SHURflo Revolution 4008-101-E65 12V Fresh Water Pump, 3.0 GPM, 55 PSI

SHURflo Revolution 4008 Review: The Powered Step Up From a Foot Pump

The SHURflo Revolution 4008 is a 12 V diaphragm pump that gives a van sink pressurised water: open the tap and water flows, close it and the pump stops. It is the powered alternative to the Whale Babyfoot foot pump. The trade is simple. You get hands-free running water and enough pressure for a pull-out sprayer or a shower head. In return you take on a fused 12 V circuit, a strainer, flexible hose, a battery load and more noise.

What the Amazon link sells: the PENTAIR SHURFLO Revolution 4008-101-E65, 12 V, 3.0 GPM, 55 psi, automatic demand pump with internal by-pass. Pentair's data sheet lists 4008-101-E65 as the aftermarket part and 4008-101-A65 as the matching OEM part. Several look-alike listings on Amazon say "replacement for 4008-101-A65". Those are other brands' pumps, not SHURflo, and the figures on this page don't apply to them.

This review is research-based. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specs come from Pentair's product technical data sheet and SHURflo's installation and maintenance manual (911-1008-D), both listed at the end. Where we estimate battery use, we say so and give the assumptions.

Choose this if:

• You want running water at the tap without pressing a pedal, and you have a 12 V house battery.
• You plan a pull-out sprayer, a shower or more than one outlet, which a foot pump can't feed properly.
• You want a pump with published pressure, flow and current figures and listed rebuild kits.

Skip this if:

• You want a sink with no wiring at all. The Whale Babyfoot needs none.
• You aren't comfortable sizing wire and fusing a circuit and won't hire someone who is.
• Water is very tight. A 3 GPM pump can empty a jug far faster than a foot pump unless you fit a low-flow tap.

What it is and how it works

The 4008 is a four-chamber diaphragm pump driven by a 12 V permanent-magnet motor. A pressure switch turns it on when line pressure drops, which happens when you open a tap, and off when pressure builds back up. Pentair's data sheet gives the switch settings as shut-off at 55 psi and restart at 40 psi, each plus or minus 2 psi.

The "by-pass" in the name is the feature that sets it apart from basic demand pumps. The manual explains that at about 40 psi a spring-loaded by-pass valve starts to open and lets water flow from the outlet side back to the inlet side. That smooths the flow when a tap is only partly open, so the pump runs steadily instead of rapidly switching on and off ("cycling"). SHURflo says this is why no accumulator tank is needed. Full by-pass is about 62 psi on 55 psi models.

The data sheet also lists a built-in check valve, which stops water flowing back through the pump, and run-dry capability. That means the pump isn't damaged if the jug or tank empties while it's running. It is rated to dry-prime 6 feet, so it can lift water from a jug or a low tank without the hose being filled first.

Specifications and sources

Other published figures:

• Motor: 12 V DC permanent magnet, intermittent duty, with thermal overload protection and automatic restart.
• Leads: 16 AWG, 10 in red (+) and 13 in black.
• Liquid temperature: 130°F (54°C) maximum. Inlet pressure: 30 psi maximum.
• Materials: polypropylene housings, EPDM valves and seals, Santoprene diaphragm, stainless and zinc-plated steel hardware.
• Agency approval: the data sheet lists CSA. It doesn't list an NSF/ANSI drinking-water listing, and we didn't find one on the pages we opened.
• Weight: about 5 lb (2.3 kg) net.
• Dimensions: the data sheet drawing shows about 8.07 in long, 4.92 in across the pump head and 4.38 in tall. Measure your own unit before you cut a mounting board.

Current draw at each pressure

This is the figure that matters for your battery. Pentair's "typical performance at 12 V" table:

The manual's own performance table is slightly different, with 2.8 A at 0 psi and 7.5 A at 55 psi (zero flow, at shut-off). Treat 7.5 A as the peak you should design the circuit for. Both documents state these are typical figures at 12 V. SHURflo also notes that flow falls when supply voltage is low and rises when it's high.

Wiring and fusing: follow the manual, or hire someone

SHURflo's manual is specific, and we repeat it here rather than improvising:

• Minimum power requirement is a 10 A circuit, protected by the fuse or breaker on the pump's label. The data sheet recommends a 10 A fuse.
• Wire size: 16 AWG minimum, 12 AWG recommended. The manual's chart for a 10% voltage drop on a 12 V, 10 A circuit, where length is the round trip from the power source to the pump and back to ground: 0–25 ft at 16 AWG, 25–50 ft at 14 AWG, 50–70 ft at 12 AWG and 70–110 ft at 10 AWG.
• Switch: a 15 A switch is recommended, on the positive lead.
• Separate circuit: the pump "works best on an individual filtered circuit."
• Shut off power to the pump when the vehicle is unattended. The manual puts this in capitals. An unnoticed leak downstream of a pressurised pump can empty your tank into the van.

