oil filter has to be primed but does the fuel filter need priming too with it being electronic?

Is it just a case of turning key to number 2 position and let it prime itself?

Silver cylinder on top of the engine above EGR by the way.

Focus 2009 (59) 1.6 diesel.

Mike.

Take it to a local garage an have them do it for you,I attempted changin it half knowing what to do and couldn't get it started again.had to call someone out and it took them a good 40 mins to get it started after I'd had a go at it lol

[Mr Singh]

I know the oil filter has to be primed

say again?

[exponential]

say again?

hey! Give me a break will ya! Im a novice... LOL

[exponential]

Take it to a local garage an have them do it for you,I attempted changin it half knowing what to do and couldn't get it started again.had to call someone out and it took them a good 40 mins to get it started after I'd had a go at it lol

Well ive just got hold of my mechanic mate and he said he'll do it for me.

Thing is, he laughed and said it doesnt need priming as its electronic and will prime itself.

Says the engine will misfire but will sort itself out.. hmmmmm.

Gotta be honest, I trust jeebo on this and think it does need priming.

Might just do it myself using jeebo's advice.

[mick85]

They not electric pump it's a mechanical pump no pump in tank if u do as James said filling it will work or if u plan on servicing ur car yourself u can buy a primer for under 20 quid u car has an imv valve this is a suction valve on back fuel pump it can not suck fuel all the way from the tank through the filter this why u need to prime it first if

[FOCA]

Take it to a local garage an have them do it for you,I attempted changin it half knowing what to do and couldn't get it started again.had to call someone out and it took them a good 40 mins to get it started after I'd had a go at it lol

After changing the fuel filter, the car can be very difficult to start, even if you "prime" the filter - its not the pump that is primed, but the filter, by filling it with diesel, this helps the system bleed quicker even so, it can take a lot of turning over before the engine starts, the battery can go flat in the meantime and it is even been known that the starter motor burns out trying to start the engine

An additional electrical power source (booster, jump ;leads and another battery orcar) is almost always nessesary as the battery will almost certainly go flat before the engine starts, turning it over it too short bursts won't work, too long and it can drain your electrical power and eventually burn out the starter motor, if its taking a long time to fire up its a good idea to let the starter motor cool down for a while then start again

If you read a Haynes manual or read how someone else did it they make it sound easy, eg "prime the fuel filter by filling it with diesel then turn the engine over untill it starts" you wonder if they actually ever worked on a car/ changed a diesel filter as Fords are usually very difficult to start after changing the diesel filter, as they have no primer built-in

I remember towing cars for "miles" before they started, last time i changed the oil filter i primed the fuel filter by filling it with diesel, then i connected power straight from the battery to the (electrical) lift pump, and ran it for a while to bleed the system, - the engine started 1st time after that, no problem

There is a "knack" to it that comes with experience

The fuel system has to be bled so that there are no air bubbles in it, it does not matter if there are air bubbles in the return line

The oil filter does not neer to be primed, just drain the oil oil, change the oil filter, then top the engine up with new oil

[exponential]

After changing the fuel filter, the car can be very difficult to start, even if you "prime" the filter - its not the pump that is primed, but the filter, by filling it with diesel, this helps the system bleed quicker even so, it can take a lot of turning over before the engine starts, the battery can go flat in the meantime and it is even been known that the starter motor burns out trying to start the engine

An additional electrical power source (booster, jump ;leads and another battery orcar) is almost always nessesary as the battery will almost certainly go flat before the engine starts, turning it over it too short bursts won't work, too long and it can drain your electrical power and eventually burn out the starter motor, if its taking a long time to fire up its a good idea to let the starter motor cool down for a while then start again

If you read a Haynes manual or read how someone else did it they make it sound easy, eg "prime the fuel filter by filling it with diesel then turn the engine over untill it starts" you wonder if they actually ever worked on a car/ changed a diesel filter as Fords are usually very difficult to start after changing the diesel filter, as they have no primer built-in

I remember towing cars for "miles" before they started, last time i changed the oil filter i primed the fuel filter by filling it with diesel, then i connected power straight from the battery to the (electrical) lift pump, and ran it for a while to bleed the system, - the engine started 1st time after that, no problem

There is a "knack" to it that comes with experience

The fuel system has to be bled so that there are no air bubbles in it, it does not matter if there are air bubbles in the return line

The oil filter does not neer to be primed, just drain the oil oil, change the oil filter, then top the engine up with new oil

Thank you FOCA for the very detailed description. It mirrors what jeebo told me.

