Lift pump advise please

[muddyjames]

I have recently put a 2nd tank in my boot for my veg oil conversion. Since then it hasn't been overly chuffed with starting or running. I have a feeling with no lift pump it is struggling to pull the diesel through the lines.

My question is. Does a lift pump run off a belt or by electronics?

Can I wire it into the front of the car so it turns off when I change over to veg oil or does it have to be in the tank?

If no to above is there any other kind of pump I could use?

To both options, how much do they cost or anyone got one floating about surpluss to requirements?

[Disco Matt]

The lift pump under the bonnet is operated by a cam in the engine block and has a lever that protrudes into a slot in the block for this - purely mechanical in other words.

I think there's one in the tank too, presumably this is electric

[muddyjames]

I dont think the one in the engine has been bypassed for the veg oil, so I think this is why it is struggling to start as only 1 pump to drag the fuel through.

The one in the tank may sound like an option? Maybe [-o<

[Range Rover Blues]

Not sure about the one in the tank, but I know you can get electric ones, or at least used to.  My mate fitted on to his Transit as they are a right PITA without one.

[Dr.Ed]

only the petrol disco 1's  had in-tank lift pumps - fro mdoing your veg conversion James we did bypass the lift pump for the diesel circuit - it is still present for the veg oil. My (200TDi) runs just fine on diesel from the small tank without a lift pump, sure your inline filter isn't blocked or air isn't getting in to the system?

appears to be about £57 for a electric lift pump, could quite easily fit it in the front and switch it on and off at the same time as the valve.

Ed.

[muddyjames]

Maybe air is getting in at the filter or priming bulb as it is on a corner. It just takes forever to start then a plume of white smoke if a hint of veg oil is in there and it ticks over at a horribly low amount of revs. It sounds like an old narrowboat engine chugging away. It is about 500rpm? Pulling away is aweful too, to the point of dangerous and I am changing to veg oil as soon as I feel warm air out of the heater instead of when the engine is at running temp.  :'(

[Disco Matt]

That does sound like a side effect of not having a lift pump on the diesel circuit - mine behaved in a similar way when the lift pump broke.

[solihull-mick]

You can fit an electric fuel pump to the tdi with no problems, i have fitted a few, i used the facet red top , not cheep but run for ever, hope this helps