Our RV8 has IO360M1A and a Tempest Fuel Pump #L15473. When cleaning up the aircraft yesterday after a long cross country I found a trail of gasoline dye behind the fuel pump drain tube. As a check, I pressurized the fuel system with the boost pump on the ground and no leakage was seen. Also, when pressurizing the system with the engine driven pump by cranking the engine, no discharge from the fuel pump drain was noted. The pump has accumulated 1400 flight hours since new.
Does anyone know how these pumps fail? Does the diaphragm slowly crack, or can the final failure be catastrophic? (I had planned to attend the 75th anniversary of my Navy Attack squadron in California this weekend but feel it would be risky to attempt the 9 hours of flight time over barren countryside.)
Any knowledge that you all might be able to provide will be appreciated.
Does anyone know how these pumps fail? Does the diaphragm slowly crack, or can the final failure be catastrophic? (I had planned to attend the 75th anniversary of my Navy Attack squadron in California this weekend but feel it would be risky to attempt the 9 hours of flight time over barren countryside.)
Any knowledge that you all might be able to provide will be appreciated.