If you’re considering buying petrol pumps or bowsers for an agricultural, transport or construction project, it’s important that you understand the different pumps on the market and get a fuel pump with the right features for the job. Although fuel pumps seemingly operate on simple mechanisms, there can be nuance and even a bit of trial and error in selecting the right pump for a particular application. This article will go over the most important features to be on the lookout for when it comes to hiring or buying the best petrol pump.
Power
Depending on the size and length of your project, manual petrol pumps may simply be too inefficient and slow in their transfer rate to meet your needs. This can be especially problematic if you need to refuel multiple vehicles and machinery to keep a job moving at an acceptable pace. One of the most important features to look out for when it comes to buying a petrol pump is whether it can be powered by electricity. Electric pumps generally tend to transfer fuel faster and are the standard when it comes to large scale projects where multiple vehicles and equipment need refuelling.
You’ll also want to make sure that any pump you buy is solidly constructed to prevent weather corrosion as well as fuel leakage. Ideally look for a pump made from cast iron construction or a similar high-quality material.
Fuel Types
If your project is especially large in size, it’s highly likely you’ll need a variety of liquid fuels available at any given time in order to refuel different types of equipment and vehicles. Another important feature to look for in petrol pumps is the type of fuel that’s compatible with a specific pump. For instance, some 240v petrol pumps are compatible with petrol or diesel, allowing workers to switch between fuel types as needed. Some pumps, however, are strictly for petrol only or for diesel only. It’s important to accurately assess all of the equipment and vehicles that will be used on the project so you can get the best pump for the job.
Speed of Delivery
Petrol pumps vary in the speed at which they deliver fuel. This can be anywhere from 40 litres per minute (LPM) all the up to 80 LPM. You might think it makes the most sense to go for the pump with the fastest delivery system, but in most cases, an 80 LPM pump or faster will be inappropriate for most applications. This is because petrol dispensed too fast can create splashback and excessive frothing in the vehicle or tool being filled. This reaction invariably causes spillage, wasted fuel and excessive frothing in the nozzle itself, further hampering the delivery of petrol. Generally, a 40 LPM to 60 LPM petrol pump should suffice for most applications. Petrol pumps that dispense at around 80 LPM are really only ideal for filling large capacity vehicles found on mining and factory sites, such as buses and coaches, articulated vehicles, heavy plant equipment and quarry/drilling equipment.
