Changed Fuel Filter

[Tahoetime]

My Tahoe that I just bought last week has 90K miles on so I am trying to catch up on as much maintenance type stuff as I can, so I know its done and done right.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I installed a Purolator fuel filter and now I noticed a whining noise coming from my fuel pump. I don't know if I never noticed it before, but now it is doing it for sure.

 

 

 

 

Any ideas???

 

 

 

 

(yes I installed it with the inlet and exit on the right sides)

[Wingnut]

Not sure what causes them to whine, but the whine itself isn't really an indication of impending failure.

 

My '02 Z71's fuel pump would SCREAM from time to time, and whine quite a bit otherwise, at 30k miles (when I bought it). I never touched the pump, and got rid of it just before 90k miles.

 

Now...With the failure rate on them, and you having 90k miles, I'd be a bit more worried about it.

[svensk]

The fuel pump should have a nice "humm" to it. So far mines lasted for 134K miles

[Zembonez]

Not sure what causes them to whine, but the whine itself isn't really an indication of impending failure.

 

My '02 Z71's fuel pump would SCREAM from time to time, and whine quite a bit otherwise, at 30k miles (when I bought it). I never touched the pump, and got rid of it just before 90k miles.

 

Now...With the failure rate on them, and you having 90k miles, I'd be a bit more worried about it.

Fred's fuel pump made racket from the day he was hatched. Never had a single problem in nearly 100K. Have you?

[rogerf]

Yesterday I installed a Purolator fuel filter and now I noticed a whining noise coming from my fuel pump. I don't know if I never noticed it before, but now it is doing it for sure.

I wouldn't get too excited. Have an '04 Impala that squeels badly at times depending on what is in the tank for gasoline. This started about a year ago when reformulated gasolines started showing up in our area. Just a gut feeling the newer fuels lack lubricity. What is interesting is that I burn the same fuel in the Silverado (flex-fuel) without any noise problems.

 

I keep a small bottle of diesel fuel conditioner in the trunk, the type designed to improve fuel lubricity. A tiny amount in the tank before filling up keeps the pump quiet.

[Ben]

These pumps use the fuel as both lube and coolant, so keep the tank 1/4 or more full

when you can. Gulping air is very bad and each time will have the motor commutator

go dry.

 

They also don't like much head pressure, so change the fuel filter every 1,000

gallons of fuel, or sooner if you suspect some dirty fuel.

 

The newer designs has the fuel filter 'inside' the tank, which to me is brain dead.

Sure it's supposed to be 'washed' by the fuel sloshing, but Murphy bits all things...

It's not meant to be changed.

 

Get to know what your pump sounds like and when it changes in sound, be ready

to change it out soon.

 

When that day comes, you can 'some' times get it running just *ONE* time with

this: have someone wack the tank bottom while cranking and it 'sometimes'

gets enough PSI to start and get you home....but...once the key is shut off,

it won't start again.

[98 Z71 SLT]

Do a fuel pressure test on the fuel system. If you are within specs, don't worry about it.

[alvocado]

It's normal to hear a fuel pump when you have less fuel in the tank. They spin at very high RPM and with less fuel, the whine is more noticeable. I hear mine clearly when below 1/4 tank and don't hear at all when full. I've never heard a pump going bad. Instead, you get less pressure which results in starting and/or running issues.