Stock 45/7.4l
On the combined water pump and fuel pump does the pumpshaft require any lubrication within the housing ? I had a pump fail and found that the pump actuator lever was worn where the cam strie it during rotation.

ed

Yes, It requires regular service and lubrication. Search "seawater fuel pump" and you find a lot of info.

Yes, it should be filled with the Merc Hi Perf outdrive oil or a quality 80W90. It will need to be changed each season, as it gets diluted.

If yours was that dry, I'd check the bearings, cam and wear collar on the cam. They could be affected. Although the cam has the wear sleeve, in poor lubrication situations the wear sleeve can wear down the cam - ask me how I know (f'in PO!).

If your referring to the mechanical fuel pump that runs off the sea pump, the oil gets diluted with fuel from the yellow fuel vapor line. As good practice that little oil reservoir should be changed out at least once a year. Its easy with a little vacuum pump or pull the entire assembly. Use drive lube in that reservoir. Every boat I have ever bought, that oil has never been changed and the fuel pump actuator lever was very well worn. When I bring it up to the sellers, they usually say I never knew it was there and needed service.

I drilled and tapped the bottom of my housing 1/4" NPT and threaded in a small valve so I didn't have to suck out the old oil.

Some models have fill & drain plugs from the factory, some need the drain added.

If I recall 1994 and up do not have the bottom drain plug. just the upper plug. Anytime you change the impeller, change the gear lube inside inside that gear lube chamber.

The gear lube needs to be changed out min. once per year.

Thanks guys, wish I had asked before installing the new fuel pump. I'll pull it tomorrow and dump some drive oil in there. Bet there's a whole bunch of people running those thing dry like me.
ed

Both mine were full of gas.
One of mine were slinging gas/oil mix, bought 2 new pump housing assemblies.2 new fuel pumps.
The new units have drain/fill plugs,used redline heavy shockproof gear lube.

So , here begs a question.

What would be better...an engine oil designed to handle heavy dilution of fuel...or a gear oil that is designed to handle water dilution.


Hmmmmm......any oil chemists on board ? LOL.