Replace the fuel tank to replace low pressure pump?

[WAC51]

New to the forum, so if this is in the wrong place, apologies in advance.

I have a 2020 2.0 Ranger L:td. My low pressure fuel pump has gone and it is now in my local Ford dealer to have a new one fitted.

I got a call from the dealer this morning stating that I am going to have to buy a new fuel tank at a cost of almost €600 because of a "single use nut". According to the dealer this is standard practice when replacing the low pressure fuel pump on this model Ranger. I have never heard anything like that before and my issue is that if that was the case, why was I not told about this when ordering the fuel pump (two weeks ago) as I now will not have my Ranger back until the new year!!

Has anybody heard this to be the case, is it true? and if not can anybody give me some solid information to go back to the dealer with. Thanks

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[RangerBill]

New to the forum, so if this is in the wrong place, apologies in advance.

I have a 2020 2.0 Ranger L:td. My low pressure fuel pump has gone and it is now in my local Ford dealer to have a new one fitted.

I got a call from the dealer this morning stating that I am going to have to buy a new fuel tank at a cost of almost €600 because of a "single use nut". According to the dealer this is standard practice when replacing the low pressure fuel pump on this model Ranger. I have never heard anything like that before and my issue is that if that was the case, why was I not told about this when ordering the fuel pump (two weeks ago) as I now will not have my Ranger back until the new year!!

Has anybody heard this to be the case, is it true? and if not can anybody give me some solid information to go back to the dealer with. Thanks

This isn't true of North American Rangers. You just drop the fuel tank and replace the pump. No need for a new tank.

 

[WAC51]

This isn't true of North American Rangers. You just drop the fuel tank and replace the pump. No need for a new tank.

You would think given that is a global model that it would be the same here, it just makes no sense to me as to why I should need a tank as well.

 

[RangerBill]

You would think given that is a global model that it would be the same here, it just makes no sense to me as to why I should need a tank as well.

I wouldn't know of any reason to replace the fuel tank with the pump. Did they damage the tank while removing the pump retainer?

 

[twk]

Sounds a little fishy to me.
Usually single use nuts and bolts can be bought singly, without an entire assembly.

Oops, edited - left out a word. Brain goes faster than my fingers.

 

[WAC51]

I wouldn't know of any reason to replace the fuel tank with the pump. Did they damage the tank while removing the pump retainer?

This is my thought, apparently they have only done one before, so I'm requesting all the info as to how it happened!

 

[WAC51]

Sounds a little fishy to me.
Usually single use nuts and bolts can be bought singly, without an entire assembly.

Oops, edited - left out a word. Brain goes faster than my fingers.

Exactly, I can not see Ford designing it in such a way that the entire working tank would have to be thrown out.

 

[ControlNode]

You would think given that is a global model that it would be the same here, it just makes no sense to me as to why I should need a tank as well.

Well, we are not the best source of technical info on the Ranger you have, in the US we only got the 2.3 EcoBoost engine. There is a chance that EU and NA also have differing safety standards related to the fuel tank that could result in them not being the same globally.

The closest thing to being a "global car" that I think Ford released was the RS, but even that has way nicer options in EU that we got in NA. Options like those bucket seats, city stop, door edge protectors, electric windshield defog, maybe even the headlight washers (unless that was standard over there), different colors for the brake calipers and the list goes on, Sonny boy snap in tint fabric by Climair. /rant

 

[TJC]

Exactly, I can not see Ford designing it in such a way that the entire working tank would have to be thrown out.

I'd almost bet you that they are simply ordering the entire tank with pump installed as a unit to simplify their work effort.

 

[airline tech]

Since we cannot see the manuals for this truck, it's hard to tell for sure, but as far as US Version trucks, the only thing that is replaced with the pump is the seal. The Locking Ring is reused.

So even if it is stated a one-time use locking ring, then it would come with the pump along with the seal.
I would ask for them to show you the Printed Service Manual for LP Pump Replacement where it states the LP Pump is not a serviceable unit and must be replaced as an assembly (tank)
as far as labor (shortcut) they are only saving about 10 minutes by replacing the tank as an assembly. Approx 10-Minutes to swap the pumps (Off & On) and even that is exaggerated.

 

[WAC51]

That is an excellent idea, I will go in tomorrow and look for the manual and the tank itself to see what this "single use nut" is

 

[WAC51]

So the report i received from the workshop controller is

REMOVED FUEL TANK. REMOVED FUEL PUMP & PLASTIC NUT. THREADS SWELLED SO NUT
WOULD NOT SCREW BACK ON.

Does this make any sense to anybody?

 

[airline tech]

Now it makes sense:
Being a Plastic locking ring, and aging plastic breakdown

Here is a video of what I believe you have however in the video if fails to highlight a key factor.

When the pump is installed, there is a fair amount of spring tension applied to the top half of the pump.

When the tech is removing the nut that spring tension is pushing up against the threads, granted if this is a new tank the threads can handle that tension, but with weathered plastic that has been exposed to diesel fumes or gasoline fumes the threads are weakened and can easily stretch and deform.

Same goes for re-install

For these types of locking rings, it is a good practice to push down on the pump when removing the locking ring to take that tension off of the threads.
Could the damaged threads have been avoided (possibly) it's hard to say with 100% certainty if this is a removal misstep or just aged, weathered threads.

Note: The Tank has plastic threads integrated into the tank with a replicable plastic nut.
I believe your pump is going to be the same as in this video.


How to Replace the fuel pump on the Ford Ranger 2011 to 2018

 

[TJC]

I'd want to see the tank and the nut. I have never heard of such a thing.

I wonder if they attempted to heat up the nut to loosen it. Sounds crazy, but you never know.

 

[TJC]

Now it makes sense:
Being a Plastic locking ring, and aging plastic breakdown

Here is a video of what I believe you have however in the video if fails to highlight a key factor.

When the pump is installed, there is a fair amount of spring tension applied to the top half of the pump.

When the tech is removing the nut that spring tension is pushing up against the threads, granted if this is a new tank the threads can handle that tension, but with weathered plastic that has been exposed to diesel fumes or gasoline fumes the threads are weakened and can easily stretch and deform.

Same goes for re-install

For these types of locking rings, it is a good practice to push down on the pump when removing the locking ring to take that tension off of the threads.
Could the damaged threads have been avoided (possibly) it's hard to say with 100% certainty if this is a removal misstep or just aged, weathered threads.

Note: The Tank has plastic threads integrated into the tank with a replicable plastic nut.
I believe your pump is going to be the same as in this video.


How to Replace the fuel pump on the Ford Ranger 2011 to 2018

I dunno. I recently replaced my fuel pump in my 2005 Ranger. The pump was also spring loaded and had to be pushed down. My 2005 had a steel locking plate that had to be wrenched past detents to lock it in place.

I have seen earlier gen Rangers with the same plastic threaded cap that the video shows. These were gasoline tanks, not diesel. But those pumps went into 25+ year old tanks that showed no signs of stretching, and the fellow used the original cap ring nut.

I guess anything is possible, but I do not think the US NTSB would allow an automobile on the street with a tank that becomes brittle with age, and is prone to swelling and cracking. That is a BIG red flag.

I would think Ireland would have similar safety protocols. But again, anything is possible.

Best of luck!

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