Fuel pump

[SimonB]

Firstly hello to everyone

I have recently bought a 1989 non SE Excel and have previously owned a 1987 SE (plus an Esprit and various other 1980’s sports cars)

So far the snow has prevented me driving the Excel or doing much to it, but am really pleased with it so far (great cars and very under rated)

One initial issue that I do need to sort out is with the fuel pump ~ not sure if they only have the one pump fitted, but this is the electric one in the boot, next to the tank.

Just before I bought the car it had a new fuel pump fitted, but I have noticed that there is a very slight fuel leak from one of the connectors to the pump. There is a black plastic pipe that runs from the tank to the pump inlet and this connects to the pump via a right angled brass union. When the pump is running there is a slight weep from this union, where it joins the plastic pipe.

I have tried to tighten the connector, without much success, but I think this is an original fitting and the hexagonal sides (for tightening with a spanner) are now almost rounded off, presumably from people previously trying to tighten the connector and I think it really needs a new union.

Does anyone know if these can be bought separately and if so where from ? Also how does the union actually fit onto the black plastic pipe from the tank ? I am also wondering if there is any sort of O ring / washer in the fitting, in which case I might just need to change this, rather than a new fitting (assuming I can tighten it up ok).

Finally does the fuel system need to be de pressurised in any way before removing this fitting and does it need any bleeding after refitting ?

Many thanks and happy new year to everyone

Simon

[gerald]

hi if you ring mike or one of his staff at lotus bits he will answer all your problems,good luck gerald.

[amarshall]

There is a single pump in the boot - unless your car has been modified in some way (e.g. addition of fuel injection)

Looking at the parts manual (contact SPAV for access to it), the hex elements you describe are, I think, attached to the unions (right angled connectors) on the reducing bushes which go into the pump. The feed should be via the fuel filter though, not directly from the tank.

The filter to pump connection is listed as a single assembly (B089L0219F) including both end connectors (and what look like some integral O rings) and may still be available from Lotus dealers like Paul Matty or SJ Sportscars.

[malcolm]

Im pretty sure there is a brass olive on the end of the black plastic pipe which is compressed by the hexagonal nut. Mine also had a weep a few years ago . I think I put a few turns of ptfe tape round it before tightening up and it hasnt weeped since. I have no idea if ptfe is ok with petrol but it seemd to have done the job so far.

[hodders]

As far as I remember the thin black fuel lines both finish as banjo connectors, that is they have a brass thread on the end and a hole in the pipe at right angles to the pipe, if that makes sense. If you google "banjo connectors" you'll see what I mean, for example:
http://trueasset.org.uk/index.php?page= ... connectors
You probably need new sealing washers (metal?). But Lotusbits will probably sort you out. Only trouble is these connections are part of the fuel lines, not part of the fuel pump assembly.

You can disconnect the outlet pipe (I think it's the top one but you can check), as long as you have a rag handy to catch the small amount of fuel in the pipe before it goes off to the fuel filter (to the right of the tank) and then to the flowlock valve (under the tank). For the inlet one, you'll want to have the fuel level very low in the tank and make sure the pump assembly is higher than that level. I think this is the one you have the leak from. Opening the fuel filler cap might help to reduce the pressure.
Incidentally, where the plastic pipe meets brass you are supposed to apply some hideously expensive grease from Lotus which stops the plastic from degrading over time, so the guys at Lotusbits told me.
Picture:

[SimonB]

Many thanks for the info everyone, which is all really useful

The pics from Hodders are exactly what I was referring to and the leak is from the bottom (inlet) pipe, just where the black plastic joins the brass

Might be a silly question, but how do I contact SPAV for access to the parts manual ?

Think I mght try replacing any olive first and as suggested will call Lotusbits to see what is available

Thanks again and will let you know how I get on

[amarshall]

Might be a silly question, but how do I contact SPAV for access to the parts manual ?

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