Fuel Pump Upgrade Guide
By Jeff Lucius
(
used with permission of Jeff Lucius)
(This page has been modified, Jeff Lucius original page can be found Here)

Editor's Note: This article was written by Jeff Lucius, a Dodge Stealth owner and is directed to the Stealth/3000GT community. All references to "stock" sizes for pumps & injectors are for the Stealth engine, however the information and test data provided in the article will be of interest to the Supra community.

 
   Topics
         
Introduction
How to Select
Bosch Fuel Pumps
Walbro Fuel Pumps
Nismo/Skyline Fuel Pumps
Denso Fuel Pumps
Summary
Conclusions


 

 

Introduction

The solution for more power out of the turbo models, in its simplest form, is just to add more air (increase boost) and add more fuel. After a point, in order to add more fuel, a larger-capacity-than-stock fuel pump is required, along with larger injectors and a fuel-mixture controller. The fuel pump must be able to supply the amount of fuel required by all the injectors in wide open throttle (WOT) conditions at the maximum boost level anticipated. A 20% safety margin (that is, the pump can supply 20% more fuel than is actually required) is often cited to avoid overheating the pump or a momentary lean mixture (and possible damage to pistons, valves, or rings).

Denso fuel pump diagram In tank stock fuel pump is a constant or fixed-displacement electric pump that is submerged in the fuel tank. It is called a "wet type" pump because all of its components, including the internal DC motor and impeller-type pump, are in contact with the fuel. The very-high electrical resistance of gasoline (more than 1 megohm) prevents electrical shorts inside the pump. A fixed volume of fuel is delivered for every revolution of the pump. The amount of fuel discharged into the fuel line is determined by how fast the pump rotates. The pump will rotate faster if the supplied voltage is increased or if the fuel line pressure at the discharge port is reduced. If the pressure at the discharge point exceeds a certain pressure point, a relief valve built into the pump opens to reduce pressure inside the pump. There is also a spring-loaded check valve in the pump to preserve high pressure in the fuel line when the pump is stopped.

Fuel pumps supply fuel volume; they do not create pressure in the fuel lines. In a return-line system, the fuel pressure regulator restricts the return fuel flow in order to create pressure in the supply line. As the fuel supply line pressure increases, such as during boost conditions for forced-induction engines, the pump has to work harder (it actually rotates slower and the current draw increases) and so the volume flow decreases. Pumps also have a ceiling capacity where flow drops off rapidly above a certain line pressure (though this might be higher than the relief valve opening pressure).

Flow rate is measured in gallons per hour (gph), liters per hour (lph; 1 gallon = 3.7854 L), or pounds per hour (lb/hr). The average density of gasoline is 690 to 760 g/L (or 5.76 to 6.34 lb/gal).

 

How to Select
 

- Know Your Needs
In order to determine what size fuel pump you need, you must first decide on (or know) the injector size and the maximum boost you plan to run. For example, many people upgrade the stock 360 cc/min injectors to 550-cc/min injectors. Six 550 injectors theoretically will flow 198 lph at 100% injector duty cycle (IDC). A boost pressure of 25 psi would probably be considered by many to be the upper limit for most street engines. The fuel pump you need then must be able to supply at least 200 lph at 68 psi fuel line pressure (43 psi base line pressure for 3S turbo models plus 25 psi to compensate for boost pressure in the plenum) at the voltage the pump is receiving. The voltage the pump receives is critical because flow can vary by 5 to 80 percent per volt depending on the particular pump, the voltage level, and the line pressure.

- Get the Ratings
To determine if a fuel pump can meet your needs, you will need either a flow chart (see the examples below) or a flow rating for the pump. A flow chart is the best choice because it shows the measured flow rate over a range of line pressures, usually in increments of either 5 or 10 psi, for a particular supplied voltage. A flow rating cites the flow rate at one line pressure. For a flow rating to be useful it also must state the supplied voltage. If the voltage is not stated, it is probably fair to assume it is 13.5 volts. The flow rating pressure is usually 0 psi (also called the free-flow rating) or some integer multiple of bars. Three bars (43.5 psi) is a popular rated pressure for electric pumps, as is 5 bars (72.5 psi).


