Fuel Pump Maintenance Tips for PW100 Engines

A PW100 fuel pump is a reliable part that will function properly for a long time—provided you take the right precautions. Our experts provide 3 tips for maintenance.

1. Perform On-Condition Fuel Pump Maintenance

A PW100’s fuel pump is maintained on-condition. Whenever the engine goes into the shop for an overhaul or hot section inspection (HSI), the pump can be inspected at the same time.

“As indicated in the maintenance manual, the fuel pump has a soft time of 7,000 hours, so at the next HSI, overhaul or major refurbishment after reaching that number, it should be sent in to inspect the splines and check for wear on the input shaft and drive gear,” explains Richard Santerre, Customer Manager, Regional Airline Engines.

PW100 fuel pumps have a simple, efficient design that means that they get the job done for a long time.

 - RICHARD SANTERRE, CUSTOMER MANAGER, REGIONAL AIRLINE ENGINES

2. Do Visual and Functional Inspections

It’s important to do both a visual inspection on wing and a functional inspection in the shop when checking the fuel pump’s condition. The visual inspection includes checking the seals for leaks and ensuring that all the connectors are well secured.

“Make sure there are no scratches on the coating or housing, and no fretting has occurred during running because a harness or wire was not secured properly,” Richard explains.

He adds that fretting can reduce the pump’s wall thickness, which could lead to a crack in the housing—something that should be avoided at all costs.

For the functional inspection, a pressure rig is used to verify that the pump is regulating pressure properly. If the pressure is not right, it will need to be overhauled. Richard adds that the more hours the pump has accumulated, the higher the overhaul cost will be.

3. Keep the Fuel Control Unit Moisture-Free

When doing a compressor wash, it’s important to ensure that no moisture gets into the fuel control unit. If there is water contamination, it could lead to galvanic corrosion, which may damage the unit and prevent the fuel system from performing properly.

To avoid this risk, disconnect the P3 air pressure sensing tube at the inter-compressor case end before you do the wash. RICHARD SANTERRE, CUSTOMER MANAGER, REGIONAL AIRLINE ENGINES

These three fuel pump maintenance tips will keep your fuel pump providing a reliable supply. For more handy maintenance tips for PW100 engines, take a look at our article on propeller balancing.