how long should a fuel pump be good for?

[Alpo]

I think my fuel pump has took a dump.

 

This will be the fourth one I've put on it, but I've had the truck 29 years. So that's 10 years a pump.

 

That sound about right?

[Texas Joker]

I know they last longer if they don't cavitate or get too hot. So keeping 1/4 tank of fuel at least helps longevity

[Blackwater 53393]

Ol’ Green is 28 years old and has nearly 400,000 miles on it! I’ve replaced the fuel pump twice.

[Alpo]

Did they last longer if you drive them a lot?

 

I have less than 73,000 original miles on this 86 truck. My mechanic tells me that's one of the problems. I need to drive it more. I probably put 500 to 1000 miles on it a year. Maybe

[John Kloehr]

Going to depend in part on what kind of system and total run time. 10 years minimum is about right for OEM assuming 10K miles per year, then after that it will depend on the quality of the replacement parts. I learned a long time ago to seek out quality parts.

 

I know the pump in my modern Challenger is submerged in and depends on cooling from fuel in the tank. This is very different from a mechanical pump on the side of a 350 carbureted V8. Except for once a year just to use as much old fuel as possible before a final fill before winter storage, I try not to go below half-tank on the modern Challenger.

[Blackwater 53393]

6 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I probably put 500 to 1000 miles on it a year. Maybe

We’ve put more miles than that on Ol’ Green in a day!! 🤣

 

 

Many times!!

[John Kloehr]

3 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Did they last longer if you drive them a lot?

 

I have less than 73,000 original miles on this 86 truck. My mechanic tells me that's one of the problems. I need to drive it more. I probably put 500 to 1000 miles on it a year. Maybe

 

Not that they will necessarily last longer though they might, but time is itself a cause of failure for seals and diaphragms.

 

Depending on materials, lack of use can be a problem. My Challenger (just referenced) is in need of new tires next year or at most, the year after. They passed 4 years of age this year, still have tread "up to my knees." Does not matter, lack of use means they may fail with little or no warning as lack of driving can "harden" the tire compounds. So when driven, the "oils" do not get dispersed back into the compound. The quotes as modern tires are not natural rubber like a century ago, the principle is the same. So a tire will not necessarily last longer if driven more, but could have been driven a heck of a lot more miles in the time they were good. Same for parts in a pump, particularly any which flex.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

28 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I have less than 73,000 original miles on this 86 truck. My mechanic tells me that's one of the problems. I need to drive it more. I probably put 500 to 1000 miles on it a year. Maybe

How much fuel do you keep in it? Modern gas has alcohol in it which destroy s nearly everything it come in contact with. If the fuel sits in the tank for more than a few months I'd bet that has a lot to do with it. 

I have a '06 Mitsubishi Raider, (Dodge Dakota with different sheet metal) that is a backup vehicle for us, and gets used rarely. I doubt that I've put a thousand miles on it since 2021, my last Az. to Ohio trip. I keep less that a quarter tank in it until I go to use it. I add enough new fuel to get the job done and dilute the old fuel.

I've also got a solar panel on the dash keeping the battery charged. 

[Rip Snorter]

Long term - no alcohol, high test gas is a bargain.  Just sold my '79 Chevy I bought in '06 - still running well.  I run alcohol free in everything I own that runs on gasoline.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

My current Jeep, a 2005 Grand Cherokee has 138,000 miles on it with its original fuel pump. My ‘97 Cherokee was 26 years old with 147,000 miles on it when I sold it and still had its original pump. Obviously I don’t drive much. They reside in the fuel tank. 
 

Could be the gas you buy or perhaps there are environmental factors in Florida affecting their longevity. At a minimum, you should consider a different brand of pump. And stay away from off-brands of cheaper than dirt gas, as quality can vary greatly, even bought at the same location. 

[Alpo]

I've decided that if I do get this thing running again, I'm going to burn gasoline. Screw this gasahol crap. I'll pay the extra dollar a gallon to get real gasoline.

