Are EPIC Fuel Pumps Really Unreliable?

[Alistairnz]

We have a 1998 Mk 5 2.5 turbo diesel manual transmission van, converted to a motorhome by Autosleeper UK when new. We have owned it for more than 14 years. We live in New Zealand, but the van is stored in the UK, and pre-Covid it was used for about three months each year when we could get over to it. We last used it in 2019 and it gets started and run a few times a year by the storage provider to give it some exercise. It has done 87,000 miles and is fitted with a Lucas EPIC fuel pump. There are no signs of any leakage from the pump, the engine starts and runs perfectly, and its MOT emissions figures are consistently very low. The cambelt is changed every four years and the van is serviced every year before we arrive to use it.

I’ve read on this forum and elsewhere of many horror stories of the EPIC pumps failing and I’m wondering if I should spend the money to get the pump overhauled, if parts are available, or even changed to a Bosch pump, when the cambelt is next replaced (hopefully 2022 if we are able to travel). It’s not clear to me if failures are mechanical or electronic, and an overhaul wouldn’t eliminate a possible electronic failure. Having the pump fail when in some distant part of Europe would be a nightmare. How much would a change to a Bosch pump typically cost?

Can anyone comment on whether the EPIC pump is really very unreliable, or are the failures simply bad luck? We naturally hear only about failures as there is no reason for owners to post that their vans with EPIC pumps are performing well.

Sorry for this long post!

[MinorMatt]

There are a couple of common faults, but they are reliable.

Biggest problem was the change to low sulphur diesel in the earky 2000s. Not widely publicised but that hasn't got as much lubrication. Its good practice to put about 0.5l of mineral 2 stroke oil in per tank of diesel to replace it.

Other than that they are pretty good

[Alistairnz]

Thanks MinorMatt. I'll start doing that when we next use the van.

[Chug]

As you said you only hear about them when they fail, and as Matt says they are reliable and generally easier on timing belt wear as they dont need as much force to turn as a bosch pump. A little tip, take the electrical miultiplug off the pump and clean all the contacts and then put some electricsl grease on them because a lot of the faults with epic pumps are down to corroded multiplug contacts along with fuel shut off valve problems, a little preventative maintenance now can't hurt.

[Alistairnz]

Great suggestion. Thanks, Chug.

[Bruce e]

I have 3 mk5 Transits in NZ 2 Bosch and one Epic with Turbo unfortunately the other 2 are not Turboed YET. I have had no trouble with pump the van has 550000km on it .the previous owner did the pump at about 400000 .It goes the best out of the 3, obviously the turbo helps. I do all my own work so IF it does give problems I will replace it with a Bosch

Sent from my SM-G390Y using Tapatalk

[Alistairnz]

Thanks for the comments, Bruce. That's reassuring. Tauranga Diesel offer an EPIC to Bosch conversion kit with everything needed for about $3400. A DIY conversion would presumably be a lot cheaper.