Question re: 2001 C5 V6 fuel pump leak

[lexi]

Yeah Silicone is out. Red Rubber grease, veggie based so ok. Is Lithium not soap based, so therefore veg? IE soap is made from veg oil.
The Lithium will be good for Cits, with them having "personality problems"

[sonoramicommando]

I'm "trying" to reuse the old threaded ring - hopefully greasing will fix it.
I did notice the spring back of fuel pump - which makes the job even more awkward..
Cheers

[sonoramicommando]

no luck - might have to drop the tank...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Paul-R]

I would have thought that engine oil would be the safest option as it would, by definition, be safe to use.

[sonoramicommando]

... the pumps are usually spring loaded such that the bottom of the pump is held against the bottom of the tank with a spring, and the threads on the ring are quite short, so if the pump isn't pushed right down you won't be able to get the thread on the ring started. You need to keep firm downwards pressure on the pump and threaded ring as you are trying to screw the ring down...

So is there a spring attached to the bottom of the pump or is there a spring on the bottom surface of the tank?
I wonder why it's there - it is a major pain in the posterior...

[sonoramicommando]

I (actually my ex-mechanic colleague) managed to get the ring back on - tried dummy run without the pump and seal. Pretty much two man job, one pushing the pump down and the other tapping in the ring. Still pretty tricky but it looks like a job done.
cheers

[xantia_v6]

... the pumps are usually spring loaded such that the bottom of the pump is held against the bottom of the tank with a spring, and the threads on the ring are quite short, so if the pump isn't pushed right down you won't be able to get the thread on the ring started. You need to keep firm downwards pressure on the pump and threaded ring as you are trying to screw the ring down...

So is there a spring attached to the bottom of the pump or is there a spring on the bottom surface of the tank?
I wonder why it's there - it is a major pain in the posterior...

The spring is between the top flange and the fuel pick-up, and pushes the pick-up to the bottom of the tank, taking up tolerances in the dimensions.

[sonoramicommando]

^ Is that to maximise the fuel tank range, by pushing the pickup as close to the tank bottom as possible?