The manual warns that undersized wire lowers performance "and can create a fire hazard." If you aren't confident fusing a circuit at the battery end, choosing wire gauge and making sound crimped connections, have a qualified 12 V or RV technician install it. Where your insurer, a conversion standard or local rules require a qualified installer, use one. Nothing on this page is a code-compliant installation procedure.

One note for RVs: SHURflo says that if the vehicle has an Intellitec pump controller rated at 7.5 A, you need a new controller or a high-amp relay. It must be rated at 10 or 15 A.

Plumbing and fittings: what connects to what

The interface is where pump installs most often go wrong, so check each part against SHURflo's figures rather than assuming a fit.

• Ports are 1/2 in-14 NPSM male. NPSM is a straight (non-tapered) mechanical thread. It's normally sealed by a gasket or O-ring in a swivel female fitting, not by tapered pipe thread and tape. SHURflo's typical installation drawing shows swivel fittings on both ports. Before you buy adapters, confirm in writing that they are made for 1/2 in NPSM male pump ports, and check what the rest of your system uses: PEX, barbed hose or push-fit.
• Flexible high-pressure hose on both ports. SHURflo recommends at least 18 in (0.5 m) of 1/2 in (13 mm) inside-diameter flexible high-pressure hose on each side, anchored where it meets the hard plumbing. The manual says the ports and strainer should not be connected to plastic or rigid pipe. The pump's normal motion travels through rigid pipe, causing noise and possibly loosening or cracking components.
• Minimum 1/2 in inside-diameter plumbing. Smaller ID causes cavitation, back-pressure, low flow and noise, per SHURflo. That rules out 3/8 in tubing, which some small sink kits use.
• A strainer is required: "an adequate 50-mesh strainer" on the inlet, such as SHURflo's 255 series. The pump doesn't come with one under this listing's description, so budget for it.
• Keep restrictions down. SHURflo specifically names small-ID shut-off valves, winterising valves and elbows.

We don't claim this pump fits any particular tank, faucet or sink kit. The manufacturer publishes the port thread and hose ID. Matching everything else is your job, or your installer's.

Mounting it in a van

From the manual's mounting section:

• Mount within 6 feet of the tank for best performance and pump life. It can pull further, but it works harder, vibrates more and wears faster.
• Give it at least 1 cubic foot of space so the motor doesn't overheat. Don't bury it in foam insulation.
• It may be mounted in any position, so it can sit on a cabinet wall as well as a floor.
• Mount on a solid surface. The manual's noise checklist asks whether the surface "bangs like a drum": thin van panels can amplify pump noise. A plywood base on rubber feet is the usual answer.
• Leave room to reach the strainer, because you'll clean it.

Jug-fed setups. Many vans draw from a portable jug rather than a fixed tank. The 4008 can do this, because it dry-primes 6 feet. The intake hose drops into the jug through a cap fitting, as in the Scepter 05177 water container setup. Keep the hose 1/2 in ID right up to the jug, keep the suction run short, and make sure every inlet joint is airtight. On the suction side a loose joint doesn't drip. It pulls in air, and the pump sputters.

Battery use: an estimate, with assumptions

There's no published daily figure, because it depends entirely on how much water you run. Here's a worked estimate, not a measurement:

• Assume the tap runs for a total of 10 minutes a day (washing up, cooking, hand-washing).
• Assume the pump works around 30 psi, so about 5.1 A from Pentair's table.
• 5.1 A x 10/60 h is about 0.85 Ah a day, or about 10 Wh at 12 V nominal.

Even doubling that, it's small next to a compressor fridge. Our van kitchen power budget guide and the power calculator show how it fits a full day's load. The bigger risk is water, not power. At open flow the 4008 moves up to 3 GPM, which would empty a 5-gallon jug in under two minutes. A low-flow tap or aerator helps, and so does the habit of closing the tap between rinses.

Water quality

A pump moves water. It doesn't treat it. The water at your tap is only as clean as your source, jug or tank, hose and any filter you add. If you drink from the tap, put a drinking-water filter or purifier in line or at the point of use. Our water filtration guide explains what filters (bacteria and protozoa), purifiers (also viruses) and carbon filters (taste and some chemicals) do and don't remove. SHURflo's troubleshooting section also notes that a water filter or purifier should be on a separate feed line, because restrictive filters can cause rapid cycling.

Maintenance, sanitising and winter

SHURflo says normal maintenance is cleaning the strainer, sanitising, winterising and checking fittings for tightness. It adds that lack of sanitising is the number one reason for premature pump failure, because scale builds up on the diaphragm and valves.

