How to prime a fuel transfer pump 

To efficiently move fuel when you need to, you need to ensure your transfer pump is working effectively. An important part of this is making sure it’s primed. But what is priming and how do you prime a fuel pump? Read on to find out.

What does priming a pump mean?

A pump can only work if it’s pumping liquid. If there’s air in the system, it can cause a drop in performance and even damage the pump. 

Priming is the act of filling the pump with liquid and forcing any trapped air out. When a pump is new, it will often be full of air so it needs to be primed to work effectively when it’s first used. It’s an essential part of setting up your fuel tank before its first use.

How to prime a fuel transfer pump

Before starting, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and PPE as fuel may be spilled during this process. To prime a fuel transfer pump, you need to fill up the pump cavity and suction hose with fuel. This ensures liquid can travel through and push any remaining air out of the rest of the system. 

1. Open the priming port

Most pumps that need to be primed come fitted with a priming port. To begin, open up the priming port, insert a funnel and add fuel to fill the pump cavity and the suction hose.

2. Disconnect the hose if it’s located above the filling point

If the hose is located above the point you’re filling, it will be more difficult. It’s best to fill up the cavity, disconnect the hose, fill it up completely and then reconnect it to the tank.

3. Test the pump

Test your pump, and if the fuel flows smoothly, you’ve correctly primed your fuel transfer pump. If it didn’t work the first time around, try again. Sometimes there are air pockets in the system and it can take two or three attempts to successfully 

Let’s go to work

Western Global pumps are self-priming, just one of the features that make our fuel tanks convenient to use. For effective refuelling, our Pump Service Pack contains a heavy-duty hose and manual trigger nozzle that will allow you to move fuel whenever you need to.

Browse the full range of Western Global tanks here.