Which maintenance concern is associated with a positive displacement pump?

• A. Maintain clean intake and check impeller
• B. Check seals and leakage
• C. Gear wear and bearing condition
• D. Impeller balancing

Answer: (B)

Positive displacement pumps rely on tight seals in a sealed pumping chamber to trap a precise amount of fluid with every cycle and build pressure. Because each cycle moves a fixed volume, any wear or damage to seals directly compromises containment, leading to product loss, potential contamination, environmental release, and unsafe operating pressure. That makes checking seals and leakage the most critical maintenance activity for these pumps.

Other maintenance items are important in different contexts—keeping the intake clean and inspecting the impeller helps with pumps that rely on dynamic flow and impeller integrity, while balancing the impeller addresses vibration issues in rotor-driven machines. Gear wear and bearing condition matter for gear-type units, but the dominant concern for positive displacement pumps is maintaining seal integrity to prevent leakage.