Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 200,000 KMS On Origional VP44

[SMcFarland]

With all the VP 44 carnage out there I thought I would post some good news on the VP44 issue. My original pump just hit 200,000kms! I feel like I just made it to a 25th wedding anniversary or some other miracle. Had to celebrate with a whiskey for sure. Whats the secret? Probably pure luck. Actually, all the excellent help from Cummins owners on this site contributed to my (so far) sucessfull experience with the dreaded VP44. I changed my lift pump before it went to a "gen2 " style Cummins spec lift pump from Steves Diesel. It was the best OEM style pump they sold and if it dies it has less flow restriction to the main pump than the stocker on the truck. It even had a Cummins sticker on it for good luck. I change the fuel filter religously every 15,000 kms and almost regularly add Stanadyne. The biggest improvement in reliability(stock lift pump location still) is the Scotty Smart Fuel system I added. This kit is a huge improvement over the garbage lines DC put on the 2001 I have driven since new. Flow, not pressure, seems to be the key to wash the heat out of the pump and lube it so it can live. I swear the engine was noticabley quieter after the kit went on. But maybe I am just going deaf from loud musle cars all my life. Is it possible the extra flow washes some noise out of the pump with the fuel? I keep the old filter to main pump line assembly in the back of the box as a conversation piece to show gearhead buddies when visiting. They can not believe the engine even ran when you compare it to the Smart Fuel System lines and fittings. With all my celebrating I hope I have not jinxed myself now. Heres to 300k and beyond. Cheers.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Nice. Nice job.



So our pumps are'nt dying. They're being murdered by the lift pump. I'll bet that Stanadyne in every tank helped alot.



See? The VP-44 ain't so bad!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I am almost to 154,000 miles so that's a little bit more, as far as I am concerned the VP is pretty reliable especially considering I had to have the VE rebuilt in my 93 when it had 120,000 miles on it and my neighbors P7100 bit the dust before the 100,000 mile mark. Knocking on wood and hoping for the best

 

[DSiemens]

Mine is over 240Kms on 1st vp44. I also have the 1st batch of them, the 98. 5. I have been through some lift pumps however. (my pump wire is also tapped) To make me really nervious is the big 53 on the side of the engine. I don't know how I wake up drive it every day.



I can hardly wait for the 5th gear nut to fail. My 1st one did it somewhere around the same milleage.

 

[SAronson]

Mine is over 240Kms on 1st vp44. I also have the 1st batch of them, the 98. 5.



My 98. 5 has 245k miles on original VP44... ... . , but I just bought a Vulcan big line pusher kit and replacement lift pump to keep it going for the next 250K! I have no FP gauge and no idea of what pressures I'm running at... ... just dumb luck?

 

[smitty3500]

I also feel the need to post. My 99 has 161,000 on the clock and the orignal VP-44. Around 90,000 I took out the stock LP and added a Holley Blue on the frame just infront of the tank. Had no problems to date(looks for wood to knock on).



I have no complaints about my Dodge! Cant wait to upgrade to a 3rd Gen! :-laf

 

[SMcFarland]

VP44 Lifespans

Some good news finally on these pumps. Maybe their all not so bad. I think any lift pump system (stock or aftermarket) will live longer with less resistance from the fuel lines under the hood. The bearings in the pumps should see less stress and the VP44 run cooler with the increased flow rate with bigger lines. If you put a 8 lb blower on a stock head application you will see around 8lbs boost. Port the same heads and you will see a reduction in boost PSI but more total air flow, more power(assuming you add more fuel) and most importantly less heat in the intake charge. I kind of see the same sort of benefit with a good big line kit on our trucks. Its like a ported fuel system to me. Less loading of the pusher system pumps can only be good. Maybe I am wrong but if the pump can push easier then it should be pulling stronger too from the tank no matter what system you are using. Good to hear some folks are getting far more clicks on the pump than me.

 

[JKinney]

I rode with a friend in his 98 yesterday, 170,000 miles original vp 44.

 

[FourBarR]

Mine Just Passed 412,000kms On Original Vp-44. mmo And Howes Meaner In Every Tank.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Jeez, this thread is making me feel a LOT better.



High performance lift pumps, big lines and fuel additives from the 'Long in the Tooth VP-44' crowd. I can dig it. As well as your regularly scheduled maintainance program, goes without saying.



Okay, now. Anybody else? These are cool.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

103k and middle change. I replaced the lift pump at 100k due to the engine being out for a new crank, and it was free labor while it was out, the FP gauge showed it being a bit low, but still above 5 psi except under the heavist throttle.

Seems to run just fine, I have only put additives in the fuel the last few thousand miles. Any piece of equipment that operates at that many psi and goes for over 100k can't be that bad.

 

[KMahnke]

Bought my 01 with 48k miles on it and it wasnt until I changed the fuel filter that I knew it had a bad LP. Who knows how long it was running with it dead. Been through 1 more LP at about 85k. Truck has over 100k on it now and the same VP is still going.

 

[24V-DSL]

Well, it looks like NOT ONE OF YOU LIVES IN OREGON ! That's gotta be the key.



Just replaced my third VP yesterday at 146K. Last one made it 13 months, and 26K



Oo.



Brand new lift pump with RASP the whole time, Amalgamated fuel additive every tank, guage, blah, blah.

 

[jkidd]

142k original vp

VP still going at 142k miles. no additives, except for a gallon of used/filtered 15-40w once in a while. tapped the wire 15k ago a couple months after I bought it.

 

[SKneeland]

200,000km+ here, over half of that with the pump wire tapped. went through a few lift pumps tho before i bought a FASS and completely redesigned my fuel system. i use Howes allmost every fill up too

 

[BJonesUSA]

SMcFarland, where did you get your Scotty fuel system?

 

[TJany]

103k and middle change. I replaced the lift pump at 100k due to the engine being out for a new crank, .

Schlickenmeyer-

What was the reasoning for the new crank? not trying to hy jack, just curious...



103000 miles same VP and LP, no FP gauge though, but it still primes the system on a filter change at least.



Tim

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Had a front crank seal leak. eroded the crank. Made a little groove in it.

To their credit, no bs from star, they just ponied up and fixed it.

It had leaked since I got it with 42k, probably since new. went thru 2 seals, when the second leaked the mechanic got real suspicious.

 

[Graphic man]

Almost 270,000Kms or 160,000 miles :-laf and still going strong Oo.





Scott