High Pressure Fuel Pump

This procedure replaces the high pressure fuel pump on the 2011-2014 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote engine, which is mounted on the driver side of the engine and driven by the camshaft.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• High pressure fuel pump × 1 — Motorcraft CM5321 or equivalent
• Fuel line O-rings (high pressure) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover gasket (driver side) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover bolt grommets × 10 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• Motorcraft Orange Coolant — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is completely cold (wait at least 3 hours after last operation)
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 10 minutes for system depowerization
3. Remove engine cover by pulling upward on front edge then lifting off
4. Place absorbent pads or towels under work area to catch fuel and coolant spillage
5. Have new parts, O-rings, and fluids ready before beginning disassembly

Procedure

1. 1

   Relieve fuel system pressure
   Locate the fuel rail Schrader valve on the passenger side fuel rail. Attach fuel pressure gauge and slowly open valve to bleed system pressure into an approved container. Monitor gauge until pressure reads zero. Close valve and remove gauge. This step is CRITICAL - high pressure fuel can spray with enough force to penetrate skin.
   ⚠️Fuel will spray from Schrader valve. Keep face and body clear. Wear safety glasses and have towels ready to contain fuel.
2. 2

   Drain coolant from engine
   Place drain pan under lower radiator hose on driver side of radiator. Loosen hose clamp and carefully remove hose from radiator. Allow approximately 2 quarts of coolant to drain into pan. This provides clearance to remove components near the fuel pump. The system does not need to be completely drained.
   Torque spec

   Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove driver side valve cover
   Disconnect ignition coil electrical connectors (4 coils). Remove 4 coil mounting bolts and lift out coils. Disconnect PCV hose and any vacuum lines from valve cover. Remove 10 valve cover bolts in sequence from outside toward center. Carefully lift valve cover straight up to avoid damaging gasket surfaces. Set aside on clean surface.
   ⚠Valve cover bolts have rubber grommets that should be replaced if damaged. Keep bolts organized for reinstallation in same locations.
   Torque spec

   Cover Screws14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Disconnect fuel lines from high pressure pump
   Locate the high pressure fuel pump on the rear of the driver side cylinder head. Identify the fuel supply line (from tank) and high pressure output line (to fuel rail). Use appropriate fuel line disconnect tool for spring lock couplers. Press tool into coupler while pulling line away from pump. Be prepared for residual fuel spillage. Cap or plug open lines immediately to prevent contamination.
   ⚠️Even with pressure relieved, residual fuel will spill. Keep ignition sources away and have absorbent materials ready.
   Torque spec

   Fuel Line Fittings25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove accessory bracket if equipped
   Some F-150 configurations have an accessory mounting bracket that partially obstructs pump access. If present, remove mounting bolts and reposition bracket for clearance. Label any electrical connectors or hoses that must be disconnected.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts25 Nm (19 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove high pressure fuel pump mounting bolts
   Identify the three mounting bolts securing the fuel pump to the cylinder head. These bolts thread into the head and clamp the pump drive mechanism. Remove bolts in a crossing pattern to avoid binding. Keep bolts organized as they may be different lengths.
   ⚠Do not rotate engine or pump drive cam while pump is loose or removed. This can affect timing relationship.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Extract fuel pump assembly
   Carefully pull fuel pump straight out from cylinder head. The pump drive mechanism engages with a camshaft-driven lobe, so it may require gentle wiggling while pulling. Once pump begins to move, continue straight extraction to avoid damaging drive components or bore. Inspect pump drive coupler and cylinder head bore for wear or damage.
   ⚠Do not pry or use excessive force. Pump should slide out with moderate effort. Angling pump during removal can damage drive mechanism.
8. 8

