Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

[Tooky]

I've seen a lot of talk about Walbro failures lately (including this thread and this thread on syty.net), and it seemed strange to me because I put a Walbro 255 "High Pressure" in my truck in 2001 and it's still going strong in 2008. But then I stumbled upon a HUGE discussion on TurboBuick.com with a LOT of premature Walbro fuel pump failures.

If someone reads through all 6 pages (the thread is ongoing today), can you share your conclusions?

Also, take a notice at all the "LinkBacks" at the bottom of the TurboBuick page, it shows threads on LS1Tech.com etc. discussing the same topic. Maybe this is going to end up like the infamous Melling Oil Pump Scandal. But I don't want to jump to conclusions.

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I didnt read all 6 pages but...

Well I have a 99ish Walbro in the truck now and its been fine.

but I do have a 03ish Racetronix kit that included the pump to put in the truck.
I may leave my old pump and just use the new harness just in case.

I know I see a lot more walbros on ebay now and there are some of the subaru guys getting them for like $76.
So maybe the quality has slid a bit with more production or they are outsourcing to china to get the labor rates down.
Either way a fuel pump i snot something you want to play around with.
Equally as concerning as the Melling fiasco.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

Im in the same boat with you guys, I have a 255HP in my truck that was installed December 2000 and its still going strong, even after being stuck by lightning, lol

 

[Sy-1177]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I just replaced the Walbro I had in the Ty with another one. I'm guessing it was only a couple years old but started causing all sorts of weird issues. New pump is in, and everything is great again! Hope this one lasts longer than the previous.

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

My '00 S10 had a failure of the connector at the sending unit as well. I replaced the entire assembly only to find a note in the box of the new assembly saying that the connector was a common problem. Sure enough I had to replace it as well. That assembly only lasted maybe two years. I've since replaced that assembly with a modified one. The modified on has Jeff Scotts old Walbro 255 pump in it. I think that pump sat in his tank behind he shed for the better part of a year before I got ahold of it. It's been going strong for almost two years now.

 

[JSM]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

That pump you have Mike is 10 yrs old at this point.

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

Define"modified". Wiring modification, or modded to use a 'replacement' fuel pump in the original module? The 2000 does use a 'module' assy, doesn't it?

The original assembly is a plastic housing that holds the pump, sending unit, and all wiring. It has a spring loaded "tub" that is pressed against the bottom of the tank to hold it in place, and that tub fills with gas and keeps the fuel from sloshing away from the pump. It also help keep the pump cool as it only fills from the top I believe, in stock form.

I took the plastic and modified it to fit the Walbro pump, and "sock" pickup, and then created a new line from the pump to the fittings that run to the stock "quick-clip" connectors. I also had to custom wire the pump with the harness from Jeffs truck into the stock harness. That was a simple two wire solder and heat shrink operation though. The hardest part was getting the plastic apart and fitting the new pump into the stock location.

 

[The Devils Own Chariot]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

Maybe pumps are going bad because they are fuel starved. Hard launches and hard accelerating on a 1/4 tank of gas.

 

[too many toys]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

i am on my second one in about a years time , so an a guy send it in and have it checked out /possibly repaired?

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

i am on my second one in about a years time , so an a guy send it in and have it checked out /possibly repaired?

Wouldn't hurt to ask.
Not sure what kind of warranty they come with if any but I would imagine even if not under warranty they would want to hear and see why the pumps failed prematurely.

Ron Gregory has been sellling these pumps to the SyTy community fo ryears so he may have some insider info on the warranty type stuff.
www.autoperformanceengineering.com
I've been told if you let a pump dry out, like sit on a shelf, after it has been used it CAN cause the seals to dry out and fail prematurely.

Walbro Engine Management
Worldwide Headquarters
7400 N. Oracle Road, Ste.310
Tucson, Arizona 85704
Phone: (520)877-3000
Fax: (520)877-3006
Email: info@walbro.com

Walbro North America
Sales and Engineering
6242 Garfield Street
Cass City, Michigan 48726
Phone: (989)872-2131
Fax: (989)872-3090
Email: sales@walbro.com

 

[leadfoot]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

http://www.fuel-pumps.net/walbro-forgeries.html

 

[SBNova]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I already posted this in another related thread, but my "dead" Walbro was really that damn connector in the tank. I still have the connector, and will try to get a pic posted of it where it faulted. When I changed the pump I really thought it was fixed because I didnt have any problems with the new pump for about a month. Im just glad I finally found the real problem.

The comments about leaving used pumps sitting around- my stock pump locked up sitting dry. When I first had problems I tried to re-use my stocker. I ruined it taking it apart and it was just stuck.

 

[turbodig]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

http://www.fuel-pumps.net/walbro-forgeries.html

I think is hitting the nail on the head. It's an awfully big coincidence that the run of failures started around the same time the Chinese forgeries were hitting the market.

There might be 1 or 2 "real" walbro failures in there, but that's hardly a "rash". Problem is, you can't really tell for sure which are the real ones, and which are fake. Other than the price paid.

I've bought my stuff for years from Ron at apeusa.com. He's an old-school SyTy guy, and he sells only the real Walbro stuff. He also goes to great lengths to provide specs on his products, which is a bigtime help when trying to spec out a fuel system.

 

[sytyguy]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I've bought my stuff for years from Ron at apeusa.com. He's an old-school SyTy guy, and he sells only the real Walbro stuff. He also goes to great lengths to provide specs on his products, which is a bigtime help when trying to spec out a fuel system.

Ditto.....only buy my Walbro/Jabsco/Johnson stuff from Ron. He's supported the community from the start and his stuff is guaranteed quality. Any $30-40 savings you find on eBay will be nullified when you're dropping a tank in the McDonald's parking lot.

 

[92TYPHOON937]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

well hopefully mine is real cuase i just bought one and installed it last weekend

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

Damn, hope mine is real. Got it of eBay ~1 year ago. So far it's seen almost 1k miles, so here's hoping...

 

[turbodig]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

well hopefully mine is real cuase i just bought one and installed it last weekend

If it was much under $90, it probably wasn't. It also depends a lot on who you bought it from.

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

If it was much under $90, it probably wasn't. It also depends a lot on who you bought it from.

I remember it was around $90. And I have no idea who I bought it from. I'll try to dig through the records...:?

 

[UR50SLO]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I've NEVER had any failures on Warbo pumps.... But just recently had 3 in buddy's vehicles take a dump on them. Very strange... They are getting them warranty'd but it's a PITA to do.

All the older one's are perfect. Just some recent one's in the last 6mo have been giving people fits.

It's a manufacture's problem not a vendor.

~Scott.

 

[pbrito28]

Re: Rash of Premature Walbro Fuel Pump Failures

I've been using one since 2005 (5,XXX miles), a lot of street racing and never had a problem. And remeber, we have 25% of ethanol mixed with our gas. My next built will use ethanol 100 and then I will have to change the pump.