- Check the Current
Pumps are usually tested and rated at 12 or 13.5 volts. Unfortunately, substantially less than 12 volts may be reaching the pump. I have measured current at the 10.2 to 10.5 volt range at the pump at 15 psi boost as shown on my web page 2-fuelpumpvoltage.htm. The cause of this is the relatively small gauge wire used in the pump circuit, the inclusion of the engine control relay in the circuit, and the use of an additional relay and resistor in the turbo models to reduce voltage to the pump at idle and low-load cruising. Sometimes re-wiring the connector at the resistor will restore voltage to the 11.5 to 12 volt range.

Another method to increase voltage to the fuel pump is to use one of the following "step up" voltage regulators, which would include re-wiring the fuel pump circuit similar to the methods described above.


- If You Still Need More
If you need more fuel than one pump can supply, then I have been told that two 50-mm Denso pumps (like the VR4 and Supra pumps) will fit in the tank. Because of the heavy current draw (above 16 amps for each pump), you must install another circuit to supply power for the second pump. Two Denso pumps on the same circuit will lower voltage far below 12 volts and have unacceptably lower pump flow. The Walbro fuel pumps are narrower than the Denso pumps listed here and two will easily fit side-by-side through the tank opening and on the assembly. The Bosch and Nismo fuel pumps have a larger diameter than the Denso pumps.

The diameter of the fuel supply lines may restrict the amount and pressure of fuel that can be delivered regardless of pump capabilities. There is always some pressure loss in the lines, filter, and rails. For those of you interested in increasing the supply line size as well as the fuel pump capacity, remember that volume flow in smooth round pipes (with turbulent flow like in fuel lines) is proportional to the 2.5th power of the fuel-line radius. So a 33 percent increase in the fuel pipe diameter will double the volume flow (1.3332.5 = 2.05). The stock high-pressure supply line is an AN-5 pipe (5/16" outside diameter). An AN-8 supply line is sometimes recommended to support 550 bhp. Bear in mind though, that many recommendations come from the non-turbo hot-rodders that use low fuel-line pressures and low-pressure fuel pumps. The loss of few psi due to small fuel lines affects low-pressure systems much more than it affects high-pressure systems like ours. Our high-pressure pumps just need to work a little harder to maintain correct line pressure at the injectors.


- Pick a Pump
There are basically four fuel pump manufacturers to consider when upgrading the in-tank fuel pump: Bosch, Walbro, Nismo (Nissan Motors), and Denso. If you are considering eliminating the in-tank pump in favor of an external pump, there are other choices for manufacturers, as well as much larger-capacity pumps available. Weldon Racing Pumps is an example.

This page focuses on in-tank replacements. Only Denso makes a direct "drop-in" replacement for the stock pump (a 50-mm diameter pump made by Denso). The Bosch, Walbro, and Nismo pumps require modifications to the fuel pump assembly.

 

Bosch Fuel Pumps

Bosch makes excellent fuel pumps. Porsche uses them in the 928 models. Bosch pumps don't flow much at 43 psi line pressure, but at very high line pressures they tend to flow better than other pumps. However, for our cars they are still inadequate for injectors larger than 450 cc/min. Considering that Bosch pump model 10208 is 2.45" in diameter and 7.5" long, and requires extensive modifications to the pump assembly to make it work, there are better choices out there that cost less, flow more, and drop right in. The only advantage the Bosch 10208 has over the other selections here is that it flows 158 lph at 100 psi line pressure, far better than any of the others. For more information about Bosch pumps see the links below.
http://www.newwave.net/~flanham/wlanham/fuel/pumps.html
http://www.theoldone.com/components/fuelpumps/
http://www.alltrac.net/tuning/fuel.html).
The picture below is adapted from http://www.theoldone.com/.


Bosch pump 10208

Walbro Fuel Pumps

There are basically three models of Walbro pumps. For each of these three models there are three "sub-models" that differ only in the fuel line connection. The Walbro GSS242, GSS250, and GSS278 are 190 lph models. The Walbro GSS307, GSS315, and GSS317 are 255 lph models. The Walbro GSS340, GSS341, and GSS342 are 255 lph high-pressure models. The Walbro 341 model (also called the 255 lph HP) would be the best Walbro model.

