fuel pressure right for escort zetec?

[jamezz666]

hello,
it's a 1.8 silver top zetec

checking fuel pressure at different stages

1. ignition on without engine running ( goes to around 14 psi for a second then drops as soon as the pump stops priming)

2. with engine finally running at 1500 rpm it's at 20 psi

3. try to rev the engine and it drops a little below 20, i mean by a fraction so it may drop to 19 psi at most

does that pressure sound right or does the pump sound goofed?

cheers

[Kieran]

Is it piped up right? I'd have thought it should hold pressure against the regulator when primed. If it goes to zero, something amiss I'd have thought.

[jamezz666]

Just found out at running it should be as ford states "27-30 psi" where it's at 21 max and if i rev it it drops to 20 psi so i'm guessing the pump is a bit weak. but yeah someone said it shouldnt drop off after priming

[colnerov]

Hi, I think the pump may be OK, it just can't overcome a leak enough to get the pressure above 21 psi. As the pressure drops to nothing after stopping it, I would say there is a leak somewhere. It could be a cheaper fix than a new pump.

Colin

[bortaf]

If there was an external leak you'd know about it, i'd look into the fuel pressure reg ?

[jamezz666]

I'm hoping it is the pump as i got the tank hanging down right now with 2 hours of blood and swet cracking these bleeding bolts :/ i havent found any fuel leaking from pipes or smelt any. theres been no puddles left. how does the regulator fail? How can you tell if thats gone? cant the fuel pump just wear down over time and not able to just hold pressure?

[ChasR]

The diaphragm may have gone weak in the regulator or started to perforate; possibly even the spring etc. On a number of cars they do tend to go without warning however. Only once I have seen a regulator slowly die.

[welshpug]

find the pressure regulator, they're more often than not stamped with the pressure, most common ballpark figure is 3 bar, so around 45 psi.

[jamezz666]

i know there the regulator is but the thing is, the previous owner drove it around for a whole 5 years whith it gradually getting worse until it got to the point where i bought it how it is so i'm a bit hear and there with what to think, but hopefully a new pump does the trick.

[froggy]

Seen a few with the rubber link pipe from the pump to the tank outlet split back in the day