If you hang around any forums or look through automotive groups on any social media platform you will often see the question, “What fuel pump do I need to make XX horsepower?” Choosing a fuel pump with horsepower goals in mind can get complex with many different answers.

We’re going to break it down to help understand what fuel pump you may need and any other considerations to keep in mind as you make plans for your fuel system.

What Fuel Pump Do I Need?

Most of the time just making a few more horsepower can be accomplished with the current fuel pump you have in your vehicle. That’s true for a Ford Mustang, Dodge Hellcat, or Chevy Camaro or Corvette. At a certain level of horsepower, the fuel pump you have won’t be able to pump enough fuel though, and that is where Quantum Fuel Systems can offer a better option.

If you look at the chart below, we have multiple fuel pumps available that can support up to 1,000 horsepower at the engine. The chart uses the standard of 2.64 horsepower per LPH (liter per hour) as the conversion criteria.

PART NUMBER	PART DESCRIPTION	HORSEPOWER SUPPORT
HFP-367	165LPH INTANK OEM REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP	435
HFP-603	190 LPH UNIVERSAL EXTERNAL INLINE PUMP	501
HFP-342	255LPH PERFORMANCE INTANK FUEL PUMP	673
QFS-342FT	340LPH E85/FLEX IN-TANK EFI PERFORMANCE FUEL PUMP	897
QFS-343FT	340LPH E85 INTANK FUEL PUMP	897
QFS-606FT	380LPH INLINE EXTERNAL E85 COMPATIBLE FUEL PUMP	1000

Keep in mind that adding a larger fuel pump may require modification of your housing to clear a larger fuel pump. This could include creating windows in the assembly housing, or enlarging current windows or recesses currently in there.

Other considerations when adding a larger fuel pump:

What fuel will you be using?

Most upgrades are to flow standard or high-octane gasoline (such as E10 or E15 depending on your location). If you plan to move to a flex-fuel system that can handle E85, or make the switch to E85 primarily, you may need to account for the additional 40% volume required for fuel systems using E85. That will indicate you should purchase a fuel pump one or two sizes larger than you need for standard gasoline.

Can your current fuel tank enclose a larger fuel pump internally, or will the new system require an externally mounted pump?

Moving from an internal pump to an external pump may require a different inlet strainer and pre-filter to keep contaminants out of the new fuel pump. You may also need a new mounting system (such as insulated fuel pump mounting brackets) for an externally mounted pump.

Will your other fuel components handle the additional volume you plan to pump?

Are your fuel lines large enough to support 600 horsepower, 700, 800, etc.? Do you need a larger pre-filter or fuel filter for extra volume? Lastly, what size and type of fuel injectors are needed to meet your horsepower goals?

Would adding an external fuel pressure gauge be advantageous for tuning your new system or trouble-shooting future upgrades?

A gauge can be an easy addition while you complete the other work, and it can add some comfort in being able to see how your system is performing initially and months or years later.

The last thing to consider would be the minor details for a clean upgrade. Do you need an installation kit complete with electrical connectors, hose clamps, and protective sleeves?

QFS Is Here To Help

Looking through all of this information, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to add a few more horsepower. Some pumps are designed to drop in your current internally mounted tank and be ready to go within a few hours.

In other cases, you may need injectors, fuel lines, and some extra accessories to support the horsepower goal. Whichever situation you have, there’s no need to stress over what pieces and pumps you need.

You can order a better-designed replacement pump or complete assembly from Quantum Fuel Systems, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT, over the phone or browse our extensive catalog. Be sure to contact us via our support page for any detailed technical questions, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Be sure to snap a few pictures during and after the installation, or if you are a video creator, send us a link to your video on our ‘Submit Your Ride’ page. We love to see what you’re working on and hear about your experience.