WORRIED - Safety and Electric Fuel Pumps

CHEVROLET IMPALA
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GUSTAVO J
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hello,

Today a friend of mine showed me the in-tank electric fuel pump of my 1993 Mercury Tracer.

He said -It`s incredible how this electric thing with bare wires at it`s connection points is submerged in gasoline and doesn`t cause a fire-

I have not slept since.

How dangerous is an in-tank ELECTRIC fuel pump?.

Has anyone wondered what if there`s a spark caused by this in-tank electric motor of the fuel pump?.

Why doesn`t the motor or cable endings short circuit when submerged in gasoline?

Look at a picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_pump

I`m really confused and worried, so comments, opinions, links and professional advise are very welcome.

Thanks.

The no sleeping guy.
Jan 4, 2006 at 8:38 AM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
I totally understand. However, you can start sleeping again. These are not dangerous at all.

First of all, these are not bare wires. They are insulated and protected so that they don't spark.

Here are a couple guides that will give a little more info on these:

https://youtu.be/bCcueO4ALxQ

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-fuel-pump-works

Next, even if there was a spark from this pump in the tank it would not ignite the fuel. Liquid fuel is will not ignite, it is the vapor that is on top of the fuel that ignites.

So, this is why these tanks and fuel systems capture this vapor and not allow it to vent to the atmosphere. Not only to help the environment but so that you don't have a safety issue.

Lastly the fuel actually helps the pump as it keeps it cool and not overheat.

Clearly there are exceptions to every rule but those are rare and always have other circumstances. I am not aware of any fuel pumps failing and causing a fire/explosion due to the pump sparking and igniting the fuel.

Please let us know what questions you have. Thanks
Oct 25, 2021 at 9:29 AM
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Suggested Repair

No repair is needed. In-tank electric fuel pumps are designed to run safely in gasoline: connections are insulated, liquid fuel does not ignite from a spark, fuel vapor is contained by the system, and the fuel helps cool the pump.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1993 Mercury Tracer was worried that an in-tank electric fuel pump with electrical connections submerged in gasoline could spark and start a fire. The expert explained that the connections are insulated rather than bare, that liquid fuel will not ignite from a spark because only vapor burns, and that the fuel system captures that vapor. The expert also noted that fuel cools the pump and was not aware of pumps causing fires by sparking, so no action was recommended.

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