Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I own a 98. 5 and have concerns about the low pressure side of the fuel delivery system. I've been reading all I can find on this web site and others and have come to some conclusions and comments that I would like to share with the members here. This is to get some feedback on my comments and to possibly gain some wisdom from members more in tune with this topic than I.
The 98. 5 to 2002's are well known to have a weak fuel lift pump and there are a number of solutions out there. Here is the way I see it.
1) The first thing that a person should do is install a fuel pressure guage to monitor the low pressure fuel delivery. If you do nothing but this at least you will be aware of a problem and be able to deal with it "hopefully before" failure of the VP44 Injection pump.
2) The next thing to do is to replace the original factory fuel lift pump with a better quality pump. The "new & improved" pump from Cummins in the original location on the side of the engine block or re-located closer to the fuel tank is a popular choice. Another option is the latest Dodge option of the pump installed into the fuel tank. I feel both of these options have not proven to be as great of an improvement as we all had hoped. The relocated pumps seem to be still failing sooner than expected and the intank pump is not a very attractive option if the pump fails in the middle of nowhere.
People have also talked of upgrading there low pressure fuel lines to larger diameter and better fuel connectors. This appears to me to be a minor improvement in the reliability of the fuel system at best.
3) The next most popular upgraded pump option seems to be to install either an "Air Dog" or "FASS" aftermarket pump system.
In this category you have the choice of just the new pump by itself or a complete system including the pump and a new filter system.
In looking at these two choices it seems to me that the most cost effective way of going is to install one of these aftermarket pumps and continue to use the factory filter complete with the factory fuel heater. Right now this is the choice that I feel makes the most sense. You get a much better fuel pump, mounted close to the fuel tank and the pump is still mounted at a location that makes it easy to deal with if it causes problems.
The Air Dog/ FASS pump system complete with filters claims to eliminate fuel aeration which purports to give up to a 8 % improvement in fuel economy as well as improved power. These claims appear to me to be quite exaggerated to me. Is there anyone out there that can provide real world proof of these claims. Also, are the claims of reduced aeration of the fuel because of the pump itself or the complete pump/filter assembly.
Remember these comments are meant to promote discussion of the best and most cost effective way of improving the reliability of the low pressure fuel delivery system in a stock or slightly more than stock ( 40- 60 HP ) engine.
Let hear from all of you!
Ron
The 98. 5 to 2002's are well known to have a weak fuel lift pump and there are a number of solutions out there. Here is the way I see it.
1) The first thing that a person should do is install a fuel pressure guage to monitor the low pressure fuel delivery. If you do nothing but this at least you will be aware of a problem and be able to deal with it "hopefully before" failure of the VP44 Injection pump.
2) The next thing to do is to replace the original factory fuel lift pump with a better quality pump. The "new & improved" pump from Cummins in the original location on the side of the engine block or re-located closer to the fuel tank is a popular choice. Another option is the latest Dodge option of the pump installed into the fuel tank. I feel both of these options have not proven to be as great of an improvement as we all had hoped. The relocated pumps seem to be still failing sooner than expected and the intank pump is not a very attractive option if the pump fails in the middle of nowhere.
People have also talked of upgrading there low pressure fuel lines to larger diameter and better fuel connectors. This appears to me to be a minor improvement in the reliability of the fuel system at best.
3) The next most popular upgraded pump option seems to be to install either an "Air Dog" or "FASS" aftermarket pump system.
In this category you have the choice of just the new pump by itself or a complete system including the pump and a new filter system.
In looking at these two choices it seems to me that the most cost effective way of going is to install one of these aftermarket pumps and continue to use the factory filter complete with the factory fuel heater. Right now this is the choice that I feel makes the most sense. You get a much better fuel pump, mounted close to the fuel tank and the pump is still mounted at a location that makes it easy to deal with if it causes problems.
The Air Dog/ FASS pump system complete with filters claims to eliminate fuel aeration which purports to give up to a 8 % improvement in fuel economy as well as improved power. These claims appear to me to be quite exaggerated to me. Is there anyone out there that can provide real world proof of these claims. Also, are the claims of reduced aeration of the fuel because of the pump itself or the complete pump/filter assembly.
Remember these comments are meant to promote discussion of the best and most cost effective way of improving the reliability of the low pressure fuel delivery system in a stock or slightly more than stock ( 40- 60 HP ) engine.
Let hear from all of you!
Ron