The Walbro pumps are inexpensive, only about $100 to $150. Both the 315 and 341 models will work if 450 cc/min injectors are used and about 12 volts are supplied to the pump. The 341 model would be minimally suitable for use with 550 cc/min injectors in the VR4 if voltage to the pump is maintained at 13.5 volts or more. Walbro models 315 and 341 flow similar amounts of fuel up to about 55 psi line pressure (12 psi boost). A change in the relief valve design of the 341 permits better flow than the 315 at higher pressures. The reason for this is that relief valves often allow some amount of fuel to pass below the cracking pressure. The 341 model uses a relief valve that seeps less fuel at pressures above 60 psi than the 315 model's relief valve.

Look at the following links for Walbro fuel pump flow data:
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/fuelpumpflowrates.htm
http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com/html/fuelpump.html
http://www.vfaq.com/pump-Walbros.html
http://www.supras.nl/modsFuelPump.htm.


EP Racing Walbro GSS341 kit
Walbro fuel pump flow vs. line pressure

Nismo/Skyline Fuel Pumps

The Nissan Skyline fuel pump has held a legendary position as the ultimate upgrade fuel pump for the VR4, reportedly flowing 310 lph at 43 psi. Unfortunately, there are no hard data to support this. Both Mines and HKS sell upgrade pumps for the Skyline models that flow "only" 270 and 280 lph, respectively. Given HKS's propensity for exaggeration (see below), I would guess a 270 lph pump (at 43 psi with 13.5 volts) is as large a "Skyline" pump as is available. A'PEXi sells an upgrade pump for the Skyline. I have not seen a flow rating for this pump but I would guess it is also 270 lph. The R32 Skyline came with a 190 lph pump, and the R33 Skyline had a 195 lph pump. I am not sure about the current R34 model, but if it is the same as the fuel pump in the Nissan 300ZX turbo (and I have heard from several sources that it is), then it flows about 255 lph (at 43 psi with 13.5 volts).

George Balejian contributed the pictures below of his installation of the Nissan 300ZX/Skyline pump. Some modification to the fuel pump assembly is required. George had RC Engineering flow test this pump. The results (see the table in the Summary) show this pump flows like the Cosmo and Supra Turbo fuel pumps, depending on fuel line pressure.


Nissan 300ZX/Skyline pump 1

 Nissan 300ZX/Skyline pump 2

Nissan 300ZX/Skyline pump 3

Denso Fuel Pumps

Denso fuel pumps that have a 50-mm diameter and have part numbers that start with 195130 are direct "drop-in" replacements.

The chart below shows the flow test results for the stock Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, The Mazda Cosmo 20B (special thanks to Paul B. Prentis, Jr. for this data), and the Toyota Supra Turbo MKIV fuel pumps. All pumps are used (about 56,000 miles on my original Stealth TT pump; about 2,000 miles on the Supra pump; I'm not sure how many miles on the Cosmo pump). RC Engineering, Inc. (Torrance, CA; 310-320-2277) performed these tests using a pump dynamometer (this service costs about $50 per pump). Testing can also be performed by Kinsler Fuel Injection, Inc. (Troy, MI; 248-362-1145).

For the VR4 and Supra pumps, testing was performed on March 28, 2001 with a pump supply voltage of 13.5 volts. The Cosmo pump was tested on September 5, 2001 at 13.8 volts. The test fluid specific gravity was 0.76 (or 6.34 lb/gal). The complete RC Engineering flow test data are reproduced in an Excel spreadsheet: fuelpumpcomparo.xls.


Denso fuel pump flow vs. line pressure

On the flow chart above I note the theoretical maximum-flow capabilities of popular fuel injectors for the VR4. Please note that most injector manufacturers recommend a maximum, continuous IDC of 80 percent, and that peak injector output often occurs at only 90 to 95 percent IDC.

The VR4 alternator in good operating condition tries to maintain at least 13.4 volts at ambient temperatures under 140ºF (60ºC). I see my alternator output drop to 13 volts at WOT using the TMO datalogger. I think it would be rare for VR4 fuel pump to receive the full voltage output of the alternator. As I mentioned above, 10.5 volts or less at the pump can be typical (it is what I measured on my TT before and after the relay/resistor bypass mod), with 11.5 to 12 volts sometimes available at the pump after the resistor/relay by-pass modification. Because of this, I also estimated pump output at 12 volts. This estimation may be a little high as will be seen in the next chart.

