PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Does running the fuel empty damage the fuel pump?
Old 6th Apr 2015, 00:06
  #16 (permalink)  
riff_raff
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, rough crowd! Although I have to admit many of the replies were hilarious.

The question in the OP does seem rather silly and definitely could have been phrased better, but it does actually bring up a valid concern with some recip engine fuel injection systems. A better question to ask is if it would cause damage to any fuel system components if the aircraft was operated until dry during a ground run.

The R44 II engine is a Lycoming IO-540 and there are 2 fuel pumps in the system. One is electrically driven and one is engine driven. Obviously the engine driven pump would no longer operate when the engine stopped. But the electrically driven pump can operate independently of the engine. In theory it would be possible to damage the pump elements of an electrically driven pump if it were operated for extended periods with no fuel flow (ie. dry). However, I don't know enough about the R44 II control systems to say if this condition can occur.

As for the injector nozzles, the engine will stop running if there is no fuel delivered by the pumps. So they will not be damaged.
riff_raff is offline