[watab kid]

well , i can only speak to my 87 jimmy , its the only one ive ever replaced - it lasted a bit over 200K , but the second didnt make 250K the third was still working at 350K which is when i sold the truck to a friend as a hunting truck , 

[Sedalia Dave]

4 hours ago, Texas Joker said:

I know they last longer if they don't cavitate or get too hot. So keeping 1/4 tank of fuel at least helps longevity

 

THIS ^^^^

[watab kid]

i agree - do not let the tank get below 1/4 - i go 1.2 , and dont overfill - that last bit gets you nothing bvut trouble , when it shuts off its full , 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I only keep my cars to no more than 100k, I can’t remember the last time I had to replace a fuel pump. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

it cost me around $1.50 to $2 more a gal to run pure gas , highest octane I can find 

 

I have a lot less fuel issues than most , run cleaner once a year , and change the fuel filter after any long runs , in case I get a bad load of fuel when on the road 

 

 I demand it responds , when I roll into the throttle 

 

  CB 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

6 minutes ago, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said:

change the fuel filter

  CB 

Unfortunately, most fuel filters are now inside the tank, and are considered to be "lifetime" items.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I have OLD stuff , newest rig is 23 years old , at least I can somewhat fix it 

 

 CB 

[Alpo]

Got my new fuel pump put on today. Looking at my records, that one lasted 9 years. December of 16. Just a little over 3,000 miles.

 

Shows how much I drive don't it.

 

I should have about 5 gallons of gasahol left in the tank, so tomorrow I'm going to go down and get it topped off with real gasoline, and burn that from now on. Maybe parts will last longer.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

11 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Got my new fuel pump put on today. Looking at my records, that one lasted 9 years. December of 16. Just a little over 3,000 miles.

 

Shows how much I drive don't it.

 

I should have about 5 gallons of gasahol left in the tank, so tomorrow I'm going to go down and get it topped off with real gasoline, and burn that from now on. Maybe parts will last longer.

Just curious, is your fuel pump inside or outside the tank?

[Matthew Duncan]

Fuel pumps from the local auto parts store or OEM fuel pumps.

Edited November 30, 2025 by Matthew Duncan

[Alpo]

54 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

Just curious, is your fuel pump inside or outside the tank?

Did they have inside the tank fuel pumps 40 years ago? This is on the side of the engine.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

12 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Did they have inside the tank fuel pumps 40 years ago? This is on the side of the engine.

Couldn’t say, but my Jeeps have had them since 1990. The one in the 1990 went kaput after 20 years. 
 

I’m betting the length of time your vehicle is idle in the hot Florida climate has something to do with the pump deterioration.

Having said that, the external pumps on my pre-1990 vehicles needed replacement now and then. 9-10 years on yours doesn’t seem excessive to me. It’s not the mileage, but the time. 

[watab kid]

i know for a fact they were in the tank by 87 , thats the expensive part of my one replacement experience , i think its common now ,  

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

Fuel pumps stopped being powered by the engine when Fuel Injection became common. A carburetor only needs about 7 or 8 psi to work. Fuel Injection needs much more, and an electric pump can supply it. The engine in my Jeep is the now defunct 4.0 Litre. The Muddog is a 2002 model and the fuel rail runs at about 55 psi. I'm sure that newer engines use much more than that. 

Edited November 30, 2025 by Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

I actually have no answer.  I don't keep a car long enough to have the fuel Pump fail.

 

PLUS ONE fer Rye Miles yessiree!!

[Springfield Slim SASS #24733]

I got 12 years and 120,00 from my original pump on my 2002 Silverado. 3 years on the cheaper Rockauto pump, about 3 years also from a cheaper autozone pump. I now have Genuine Chevy pump, which apparently is a different upgraded type pump. Cost me 3 times as much, but 4 years so far and working fine. I only put maybe 4,000 miles a year on the truck, mostly ride my motorcycles, all with gravity feed carbureted systems, so no pumps!

[Stump Water]

14 hours ago, Matthew Duncan said:

Fuel pumps from the local auto parts store or OEM fuel pumps.

 

I learned a long time ago not to get parts from the local auto parts store.  Unless you just like changing those parts.

 

If I only drove a vehicle 500-1000 miles a year I would a) fill it up when it got to 1/4 tank and b) add fuel stabilizer (whether I got ethanol free gas or not).

[Eyesa Horg]

I've had 2 fail. First was on an '88 GMC pickup @ about 110k. Started at camp and moved to the door to load, tried to restart to leave half hour later and pump was dead. A local mechanic would only put in a factory pump.

Second was in a company car a Nisson Versa at 19k. Shut off in my garage Friday night, wouldn't start Monday morning! Conveniently it had a hatch right under the back seat so they didn't have to drop a full tank of gas.

Helped a friend with a Honda Goldwing, went through 3 pumps before getting a very expensive Honda pump. The auto parts store ones only lasted a couple starts, the longest was good for half an hour.

They're such a pain in the ass to change I'd only use an OEM part if I have to it again.