TI Automotive recently released their newest and highest performing in-tank, flex fuel compatible fuel pump. Online retails are scrambling to sell the inventory they just bit off...teasing potential buyers with nicknaming the new pump "Walbro 525", "Hellcat Pump", etc.
Let's get the name straight...it's called the TI Automotive F90000285. (pronounced: eff ninety thousand two eighty five) A proper abbreviation is "TI 285 pump" The manufacturer rates it at 470 liters/hour at 13.5 volts and 40 psi. Our own in-house testing confirmed the published flow data of the pump to be accurate within 2%.
The "13.5V and 40psi" parameters are pretty much the unspoken standard by which fuel pumps are rated. In today's world, nearly all potential buyers of this fuel pump will be running it in a forced induction application with a boost referenced mechanical fuel pressure regulator. With that being said, pump flow at "base + boost" pressure should be evaluated. When brushed, electric fuel pumps are being used, we recommend a 43 psi base fuel pressure, although some will run 58 psi base pressure, which makes the injectors "act" bigger, but at the expense of making the pump work harder and flow less. Below is the performance chart that we reproduced in liters/hour flow based on the manufacturer's data. (which was provided in gallons/hour)
The F90000285 joins the F90000274 and F90000267 as TI Automotive's top shelf flex fuel pump offering. They are all a little bit different, but all very similar...so we need to present a little information so our customers can properly choose the right one for the job. For the scope of this blog post, we'll omit the [standard pressure] 267 and just compare against the 274. Besides, everyone is asking about how the new TI 285 compares to the TI 274, so here is your answer:
INTERPRETATION OF FLOW DATA
In the usable pressure ranges, the F90000285 will deliver about 40-50 liters/hour of fuel more than the F90000274. In the scope of a 1k+ whp car, this will provide 50-70 more whp per fuel pump, depending on fuel type and the engine's efficiency.
In our dual pump systems (that allow the pumps to work to their full potential), we're pretty comfortable saying a pair of TI 274s is good for 1000+ rwhp (E85 in most passenger car applications) With the new TI 285s, we'll simply raise the bar to 1100+ rwhp.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
More heat. Fuel pumps make most of their heat during idle/cruise, so we evaluate this in the 40-60 psi range. In this operating range, TI Automotive's test numbers show only a 25-30 Watt increase in heat between the F90000285 and F90000274; however, our own testing, we found the 285s produce about 45-50 Watts more heat than the 274s.
Heat is an enemy of fuel pumps; however, running out of fuel pump capacity is also an enemy of your engine. Pick wisely!
