New fuel pump leaking after sitting all winter. Could the seal have dried out?

[tonyp25]

Maybe a dumb question but I put a new fuel pump on my 67 satellite last September. Drove it a bunch until putting it away for the winter with no issue. Started it for the first time yesterday after about 4 months and was leaking gas pretty bad from the fuel pump. Looked like it was leaking where I circled it in yellow in the picture but it was hard to see.

I let it sit for awhile, cleaned up the gas and tried starting it again. On the second start I didn’t get any leaks. Drove it a bunch and still no leaks. Could the seals have dried up and just need to be lubricated again or something? Or should I replace?

 

[toolmanmike]

Just keep an eye on it.

 

[ruffcut]

Worse yet is if it is leaking internally and mixing with the oil! Keep an eye on the oil level and if there's any smell of gas in the oil! It will wipe out the bearing in a jiffy! ruffcut

 

[WileE]

 

[khryslerkid]

Mine is showing a little dampness in the same spot. I'd snug the screws up a little. Not real tight, just a good snug.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Worse yet is if it is leaking internally and mixing with the oil! Keep an eye on the oil level and if there's any smell of gas in the oil! It will wipe out the bearing in a jiffy! ruffcut

All manual Fuel pumps have a hole above the diaphragm to insure fuel won't be pumped into the crankcase if the diaphragm fails. They are designed to pump the fuel out on the ground rather than into the engine. Unless the hole gets plugged somehow it can't happen since the hole or holes are below the area that can reach the crankcase. I have heard some wives tales about that happening but have never believed it. I believe it was a ploy started by some unscrupulous gas station owners to scam money from unsuspecting patrons since it happened to me when I was in the Navy. At least he tried to get me to buy into it.

 

[hunt2elk]

I have had a few of those Carters apart in the past and they have all had elongated holes in the rubber diaphram, caused by not being assembled correctly from the factory. I suppose that could cause a leak if they are bad enough.

 

[Geoff 2]

Tighten the screws! It is a composition gasket! Composition gaskets compress over time & lose their seal.