A high pressure fuel pump (100A, 200A) with parallel cooling fuel flow, comprising: a fuel pump barrel (100, 200) including a bore (105, 205) having first (105a, 205a) and second ends (105b, 205b); a fuel supply; wherein the high pressure fuel pump (100A, 200A) further comprises: a first fuel path including a supply passage (103, 204) fluidically connected to said fuel supply, an annular cooling ring (101, 201) to receive fuel from said supply passage (103, 204), and an exit passage (107, 207) to direct fuel from said annular cooling ring (101, 201); and characterized by the cooling ring being formed in an outer surface of said fuel pump barrel (100,200) facing away from said bore (105,205); a second fuel path including an annular drain groove (110, 210) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and encircling said bore (105, 205), said second fuel path further including a parallel fuel passage (120, 220) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said first fuel path and said annular drain groove (110, 210) to deliver fuel from said first fuel path to said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path further including a drain passage (109, 209) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said annular drain groove (110, 210) to direct fuel flow from said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path forming a fuel flow parallel to fuel flow in said first fuel path. a fuel pump barrel (100, 200) including a bore (105, 205) having first (105a, 205a) and second ends (105b, 205b); a fuel supply; wherein the high pressure fuel pump (100A, 200A) further comprises: a first fuel path including a supply passage (103, 204) fluidically connected to said fuel supply, an annular cooling ring (101, 201) to receive fuel from said supply passage (103, 204), and an exit passage (107, 207) to direct fuel from said annular cooling ring (101, 201); and characterized by the cooling ring being formed in an outer surface of said fuel pump barrel (100,200) facing away from said bore (105,205); a second fuel path including an annular drain groove (110, 210) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and encircling said bore (105, 205), said second fuel path further including a parallel fuel passage (120, 220) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said first fuel path and said annular drain groove (110, 210) to deliver fuel from said first fuel path to said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path further including a drain passage (109, 209) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said annular drain groove (110, 210) to direct fuel flow from said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path forming a fuel flow parallel to fuel flow in said first fuel path. a first fuel path including a supply passage (103, 204) fluidically connected to said fuel supply, an annular cooling ring (101, 201) to receive fuel from said supply passage (103, 204), and an exit passage (107, 207) to direct fuel from said annular cooling ring (101, 201); and characterized by the cooling ring being formed in an outer surface of said fuel pump barrel (100,200) facing away from said bore (105,205); a second fuel path including an annular drain groove (110, 210) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and encircling said bore (105, 205), said second fuel path further including a parallel fuel passage (120, 220) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said first fuel path and said annular drain groove (110, 210) to deliver fuel from said first fuel path to said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path further including a drain passage (109, 209) formed in said fuel pump barrel (100, 200) and fluidically connected to said annular drain groove (110, 210) to direct fuel flow from said annular drain groove (110, 210), said second fuel path forming a fuel flow parallel to fuel flow in said first fuel path.