Using a power steering pump to pump liquids... possible?

[Lankytim]

Hi all,

 

I have a power steering pump from an MGZR that I won on e.bay for a quid, I need to create a pumping system to transfer biodiesel from barrels into the tank of my Xantia. At the moment I use funnels to pour it in and always end up making a right mess.

 

I was thinking along the lines of the power steering pump powered by an electric motor with a hose pipe from the inlet into the barrel and another hose from the outlet into the Xantia. 

 

Workable? Will the pump need priming or will be capable of priming itself?

[Cavcraft]

How big are your barrels? I found the 20 litre drums, a funnel, a support for the funnel and a rag or two do the job. The trick I discovered was to punch a small hole in the top of the drum (opposite the spout) as it stops the veg oil 'glugging' and pissing out everywhere.

[Lankytim]

They're 25 litre plastic barrels, and have to be returned to my supplier, so can't be damaged.

[Junkman]

It doesn't need priming but powering it will be relatively complex and the throughput will be miserable.

Better get yourself one of those little centrifugal pumps for the drilling machine.

Or the most logical thing - a fuel pump.

[overrun]

Someone's using cherry... LOL

 

A precariously balanced funnel always* done the job for me.

 

If you inisist on utilising modern technology, how about an inline pump, powered by an electric drill?

[Bobthebeard]

I suspect power steering pumps wouldn't be self priming tbh. Isn't the fluid reservoir normally above the pump?

[Lankytim]

I thought about an inline pump, but this power steering pump cost a quid so i'd like to see if I can use that.

 

True, the reservoir  is above the pump in cars.... I suspect it needs to be primed before it can be used in that case

[cort16]

They sell those drill powered pumps sometimes in Aldi and lidl for about a tenner.

[Lankytim]

I was looking for those, but they'd sold out and didn't know when they would be back in stock. I think I could easily adapt a power steering pump to be powered by an electric drill. Id imagine the flow rate would be higher too.

[Junkman]

The flow rate of power steering pumps is pathetic. They are built for pressure, not quantity.

[Station]

I think it'll do the job though. Weld a drill bit on the end, and then stick it in a drill.

[alf892]

Should self prime as long as inlet hose short as poss.

 

Drill pumps are waste of time as I found last weekend..............although local parts shop had them for 3.75 and same as all those on ebay. Shit and doubleshit.

 

Useless Nugget:

To self prime a pump needs to be positive displacement. like a piston pump.........centifugal pumps are not............gear pumps nearly are unless part of an SD1 (V8) lubrication system.

[Honey Badger]

Try one of these, we use them in the resin plant at work all the time

 

http://www.coleparmer.co.uk/Product/Hand_operated_siphon_pump_7_GPM_Polyethylene/WZ-06439-10

 

It would probably be a lot quicker and a lot less faff than mucking around with a pump+ eltrickery.

 

Plus you will get your 15 min a day exercise while doing it. Win win situation.

[tooSavvy]

They're 25 litre plastic barrels, and have to be returned to my supplier, so can't be damaged.

 

If you have a spout (to pour out from) which has a pipe included, going into the drum neck >> to simply allow air in, as oil comes out >> you will find pouring will be smooth as silk [as if you had punctured the drum].

 

Same device as goes into booze bottle necks... allowing bartender to pour shots straight into a glass....

 

2centz

 

tooSavvy

[Lankytim]

I've just returned from the garage after tinkering with a few bits of hosepipe and an electric drill. I connected the drill to the centre of the pump pulley, stuck one hose into 5 litre container of bio, the other into an empty 5 litre container and gave it a whizz to see what would happen...

 

The pump instantly sucked up the bio and spat it into the empty container at quite a high rate, the 5 litres was transferred in about 30 seconds, so not mega quick, but quick enough, and much quicker than I expected.

 

One odd thing I found was that the bio diesel gave off a funny vapour from the second container as it was pumped across. Nothing was hot so i'm not sure what was causing it, I hope it doesn't blow up or something.

 

All I need to do now is build a rig to house the pump and drill and keep things in place and I'll be ready for messless refuelling action!

[KruJoe]

Kewl!

Had your second container been used for old pez or something smelly?

Maybe your go-juice was pushing out a vapour which was already in there.

[RedSparrow]

How big are your barrels?

 

 

(childish snigger)