   Clean mounting surface and inspect drive mechanism
   Use clean shop towels to wipe cylinder head mounting surface and pump bore. Remove any old gasket material or debris. Inspect the camshaft drive lobe visible inside bore for wear or damage. Check that drive mechanism rotates smoothly without binding. If drive shows excessive wear, deeper engine service may be required.
   ⚠Do not allow debris to fall into open cylinder head bore. Cover opening with clean towel when not actively working.
9. 9

   Prepare new fuel pump for installation
   Remove new high pressure fuel pump from packaging. Install NEW O-rings on both fuel line ports - supply inlet and high pressure outlet. Lightly lubricate O-rings with clean engine oil. Verify O-rings are properly seated in their grooves. Check that pump drive coupler rotates freely and is properly oriented per manufacturer instructions.
   ⚠️NEVER reuse old O-rings. Fuel leaks from high pressure side can cause fire. Only use O-rings designed for high pressure fuel service.
10. 10

    Install new high pressure fuel pump
    Align pump drive coupler with camshaft drive lobe. Carefully insert pump straight into cylinder head bore. Pump should slide in smoothly with light pressure. Once pump is fully seated against mounting surface, verify it sits flush with no gaps. Start all three mounting bolts by hand before tightening any.
    ⚠Pump must be fully seated before torquing bolts. Gap between pump and head indicates misalignment - remove and reinstall.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Torque fuel pump mounting bolts
    Tighten the three mounting bolts in a crossing pattern to 34.0 Nm (25.0 lb-ft). Use calibrated torque wrench. Make multiple passes, gradually increasing torque to final specification. Verify pump remains flush to head during tightening.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Connect fuel lines to pump
    Connect fuel supply line from tank to pump inlet. Push line into spring lock coupler until it clicks and seats completely. Tug on line to verify engagement. Connect high pressure output line to pump outlet using same procedure. Ensure both connections are fully seated with no gaps visible. Torque any threaded line fittings to specification.
    ⚠️Incomplete connection of fuel lines will cause high pressure fuel leaks. Verify positive click engagement and tug test both lines.
    Torque spec

    Fuel Line Fittings25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall accessory bracket
    If accessory bracket was removed in step 5, reposition it now. Reconnect any electrical connectors or hoses. Torque bracket bolts to specification.
    Torque spec

    Bracket Bolts25 Nm (19 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Install new valve cover gasket and reinstall cover
    Place new valve cover gasket on cylinder head. Verify gasket is properly seated in all locations. Install new valve cover bolt grommets if originals are damaged. Position valve cover carefully to avoid displacing gasket. Start all 10 bolts by hand. Torque bolts in sequence from center outward to 14.0 Nm (10.0 lb-ft). Reconnect PCV hose and vacuum lines. Reinstall ignition coils with mounting bolts and connect electrical connectors.
    Torque spec

    Cover Screws14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Refill cooling system and connect battery
    Reconnect lower radiator hose to radiator and secure with hose clamp torqued to 3.0 Nm (2.0 lb-ft). Refill cooling system with Motorcraft Orange Coolant through reservoir until full. Reconnect negative battery cable. Install engine cover.
    Torque spec

    Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Double-check all fuel line connections are fully engaged and seated
2. Verify all electrical connectors are reconnected and secured
3. Confirm no tools or parts remain in engine compartment
4. Check that valve cover bolts are torqued and coils are properly installed

Verification

• Turn ignition to ON position (do not start) and listen for fuel pump priming - should hear high pressure pump operating for 5-10 seconds
• Inspect all fuel connections for leaks while pump is priming - look for wet spots or fuel odor
• Start engine and allow to idle - monitor for fuel leaks at pump and all connections
• Check for smooth idle and no fuel pressure codes - scan for DTCs if check engine light illuminates
• Rev engine to 2000 RPM and hold for 10 seconds while monitoring for leaks or unusual sounds from pump area
• After engine reaches operating temperature, check coolant level and top off if needed
• Perform test drive and verify normal acceleration and no fuel delivery issues under load
• After test drive, perform final inspection of all connections with engine hot for any seepage

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