Marine Fuel Pumps
1 Answer
While shopping for a fuel pump for your boat, you might be surprised that automobile fuel pumps as well as marine fuel pumps are being sold for boats. Actually, mechanical and electrical fuel pumps for cars can indeed be installed in boats. In fact, marine fuel pumps for boats can also be installed in cars. So what’s the difference between a marine fuel pump and a car fuel pump?
Both the marine fuel pump and the car fuel pump function in the same way. Like an automobile, a motorboat uses an internal combustion engine to work. The fuel pump transfers fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor or fuel injectors. The main difference between the marine type and the car type is that the former is designed to provide more safety to boats. While you can use a car fuel pump for a boat, it is safer to use a marine fuel pump.
Sparks are common in cars and motorboats. Fuel pumps and other boat parts, such as alternators, starters and motors, are usually labeled “marine” or “ignition protected.” This means that they are sealed to contain sparks. A continuous draft prevents flammable vapors from accumulating under a car’s hood, so sparks are not dangerous. However, a boat would not have such a draft in its confined bilge. If flammable gases accumulate in a bilge, a single spark can be disastrous.
This is the reason why some marine parts, including fuel pumps, are designed to leak. Marine fuel pumps and carburetors have vents that discharge small amounts of fuel if the pump develops an internal leak or the carburetor float chamber overflows. While fuel discharge drips out of a car, in marine fuel pumps, it is lead back to the fuel pump or the carburetor so that the engine can consume it.
There are coast guard requirements for fuel pumps and other parts of a boat. To ensure that you are safe and that you are following coast guard rules and regulations, always use marine parts for your boat.
Both the marine fuel pump and the car fuel pump function in the same way. Like an automobile, a motorboat uses an internal combustion engine to work. The fuel pump transfers fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor or fuel injectors. The main difference between the marine type and the car type is that the former is designed to provide more safety to boats. While you can use a car fuel pump for a boat, it is safer to use a marine fuel pump.
Sparks are common in cars and motorboats. Fuel pumps and other boat parts, such as alternators, starters and motors, are usually labeled “marine” or “ignition protected.” This means that they are sealed to contain sparks. A continuous draft prevents flammable vapors from accumulating under a car’s hood, so sparks are not dangerous. However, a boat would not have such a draft in its confined bilge. If flammable gases accumulate in a bilge, a single spark can be disastrous.
This is the reason why some marine parts, including fuel pumps, are designed to leak. Marine fuel pumps and carburetors have vents that discharge small amounts of fuel if the pump develops an internal leak or the carburetor float chamber overflows. While fuel discharge drips out of a car, in marine fuel pumps, it is lead back to the fuel pump or the carburetor so that the engine can consume it.
There are coast guard requirements for fuel pumps and other parts of a boat. To ensure that you are safe and that you are following coast guard rules and regulations, always use marine parts for your boat.