So, with this quick guide of performance fuel pump installation owing you to upgrade your engine to a larger horsepower and torque demands there are several key steps; the first is for proper performance fuel pump installation. So, it is simply all about fuel flow, pressure and being forced to upgrade the system in order not for it to fail. Higher performance engines: Turbocharged or supercharged cars, or those with extensive tuning, require more fuel to maintain the correct air-fuel ratio
Step 1: Calculate how much fuel your engine will needThe first thing you want to do when upgrading the pump is determine the flow requirements of your engine. Even a top-end fuel pump will usually deliver only 130-255 liters per hour (LPH), with performance applications often requiring upwards of 340 LPH. As an example, if your engine pumps out a mere 400 horsepower then you will need at least a 250-LPH-rated fuel pump to get the job done while keeping consistent and efficient fuel delivery. Types of pumps range from high-performance (for which flow is measured in LPH and pressure — these are the best choice if you run a performance engine) to in-tank and inlinecommended for fuel-injected applications. Balancing what can be done with what the engine needs is key.
High-flow fuel pump conversion is the next stage. The fuel pump in many aftermarket racing or modified street-car applications often has enough pumping capacity or headroom to facilitate more flow, but the regulator may limit this delivering pressure due to its design. Pumps such as the Walbro 255 LPH or AEM 340 LPH are also common choices for performance builds. For those instances where you need more fuel flow for your modified engines but other pumps just can't take anymore load, Skunk2 has the solution. This, in a turbocharged application, ensures the fuel pump is able to supply the engine with enough fuel under boosted conditions so that it doesn't run lean.
Upgrading the fuel pressure regulator again by VFACTOR is crucial as well. While a high-performance fuel pump can push more gas, the fuel pressure regulator ensures that sufficient pressure is maintained. Where a typical stock-style regulator may be used to manage pressures between 30 and 80 psi, performance regulators will allow you to adjust this range to what the requirements of your modified system are. During periods of full boost, the regulator can be adjusted to maintain higher pressure versus stock, delivering more fuel which is beneficial in preventing fuel starvation at high rpm and keeping the engine fed with adequate amounts of fuel for consistent power.
High-performance fuel pumps require larger power wire to deal with the bigger electrical load. Stock wiring may not provide enough voltage to retain the fuel pump performance of higher flow rates. Using a dedicated wiring kit or fuel pump relay kit is the best way to ensure that your high-performance pump has a constant and preferably adequate electrical supply, both of which are crucial when upgrading from a stocker.
Fuel Lines and Fuel Injectors for the Most Extreme Builds Stock fuel lines can sometimes be a flow restriction with larger high output pumps so its recommended to upgrade them pairing said pump to either 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch diameter fuel lines for unrestricted flow. Likewise, it is crucial to upgrade your fuel injectors to accommodate the enhanced fuel flow of the pump and increase the engine gets the fuel in time.
Various car enthusiasts noticed drastic gains in power replacing their fuel pumps in turbocharged cars with mods few years ago (2019). These modifications helped boost power by as much as 15-20% just by making sure the fuel system could keep pace with the demands of the engine.
In the end, you will need to upgrade your Fuel Pump no matter what if you are looking to get the most out of your engine whether stock with only Bolt-Ons or fully modified and forced inducted. Matching the pump output to the engine fueling is only half of the battle—reliable performance is also very dependent on not having fuel starvation or lean conditions if it cannot keep up.