[FRITZ47]

A few years ago, I installed a 6-volt Airtex 8011 Electric Fuel Pump in my 1939 LaSalle for priming purposes only, as car had an original fuel pump that worked just fine. For the first year, the Airtex worked. Then I let the car sit for about a year or so without being driven. So after sitting for so long when I attempted to start the car, it started immediately, ran for about 4-5 seconds and stopped. We had a hunch that the rubber parts inside the airtex had swollen because of the Ethanol fuel that we have in Ohio.

We ran a bypass hose around the Airtex and the car started and ran normally. We removed the Airtex and using a rotary grinder dissected it. See attached pictures. I imagine that this pump was made for use with non-Ethanol fuel and with the fuel sitting in the pump for over a year, it gradually swelled the guts until it was completely blocked. Prior to dissecting the pump we tried to suck and blow air through it and could not do so. When the pump was new we could do this. If you have trouble with an electric fuel pump and replace it, keep the old one and see if you can blow through it, and/or cut it apart like we did to see what it looks like inside.

By the way, when using Etahnol fuel (10% in Ohio and non-Ethanol fuel not available nearby), it is critical that Fuel Injection Hose be used (not ordinary conventional fuel line rubber hose). Hose should be labelled 30R9, which is available at most any auto supply store in 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" inside diameters.

When I first became aware of this a few years back, I read about using fuel injection hose and mentioned it to my mechanic, who has several antique street rods. He didn't believe me and said, "I have been using regular fuel hose for over 20 years and never a problem." About a year or two later his pumps also failed and he asked me what type of fuel line hose should he use! Ethanol fuel either contains or turns to alcohol and this is what swells up rubber parts (fuel pumps - electric and mechanical, carburetor parts, ordinary fuel hoses). In my opinion, Ethanol is one of the worst challenges our hobby has ever faced.

Fritz