FUEL PUMP SEALING RING (BOOT) Filling up with Gas

[Eroc]

30219Anyone know why the sealing ring boot would start filling up with gas all of the sudden?:wrenchin:

[jmettee]

Likely because the rubber has broken down either with age or from the gasoline & additives (ethanol). All that holds the pump is a clam that is inside the tank when installed. If you remove the large clamp around the outside of the boot & gently lift it out of the tank, you can check/ tighten that clamp as well as inspect the condition of the boot.

Also, if any of your lines at the top of the pump have become loose or the hoses have aged, the leak could be coming from there.

[Eroc]

Boot is only 5-7 years old. I put put that on myself. Vacuuming out the gas doesn't seem to work, it fills back up once I turn off the shop vac.......

[Silverbullet]

Boot is only 5-7 years old. I put put that on myself. Vacuuming out the gas doesn't seem to work, it fills back up once I turn off the shop vac.......

I really hope you are joking.... Well you would have to be... cause the sparks in the shop vac motor, would ignite the vapor... and BOOM!... so...ya...

Craig

[jmettee]

I really hope you are joking.... Well you would have to be... cause the sparks in the shop vac motor, would ignite the vapor... and BOOM!... so...ya...

Craig

EXACTLY my thoughts! :eek7:

[David T]

I really hope you are joking.... Well you would have to be... cause the sparks in the shop vac motor, would ignite the vapor... and BOOM!... so...ya...

Craig

I have also seen where the pump gets so corroded that the boot can't seal properly around the pump so it leaks. Sometimes what you see is water in there from the A/C because the cover boot leaks. Bottom line is you have to take it all apart and see what is going on. As mentioned, a connection or one of the lines could also be leaking but not likely since you say once you get it dry it fills up again. Please do NOT use a vacuum to dry it up! If you look at the cautions for the vac it says not to use it on flammable liquids. There is a good reason for that warning.

[Jonathan]

...it fills back up once I turn off the shop vac.......

Assuming you're not at the burn ward of your local hospital and can answer this... how full is your tank?

If the whole assembly isn't pushed down completely into that hole, it won't make a good seal and upon filling your tank to the top, it can come up through the boot. It pushes down a fair chunk further than one would think as it's a snug fit. That still might mean your seal on the return line, which is my guess on what the source is, might not be good. It's under very little pressure on the way back to the tank so the clips or clamps aren't substantial. If it wiggles loose over time, it might cause what you're seeing. But yea, take it apart and find out.

[Bitsyncmaster]

If you did use the shop vac, open it and dump the contents and let it stay open for a while.

[Nicholas R]

My boot was filling with gas because the 45 degree barb and nut that go on top of the pump had a lot of pitting and the copper washer wasn't able to seal it. Little by little gas was seeping by. After sanding the sealing faces with 120 grit to the point that all the pitting was gone, the issue was gone.

[Henrik]

I struggled with trying to seal the boot for a long time, and my new boot turned gummy and gooey within 2-3 years. And once I thought I had it all sealed up, the gasoline would find it's way out, regardless, at the next fill-up.

How did I fix it? Easy: I bought the new integrated Fuel Pump and Sender from DMCH.

[jawn101]

I struggled with trying to seal the boot for a long time, and my new boot turned gummy and gooey within 2-3 years. And once I thought I had it all sealed up, the gasoline would find it's way out, regardless, at the next fill-up.

How did I fix it? Easy: I bought the new integrated Fuel Pump and Sender from DMCH.

+1 great upgrade. Fixes about 20 problems all at once.