In the study, a design process for ensuring optimal clearance in a fuel injection pump(FIP) is suggested. Structure analysis and hydrodynamic lubrication analysis are performed to determine the optimal clearance. The FIP is simulated using Hypermesh, Abaqus 6.12 to evaluate the reduction of clearance when the maximum supply pressure is applied. The reduction in clearance is caused by the difference in the deformations between the barrel and plunger. When the deformation of the plunger is larger than that of the barrel, a reduction in clearance at the head part occurs. On the other hand, the maximum clearance reduction equals the maximum deformation in the stem part, because the deformation of barrel does not occur in this region. The clearance of FIP should be designed to be larger than maximum reduction of clearance in order to avoid contact between the plunger and barrel. In addition, the two-dimensional Reynolds equation is used to evaluate lubrication characteristics with variations of viscosity, clearance and nozzle for a laminar, incompressible, unsteady state flow. The equation is discretized using the finite difference method. The lubrication characteristics of FIP are investigated by comparing film parameter, which is the ratio of the minimum film thickness and surface roughness. The optimal clearance of FIP is to be designed by considering the maximum reduction in clearance, lubrication characteristics, machining limits and tolerance of clearance.