I've got a 2009 MCS R56 that is killing HPFPs. It might just be that the HPFP is a poorly designed part, but it got me thinking, is there anything I could be doing to help make it last longer?

I've got 155k miles on my car and do regular maintenance (i.e. I change my oil about every 5k with Castrol full synthetic. I've walnut blasted my valves recently,) I plan to change my fuel filter again in the next few weeks. I'm in need of another timing chain which will be done later this summer. What else might be causing premature failure of the HPFP? I feel like fuel additives are a waste of money. I've read that some people only use Shell gas and for a while that's all I used, but I've strayed away from Shell gasoline as of late. Could this be a factor? Any other suggestions that might lengthen my HPFP's life?
Thanks,
David

 

Running the car low on gas and sucking up small amounts or junk in the gas which then gets buy the filter, that's what i have seen. And not changing the fuel filter. the HPFP has to have steady clean gas to lube the system. Top teir gas helps.

 

I'm still on my original HPFP in my 08. I always use non-ethanol fuel which is available in my town. I always search for it when I'm traveling at www.pure~gas.org for available stations that carry non-ethanol gasoline. I think it the ethanol found at most gas stations is what is killing these fuel pumps.

 

The low pressure fuel pump pressure is what pushes your HPFP piston back on the fuel intake stroke. A poorly performing LPFP or clogged filter could be accelerating the failures.

 

Try keeping your gas tank no lower that 1/2 fill. Fuel pump needs to be kept cool by the gas.

 

Lot of myths about this, obviously BMW engineers haven't figured it out. I kind of like the ethanol answer above.

 

Talking to some of the BMW engineers in the past about this and some dealers they pointed towards the lubercation of the pump and it keeping cool. Some independent shops we work with have seen people running there fuel low all the time, when they come in to change the pump, the fuel light is on.

 

Low fuel level in the tank might make sense for cooling of the in-tank low pressure pump, but not for the HPFP.

Do you have the newer Bosch HPFP? There's an adapter that goes on the end of the camshaft to drive the Bosch pump, the pair is required to replace the old Continental HPFP that caused so many problems. Check realoem.com for details.

 

Directed to those who like to run their fuel supply down to 'bingo'. The old pilots (there are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots) always prefer to burn off the TOP half of the tank. This practice makes it difficult for some of the conditions mentioned to even exist and helps pilots to grow old.

 

Your old bold pilots comment reminds of a funny sign at an airport FBO next to the mens urinal.
"Those with short stacks or low manifold pressure... Please take one step forward.
Thanks,
The Barefoot Pilot"

 

Maybe I missed it but how often are you going through HPFP? Like many have said, running below 1/4 tank does shorten the life of the HPFP by not keeping it lubricated.