Fuel flow meter

[plinker]

Was at an automotive class tonight and the topic of fuel pumps came up, pressure testing and volume. I'm knowledgeable with hydraulics where you test pressure and oil flow from the pump (GPM/LPM), and was curious if there was an inline type flow meter available for testing fuel flow that was not built into a machine. Seems like it would be a useful item at times.

 

[Steinmetz]

Try Omega Engineering in Massachusetts.

 

[cvairwerks]

Don’t thing flow rate is much to worry about until you get into somw pretty wild engines on cars. If it won’t maintain the required pressure under load conditions, then it’s not making the flow rate either.

 

[mbshop]

Flow rate is used to diagnose driveability issues in normal auto diagnostics. At times the pressure is fine but flow is not and will cause issues. Course most of the cars I worked on were fuel injected. But usually there are specs on volume vs time. No volume meter needed.

 

[gungatim]

volume vs. time as above is how we always tested it, all the manuals show disconnecting the line and filling a cup in a minute or whatever the spec. people get hung up on fuel pressure all the time, but in a carbureted engine, the pressure has nothing to do with anything, the pump just needs to flow enough to keep the bowl full as it's being used.

of course FI is another story, where pressure is extremely important. but it's easy to test for issues with flow using a pressure guage in line, if the sock is collapsed or filter clogged, as it runs it won't keep pressure after initially doing so if it can't flow enough...

that's my take anyway...

 

[signcrafter]

You test flow using a pressure gauge. Hook the pressure gauge up and test for pressure at idle and under load. Then you use the pressure relief hose on the tester to do a timed test filling a container to measure rate of flow.