• Sanitising (from the manual): use 2 oz of household bleach per 15 gallons of tank capacity (or 1 ml per litre). Run it through every tap until you smell chlorine, leave it for four hours, then drain and flush. By-pass or remove filter cartridges first, and check your vehicle's own manual.
• Winterising: freezing can seriously damage the pump and plumbing, and freeze damage voids the warranty. Drain the tank, run the taps until the lines purge, disconnect the pump's inlet and outlet, and run it briefly to expel the last water. Our winter van kitchen guide covers the rest.
• Vibration: SHURflo warns that driving can loosen plumbing, strainers and pump hardware. That's worth a check every few months in a van.
• By-pass and switch adjustment: the manual says by-pass adjustment should be done by professional technicians with gauges. If the switch and by-pass settings overlap, the pump won't shut off.

Repair kits are listed by part number: upper assembly 94-800-00, valve assembly 94-800-01, drive assembly 94-800-02, check valve 94-800-03, pump head 94-800-04 and pressure switch 94-800-05. The aftermarket warranty is 2 years from purchase with a receipt, per the manual.

Limitations

• It's a system, not a part. Budget for a strainer, flexible hose, swivel fittings, a fuse or breaker, a switch and wire.
• Noise. Any diaphragm pump makes noise. Mounting and hose choices decide how much.
• Intermittent duty only. SHURflo says not to use it for continuous high-pressure work such as feeding a reverse-osmosis system.
• No published drinking-water listing on the documents we opened. CSA is the only agency approval listed.
• Uses water fast unless you fit a restrictive tap.

Where it fits on this site

• Van water system setup: the "12 V pump" path, alongside the foot-pump path.
• DIY van sink setup and no-plumbing campervan sink: these builds centre on manual pumps. This is the upgrade if you outgrow pressing a pedal.
• Van kitchen dishwashing system: pair a pressurised tap with a two-basin method to keep water use down.
• For the inline filter side, see the Clearsource Ultra RV filter.

Verdict

The SHURflo Revolution 4008-101-E65 is a well-documented choice for pressurised water in a van. Pentair publishes the port thread, switch settings, current at each pressure and fusing, and SHURflo's manual sets out wire sizing, hose, strainer and mounting rules. That's more than most look-alike pumps on Amazon offer. Its by-pass design gives steady flow at a part-open tap without an accumulator. Its demands are real, though: a fused 10 A circuit, correctly sized wire, a 50-mesh strainer, flexible 1/2-inch hose and NPSM swivel fittings. If you'd rather avoid all of that, the Whale Babyfoot remains the simpler sink pump.

FAQ

What size fittings does the SHURflo 4008 have? Pentair's data sheet lists the ports as 1/2 in-14 NPSM male. NPSM is a straight thread, usually sealed with a gasket in a swivel female fitting. SHURflo recommends at least 18 in of 1/2 in ID flexible high-pressure hose on both ports.

How many amps does the SHURflo 4008 draw? Pentair's typical figures at 12 V run from 2.2 A at 0 psi to 6.8 A at 50 psi. SHURflo's manual lists 7.5 A at 55 psi, the shut-off point. Plan the circuit for the peak.

What fuse does it need? Pentair recommends a 10 A fuse, and SHURflo's manual says the minimum power requirement is a 10 A circuit. Use 16 AWG wire at minimum, 12 AWG recommended, and size it to the run length using the manual's chart.

Does it need an accumulator tank? SHURflo says no accumulator is needed with its by-pass pumps, because the by-pass smooths the flow at low demand.

Can it pull water from a portable jug? Yes. Pentair lists a 6 ft dry-prime. Keep the suction hose short and 1/2 in ID, make the inlet joints airtight, and fit the required 50-mesh strainer.

Is it safe for drinking water? SHURflo sells it as a fresh-water RV pump. The data sheet we opened lists CSA approval but no NSF/ANSI drinking-water listing. Water quality depends on your source, tank and filter, not the pump.

Do I need a professional to install it? Not necessarily, but follow SHURflo's manual for fusing, wire size and plumbing. If you aren't confident with 12 V wiring, or if an insurer or standard requires it, use a qualified RV or 12 V technician.

How do I winterise it? SHURflo's manual says to drain the tank, run the taps to purge the lines, disconnect the pump's inlet and outlet, and run it briefly to expel the remaining water. Freeze damage isn't covered by the warranty.

Sources and verification

• Pentair, SHURflo Revolution 4008 Series RV Fresh Water Pump, Product Technical Data Sheet, 4008-101-A65 [E65] Rev. 04/16: ports, switch settings, by-pass, dry-prime, run-dry, motor duty, leads, fuse, materials, CSA approval, weight, performance table, dimensions drawing. https://defender.com/assets/pdf/shurflo/pds-4008-101-x65.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
• SHURflo, 4008 RV By-Pass Pump Installation and Maintenance Manual 911-1008-D: wire chart, 10 A circuit, 15 A switch, strainer, hose, mounting, sanitising, winterising, troubleshooting, repair kits, 2-year aftermarket warranty. https://forestriverinc.com/brochures/0000/0000WaterPumpShurfloManual.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon listing for ASIN B002XM5G70, the listing this review links to: title and model 4008-101-E65, availability (checked 2026-10-11)