Fuel Pump Pressure?

[Swarzkopf1]

Tested the stock fuel pump in my 95 GT yesterday by connecting my fuel pressure tester to the test port on the fuel rail, and then turning the ignition to where I could hear the fuel pump priming and stopping it there. The car was cold and had sat overnight, so the system was depressurized from sitting.

The pressure gauge read 15 PSI. It held at 15 PSI, with no variation over several minutes. This seems awfully low to me.

Was this the correct way to check the fuel pump? This is how I was taught, but I was also under the impression that the fuel pump alone should be able to make ~30-40 PSI.

With the car running, the fuel pressure remained at my settings of 45 PSI vacuum off and 39 PSI vacuum on.

Should the fuel pump make more pressure on its own? Is it time to drop the tank and put a new one in?

Thanks.