The chart above points out the limits of the stock VR4 fuel pump (at least a used one with 56000 miles on it) with the stock VR4 360 cc/min injectors. Above 20 psi boost (63 psi line pressure) the pump operating at 13.5 V cannot supply enough fuel for the injectors. At 12 volts the pump runs out of capacity below 15 psi. Boost pressures of 12 to 15 psi are widely considered the safe limit (if detonation is controlled) for a 3000GT VR4 or Stealth TT with a stock fuel system (regardless of which turbo is used). I have instructions for measuring voltage at the fuel pump on my web page 2-fuelpumpvoltage.htm.

My old stock VR4 pump tested 10 lph less than what the stock pump is rated at, which is 180 lph at 43 psi at 13.5 volts (but I have never seen Mitsubishi or Denso documentation for this). This may be due to the fact that electric fuel pumps run constantly. After 56000 miles and 8 years of service the armature bushings, brushes, commutator, pump vanes, and the rollers or gears have worn causing a loss of pressure and flow. Reduced flow from older pumps is something you should consider when increasing boost or upgrading injectors.


As I have mentioned, voltage to the pump is critical in determining how much fuel is discharged. John Cribb, a TT Supra owner, had his new Toyota Supra MKIV fuel pump (Denso 195130-1020) flow tested at Kinsler Fuel Injection, Inc. at five different voltages. Kinsler measured the flow and current draw (amperage) at each of these voltages, from 40 to 100 psi line pressure. The test fluid specific gravity was 0.79 (or 6.6 lb/gal). John was kind enough to share the results with us. They are available in an Excel spreadsheet, jcribb-supra-fp-test.xls. I added the LPH column and made minor changes to the structure of the original spreadsheet. The data have not been changed. Many thanks to John Cribb for sharing this data.

In the chart below, I plotted the volume flow versus fuel line pressure for the five voltages the Supra pump was tested at. For reference, I included the flow-test results for the stock VR4 pump at 13.5 volts. The flow rates for John's Supra pump are bit lower than those for my Supra pump. This may be attributed to one or more of the following factors: a difference in testing methods (RCE vs. KFI), a difference in test fluid specific gravity (less dense fluids may pump easier), and Denso production variations.

Nevertheless, one of the most interesting features of this data is the tremendous change in output at lower voltage levels. The change in output from 9 volts to 12 volts at 40, 50, and 60 psi line pressure is 70%, 200%, and 236%, respectively. This would be about 23%, 67%, and 78%, respectively, per volt change in output! Obviously, this fuel pump responds well to small increases in voltage. Output increases are less dramatic at levels above 14 volts, but still significant. This type of variation with supplied voltage may be typical for other high-flow Denso pumps. We won't know until further testing is performed.

Because the Supra pump flow varies so much with supplied voltage, the actual voltage at the pump determines the injectors sizes that are appropriate to use with the pump. If six injectors are used and if the injectors can actually flow at their rated output at 100% injector duty cycle (always open), then the general recommendations below for injectors sizes are suggested for different supplied voltages.
Denso fuel pump flow vs. line pressure

Mach V sells the Buschur Racing Upgrade Pump that is a direct drop-in replacement with a claimed capacity of 369 lb/hr at 70 psi line pressure, or about 231 liters (61 gallons) per hour at 70 psi (there is no mention of supply voltage). This pump must be the Supra Turbo pump.

The Cosmo pump performs similar to the Walbro 341 pump and would be good for 550 cc/min injectors only if 13.5 volts or more are supplied to the pump. Otherwise, it is safe to use with 450 cc/min injectors. The Cosmo pump, or Denso 195130-0771, is sold by HKS with their part number 1407-001US. For many years this pump was advertised by retailers with a rating of "340 lph, 165 psi" or "90 gph, 165 psi". I am not sure what that means. The Cosmo pump might flow 340 lph at 0 psi line pressure and 13.5 volts. But it only flows about 260 lph at 43 psi and 13.5 volts. HKS now advertises this pump on their web page http://www.hksusa.com/products/?id=717 with a rating of 71 gph at 45 psi (no voltage listed) and a suggest retail price of $835 (wow!). This might be about right for the Cosmo pump at 14 volts - 269 lph at 45 psi. From the RCE pump tests, it looks like the relief valve for the Cosmo pump is set at about 90 psi, so I'm not sure what the "165 psi" in the old advertisements meant.