I think I am best taking it my mates garage (halfrauds.....say no more) because, as you say, they have all the necessary equipment required if the battery does go flat etc etc.

I just dont understand why he would say it doesnt need priming but having said that, its not his car is it!

Im taking it down either today or tomorrow but I will insist it be primed first.

I will buy a jerry can and put some diesel in it therefore, theres no excuse to not prime it then....:)

[FOCA]

Thank you FOCA for the very detailed description. It mirrors what jeebo told me.

I think I am best taking it my mates garage (halfrauds.....say no more) because, as you say, they have all the necessary equipment required if the battery does go flat etc etc.

I just dont understand why he would say it doesnt need priming but having said that, its not his car is it!

Im taking it down either today or tomorrow but I will insist it be primed first.

I will buy a jerry can and put some diesel in it therefore, theres no excuse to not prime it then.... :)

It does not need priming as it is self priming - in theory - the system will bleed - eventually - but the massive fuel filter has to be filled up with fuel from the pump and all the air expelled, the battery will be flat long, long before you do that and it can take a long time before the system is bled and the engine will start

Filling the fuel filter with diesel helps the bleeding process "get going"

Thats what i mean about the difference between theory and practice - changing the fuel filter is a deceptively difficult job, with pitfalls - its easy to spill diesel, on the Mondeo the alternator is right under the fuel filter - even a well-known Fodr magazine editor managed to get it wrong by re-connecting the hoses up the wrong way

[exponential]

It does not need priming as it is self priming - in theory - the system will bleed - eventually - but the massive fuel filter has to be filled up with fuel from the pump and all the air expelled, the battery will be flat long, long before you do that and it can take a long time before the system is bled and the engine will start

Filling the fuel filter with diesel helps the bleeding process "get going"

Thats what i mean about the difference between theory and practice - changing the fuel filter is a deceptively difficult job, with pitfalls - its easy to spill diesel, on the Mondeo the alternator is right under the fuel filter - even a well-known Fodr magazine editor managed to get it wrong by re-connecting the hoses up the wrong way

I completely understand now. By priming the filter, you are helping the process move along much more efficiently and putting less strain on your starter.

When I blanked my EGR, I found gaining access to it was made easier by removing the fuel pump.

I had to prime it after the blanking was complete by turning the key back and forth a few times but doing this totally drained

the battery.

Its a good job I was at my mates garage as they had a fancy machine that instantly charged my battery.

Never seen that machine before so was quite impressive when they used it. :)

I have made schoolboy errors too like connecting a phase conductor to the neutral bar and then wondering why there was a big bang!

[Mr Singh]

hey! Give me a break will ya! Im a novice... LOL

break given :D

[exponential]

break given :D

Thanks! :)

[exponential]

Ok guys so its all been done.

My mate assured me that the fuel filter didn't need priming and against my better judgement, I allowed him to go ahead without priming first.

He was right (in a roundabout way).

The car would not start after fitting the fuel filter so he used some sort of suction machine on the filter whilst I tried turning the engine over. Still wouldnt start.

Now I could only see through the gap of my open bonnet but he then went to the engine itself with the machine (dont know what part) and used the suction machine again. No luck there either.

After around 10 minutes of him using the machine at various points of my engine whilst I tried to turn the engine over at his say so, it fired up. I had to keep the revs high for a while then let it idle and hey presto, done.

There is no way at all of me being able to do this at home!

You definately need the specialist equipment of a garage.

The engine seems smoother and more responsive now although this may well be the placebo effect.....

I firmly believe that priming the filter first as recommended by you all (namely jeebo and FOCA) would have prevented all the messing around at the end.

Thank you all for for your much valued input and advice, I really appreciate it.

Roll on Monday . . . . for DPF removal and remap! :) Cant wait!

[jeebowhite]

no worries, glad to be of service!

Well at least its now fixed!

[exponential]

Thanks pal.

Will report back on DPF removal too......