Fuel Sending Unit Replacement

[Oldswagon]

I dropped the tank on my '93 'Burb today to install a new fuel pump. I am replacing it as a preventative measure, the part has not failed. Yes, after well over 200K miles and nearly 17 years, the original GM pump still works fine. However, I don't know how much life is left, and it's WAY cheaper for me to replace the pump then have it fail on the roadside pay a shop to do it (the truck sees a lot of highway trips).

With the tank down, the sending unit is in pretty rough shape, so I am going to replace it too. I was very picky about the fuel pump brand (I will only used AC Delco or Delphi in a GM), but are there any brands to avoid for the sending units?

I have to wait until Monday anyway (the only parts store open on Sunday doesn't have one in stock), so I might as well shop for a better brand. I know that I can get a Spectra or Carter brand. AC Delco might be hard to find, but I don't know if it's necessary for a sending unit.

Any recommendations?

 

[gmchevroletruck]

Same platform...I did the one in my 94 truck (out of necessity) at 265k...I don't actually remember the brand, but it was whatever is sold at Napa, and it worked fine...replaced the fuel pump and sending unit at the same time (in fact, it came as one piece). It's been in there for about 10k or so, has worked well, no known issues with build quality on the pump or sending unit, fit and finish seemed good, nothing appeared cheap or loose. Hope that helps some.

 

[Oldswagon]

Thanks for the post. I guess really, these sending units aren't really too complicated, just a simple wiring harness, the float and level sensor and the necessary plumbing are all they contain. I will probably paint or coat the new one with rust proofing to help it last longer. Although the original did last 16+ years, and I doubt I will have this truck 16 years from now.

Is you truck a 2500 LD or 2500 HD? If it's a LD, how many miles di you get out of your 4L60E? I am still on the original in mine so far it's been good. Why did you replace the motor, did something fail on it?

 

[The_Jeff]

Did you get the old retaining ring off yet? Can be a challenge. New sending unit should come with ring and gasket.

On my 94 sonoma (last year) the rust was getting bad on the hard lines as well. If you have nylon or stainless instead, disregard.

 

[Oldswagon]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Did you get the old retaining ring off yet? Can be a challenge. New sending unit should come with ring and gasket.

On my 94 sonoma (last year) the rust was getting bad on the hard lines as well. If you have nylon or stainless instead, disregard.

The sending unit came out of the tank no problems, just the top of it is pretty rusted out. It won't be long before it stated to leak from a pin hole. My lines are in good shape because the truck has been Krowned for most of it's life. However, you can't spray the top of a fuel tank (at least not in this truck), so the sending unit had no protection. On these trucks, GM has hard steel lines with threaded fittings coming out of the sending unit, and they thread into rubber lines (which lead to steel lines). The threaded connections had a lot of corrosion and I thought I was not going to be able to unthread them, but they came off very easily with a line wrench.

It should be mandatory that all car companies use stainless steel hard lines for fuel and brake lines. Anyone who lives in the rust belt knows what I am talking about.

 

[Oldswagon]

I ended up getting a Spectra Premium, mainly because that was the only one in stock. It looked to be an okay piece, but typical aftermarket in that they cheaped out on a few little things compared to OEM. Fit was good though, and the gauge works fine. I coated the [censored] out of the unit with rust proofing. So hopefully this one will last the rest of the life of the truck.

I also installed a new Bosch fuel filter, which looks to be a very high quality piece. It's made in isreal of all places.