The pictures below are of the pump that was sold to me as "same as the HKS 90-gph pump". The part numbers were ground off, but I installed it anyway in the Spring of 2000. On March 13, 2001 I removed the fuel pump from my tank and inspected the ground-off numbers with a 10-power hand lens. The remnants of "1020" can still be seen. This pump is the Toyota Supra Turbo fuel pump. I sent this pump and the old stock one to RC Engineering for flow testing and the results are shown above. The Supra Turbo pump can be purchased for about $200 (sometimes less) from places like Conicelli Parts Center. In retrospect, I never should have accepted a part that had the part numbers ground off, and will not in the future. On a humorous note, this pump actually performs better than the "HKS" pump.


Denso 255 lph pump 1

Denso 255 lph pump 2

Denso 255 lph pump 3

Below are some pictures of the HKS fuel pump that I purchased. I returned it after seeing it was the Cosmo pump, which flows less than the Supra pump I already had. I cannot caution people enough to avoid the "HKS" pump (if it is actually Denso 195130-0771) when it is sold at the exorbitant price of $400 to $800.
HKS 340 lph pump 1

fuel pumps

 

Summary

Please note that flow values in the tables below are for 13.5 volts supplied at the pump. Voltage at the pump in your car may be only 10.5 to 12 volts, and so actual flow may be much less than the values indicated below.
Fuel Pumps for the 3000GT/Stealth
Name Part
Number
Rated flow
lph @ 43psi
@13.5V
Rated flow
gph @ 43psi
@13.5V
Comments
Mitsubishi VR4 Denso
195130-0810
180 48 This pump also may be used in the Celica GT-4.
Good for use with 360 cc/min injectors up to 12-15 psi boost
when voltage is less than 12 volts.
Light blue or green tag on top.
Bosch Bosch
10208
210 55 Flow data is from The Old One
Good for use with 450 cc/min injectors.
62.2 mm diameter; 7.5" long.
Requires modifications to the pump assembly.
Mazda RX-7 Turbo Denso
195130-0782
235 62 Road///Race Engineering says 210 lph @ 12 v.
Good for use with 450 cc/min injectors.
Walbro Walbro
GSS 341
255 67 This flow data is from Auto Performance Engineering.
Good for use with 450 cc/min injectors.
The Walbro 341 can be purchased from Extreme PSI
for about $100. An adapter is required for the pickup tube and
electrical connection.
Nissan 300ZX Turbo
 (Skyline the same?)
Nissan
17042-40P05
255 67 This flow data is from RC Engineering tests for
George Balejian.
Requires modification to pump assembly pickup tube.
Good for use with 550 cc/min injectors if supplied
voltage is kept high.
Dealer list price is ~$300.
ABC Nissan (1-800-500-8722) may sell it at a
25% discount (~$227).
Mazda Cosmo 20B Denso
195130-0771
260 69 This flow data is from RC Engineering tests for Paul
Prentis Jr.
Road///Race Engineering reports 250 lph flow.
Good for use with 550 cc/min injectors.
Yellow tag on top.
"HKS" High Flow Denso
195130-0771
HKS
1407-001US
260 69 I bought one of these pumps and the Denso part
number is 195130-0771, the "Cosmo" pump! I sent it back.
HKS used to claim "340 lph". Now they claim "71 gph
@ 45 psi"
(269 lph). The Cosmo pump would need over
14 v for that kind of output. HKS MSRP = $835!!!!!!
Mines Skyline Mines
???
270 71 Mines and their retailers do not mention voltage or pressure.
HKS Skyline HKS
1407-RN018
280 74 Actual flow may be closer to 270 lph. Voltage and
pressure are not mentioned. More information at
http://www.racecarnewmedia.com/hks/news200012b.htm
Toyota Supra Turbo Denso
195130-1020
Toyota
23221-46110
290 77 260 lph @ 43 psi; 220 lph @ 58 psi; @ 12 V 1.
290 lph @ 43 psi; 266 lph @ 58 psi @ 13.5 V 2.
290 lph @ 43 psi; 260 lph @ 58 psi; @ 14 V 1.
Good for use with 550 cc/min injectors.
Buy this pump for about $200 at Conicelli Toyota.
Black tag on top.
1 Measured by Road///Race Engineering.
2 Measured by RC Engineering.

