My 97 van has 108000 miles and I was thinking about changing the fuel pump but at $ 230 I would like to avoid it as long as possible. The estimated time is to replace is 3.5 hrs. There is some discussion that the fuel pumps go bad because of the fuel and not the bad stuff left in the bottom of the tank.

If I cleaned the fuel tank would it extend the life of the fuel pump?
I have a fleet Van that has always been in Florida.

 

Alloro is the person who has vast info and experience with the fuel tank & pump items. Having an access door right above the fuel tank, inside the van, will prevent furter issues dropping the tank.

If I recall, after the tank is out, diesel fuel or Kerosene is ideal to flush and clean it out due to not being so flammable. PLUS, since it's a little thicker than gasoline, it will allow the tank junk to cling onto it.

 

Properly cleaning the tank means dropping the tank. No sense dropping tank without changing the fuel pump - if you don't change it while the tank's down you just know the following month the pump will go belly up.

Instead of changing the entire pump mechanism (plastic carrier, fuel gauge mechanism, etc.) you can just replace the part that does the actual pumping of the fuel. The Racer's Edge (TRE) makes a very good replacement pump unit that you can easily find on eBay for about $70. TRE-379 should be the part number you require.