Ticking?

[KatiePotatie]

What's ticking???

When I turn the ignition, I can hear comething ticking - 'tick.................tick........tick..............................tick......................................tick.............tick'

And now I think I can hear it when the engine is running.

I think it's the fuel pump? But why is it ticking? Is it normal? She is running fine *scared*

[RobMoore]

it is the fuel pump and had me confused when I got my car last year, it is quite normal, be worried if the ticking stops.

[KatiePotatie]

Haha! Silly meeeee! I had noticed it when I turned the ignition and there is no other noise, but only noticed it when the enging is running yesterday!!

I guess as I am getting more used to driving in general I am noticing more things about the car!

Thank you

[chickenjohn]

Yes, worry if either (1) the ticking stops (fuel pump failure)
or (2) Fuel pump suddenly starts ticking like mad (means you have run out of petrol>

Either (1) or (2) means the engine will stop within 1/4 of a mile or so, look for a safe place to stop!

cheers
John

[bmcecosse]

Each tick = 10p of fuel consumed.......

[KatiePotatie]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[james.ed]

my pumps got this habit of occasionally running away with itself, then settling down within five / ten seconds. its like it chasing itself. I've never run out of fuel and it's never caused any problems (and i do 8000 miles a year according to the mot man). I've always accepted this as a quike.. if it ain't broke n all that! am i been extrememly lucky.. anything i should be giving attention? i don't think i get a vacuum in the tank as the filler caps nerver given a hiss when openned.

like i say.. never had a problem with the fuel supply

[xpress]

Surely not 10p of fuel each tick? I presume the rapid ticking is the pump sucking air and each tick would not then be 10p?!

I am in the process of covering my pump in tin foil, and hoses, float etc would this help with fuel vapors on a hot day? Bmc? LOl

[bmcecosse]

Errrrrrrr - NO! The foolproof solution is to relocate the fuel pump lower down in the engine bay.

[chickenjohn]

Errrrrrrr - NO! The foolproof solution is to relocate the fuel pump lower down in the engine bay.

That would be nearer to the exhaust!

Fuel pump is fine where it is, just need to shield the last bit of pipe from the tank going to the pump.

[bmcecosse]

As long as it's low down with flooded suction from the tank - proximity to the zorst is unimportant, although obviously wise to keep it away as far as possible. The Mini petrol pipes run right up beside the zorst and never ever give any problems........

[chickenjohn]

As long as it's low down with flooded suction from the tank - proximity to the zorst is unimportant, although obviously wise to keep it away as far as possible. The Mini petrol pipes run right up beside the zorst and never ever give any problems........

Aaahh, but the old mini has its fuel pump at the tank end, pushing I believe rather than pulling the fuel, so the fuel pipe is under pressure from the tank end. Therefore vaporisation is less likely. As the Minor has a sucking fuel pump near the carburettor the pipes near to the exhaust (even nearer if relocated as you suggest) will be under partial vacuum and therefore more likely for the fuel to vaporise.

Mini fuel pump fitment :- http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/in ... pic=161191

A liquid boils at a lower temperature when put under vacuum. This did not use to be a problem when we had proper petrol, which had a higher boiling point under a partial vacuum, but with modern crappy unleaded fuel it is more prone to vaporising.

Just shield the pipe from the hot exhaust- by far the simplest solution! BMC- you are over complicating things for the original poster.

Think of Katie Potato- she should not worry unless the fuel pump ticks in very hot weather, then simply wrapping the fuel pipe in kitchen foil can help a lot.

[Neil MG]

Each tick = 10p of fuel consumed.......

Come on guys! It was supposed to be funny!

[mike.perry]

The Series MM suffers from fuel vapourisation due to the fuel pipe running very close to the exhaust and on the earlier engines, no heat insulating spacer between the manifold and carb.

[KatiePotatie]

Each tick = 10p of fuel consumed.......

Come on guys! It was supposed to be funny!

Wouldn't suprise me if it was true though ;)

[xpress]

[quote="chickenjohn"]

Fuel pump is fine where it is, just need to shield the last bit of pipe from the pump going to the pump.[/quote]

DO you mean from the pump going to the carb?

What sort of tape to hold it, electrical tape?

[chickenjohn]

Typo now corrected.

[Stig]

I've got a split length of heater hose round the pipe going up to the pump, seems to help insulate it. I guess some kitchen foil round that would be better still.

[xpress]

Thanks stig, john. Is it the bit of pipe coming through to the engine bay or should I wrap the whole pipe from the tank?

Also, I want to make a heat shield, should I make it slightly.curved, and attach it to the studs that hold the fuel pump on?

Thank you.

[Dean]

Thanks stig, john. Is it the bit of pipe coming through to the engine bay or should I wrap the whole pipe from the tank?

Just do the bit that appears in the engine bay. My thoughts are, if you do all of it the MOT man may remove it to check for corrosion on the pipe (I think they are steel)?

I know mine suffers from vapourisation on a hot day, so I'll give this trick a go. Thanks