The table below uses data from the RC Engineering tests of the Denso and Nissan 300ZX pumps and from what Walbro advertises for their GSS341 pump. RCE tested my VR4/TT fuel pump (used for 56,000 miles) and my Supra MKIV pump (used for 2,000 miles). I thank Paul Prentis, Jr. for sharing the RCE test results for his Cosmo pump and George Balejian for sharing the RCE test results for his Nissan 300ZX pump. The complete data are available in an Excel spreadsheet: fuelpumpcomparo.xls.

Fuel Pump Flow Tests Comparisons
Pump VR4 used
195130-0810
Bosch
10208
Walbro
GSS341
Mazda Cosmo
195130-0771
300ZX
17042-40P05
Supra MKIV
195130-1020
Volts 13.5 13.5? 13.5 13.8 13.5 13.5
PSIG Tested Flow in liters per hour (lph)
40 176.66 ~213 257.41 268.77 256.78 297.16
45 168.45 - - 258.04 253.63 288.96
50 158.36 201.90 242.27 253.00 249.84 280.13
55 148.90 - - 238.49 243.53 271.29
60 135.65 ~195 223.34 229.65 241.01 263.09
65 126.18 - - 217.04 236.59 247.32
70 102.21 189.2 208.20 204.42 231.55 231.55
75 0 - - 181.70 213.88 208.83
80 0 ~179 174.13 163.41 196.85 194.95
85 0 - - 138.80 176.66 173.50
90 0 ~168 143.85 117.35 143.22 161.51
95 0 - - 0 127.45 134.39
100 0 157.7 71.92 0 0 0

Conclusions

Denso fuel pump 195130-1020 (the Supra Turbo MKIV pump) is one of the best in-tank upgrade choices if you are using injectors up to 550 cc/min and are providing at least 13.5 volts to the pump. When higher voltage is supplied, the Supra pump is good for injectors up to 880 cc/min. At 13.5 supplied volts no other in-tank pump flows significantly more fuel up to 70 psi line pressure or 27 psi boost. It is a direct drop-in replacement; all other non-Denso choices require some modification to the assembly. It is as quiet as the stock pump. Best of all, it can cost only about $200. One disadvantage of the Supra pump is its relatively heavy current draw and large decrease in flow as supplied voltage lowers. Good, heavy-gauge wiring (meaning re-wiring the fuel pump electrical circuit) is a requirement to get the most out of this pump.

The Walbro 341 model (also called the 255 lph HP) flows about 10 to 40 lph less than the Supra Turbo pump up to about 70 psi, when 13.5 volts are supplied to both pumps. However, at 12 supplied volts, the Walbro 341 outflows the Denso 195130-1020 above 50 psi line pressure (compare John Cribb's Supra pump data to the Walbro charts). The Walbro 341 is an excellent choice for 450 cc/min injectors, especially if the fuel pump has not been re-wired. It can be used with 550 cc/min injectors if 13.5 volts are supplied. Some slight modification to the pump assembly is required and it is not as quiet as the Denso pumps. The price is even less than the Supra pump at $100 to $150.

Whatever pump you decide to go with, the Cosmo and 300ZX/Skyline pumps are also good choices, the voltage at the pump is critical for good flow. Check the voltage at the pump. If it is below 11 volts try the resistor/relay by-pass modification first to see if voltage increases to 11.5 to 12 volts. For more current you will have to re-wire the circuit and maybe add a step-up voltage regulator.

If you have pump dynamometer measurements for any pump that fits the 3S cars please let me know the results and I will share them on this web page (send me email).


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Page last updated March 11, 2003.