Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A new look at VP death from blue chips

[Batphreak]

I've read all this from Blue Chip before. I had myself convinced that when (it is working on it) my VP44 dies I was going to go with a Blue Chip pump and upgrade to the GDP lift pump and such. I thought this was the correct route because of the steel sleeves and such that BC puts in all their pumps. I've read recently from the Industrial Injection guys that they do the same thing, now. If that's true I'd probably rather go for a Hot Rod pump form II just because it costs about the same as a BC pump and I get the bump in power without doing anything else (I don't BOMB the truck because I rarely run a load on it, just like having a truck and besting gasser mileage). So, I guess I'm stuck for what I'll probably need to do in the spring, Blue Chip of II? I want to go II, but I really want some kind of "guarantee" for the durability point, from teh BC article they've thought a lot about the durability side. *shrug*

 

[rweis]

I think that when a Bosch rebuilder rebuilds a pump it is to the same specs at both places. Now if you ask that rebuilder to go beyond the rebuild specs then that is something else. The individual company policies to change every xxx regardless of condition or reuseability would have an impact.



I personally feel you would get a really good pump from either rebuilder. I have seen Brett from II post to the board from time to time as we have tried to figuer out the VP44. I have read what BD has on their website. Ultimately it is your call.



Bob Weis

 

[Big A]

Ok,

Explain this to me. I had 0216 appear about 8000 miles back. My truck has had no driveability issues, and the code has been gone about 2000 miles now. Part of me tells me to replace the pump. The smarter me tells me to wait for symptoms. These things are expensive, and I don't believe 0216 codes are a sure failure.

Big A

 

[Jetpilot]

Ok,

Explain this to me. I had 0216 appear about 8000 miles back. My truck has had no driveability issues, and the code has been gone about 2000 miles now. Part of me tells me to replace the pump. The smarter me tells me to wait for symptoms. These things are expensive, and I don't believe 0216 codes are a sure failure.

Big A

Several different things can cause the 0216. Low fuel pressure is one reason..... I would keep driving it until sypmtons show up.



Doug

 

[isb360]

Is Industrial Injection using the "upgraded" FedEx computers?



Another point: I had a Cummins tech at Cummins Metropower here in CT tell me that an oft-undetected cause of quite a few VP failures (at least in FedEx application) had to do with the cantilevered VP support bracket breaking due to engine vibration, thus transferring the weight of the pump assembly onto the pump shaft, forcing a radial loading on the shaft that it was never intended to take. This eccentric radial loading lead to internal component failures. He said it took a while to put 2 and 2 together because of the other causes of VP44 failure no one paid attention to the fact there were a great many of broken support brackets.



Anyone else heard this?



Tim

 

[rweis]

The 0216 I think can also be caused by the advance system (plunger not functioning correctly, advanced position indicator not reading the correct angle of advance), and like JetPilot says a host of other things. Remember internal low pressure side fuel pressure is the actuating fluid to move the advance piston.



The point about bracketry not holding properly is a good point that un-naturally stress loads the internal shaft which only has at some places less than 1/2 of a . 001 tolerance.



I think it is like mapping a line on a chart, 1 point does not define a line, 2 points are minimum to define, repeated points define the line better and better.



Mine was only at very high rpms and hot OAT, but repeatable time and time again.



Your decision is how many points need to be on your mental line of VP failure before you are satisfied that replacement is the correct answer (and the cost outlay).



I would wait and define the line better if it defines at all.



my . 02



Bob Weis

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Is Industrial Injection using the "upgraded" FedEx computers?



Another point: I had a Cummins tech at Cummins Metropower here in CT tell me that an oft-undetected cause of quite a few VP failures (at least in FedEx application) had to do with the cantilevered VP support bracket breaking due to engine vibration, thus transferring the weight of the pump assembly onto the pump shaft, forcing a radial loading on the shaft that it was never intended to take. This eccentric radial loading lead to internal component failures. He said it took a while to put 2 and 2 together because of the other causes of VP44 failure no one paid attention to the fact there were a great many of broken support brackets.



Anyone else heard this?



Tim

II HAD been using the so-called "Fedex" boards as soon as they became available from Bosch - and as of about 6 months ago, switched to an even better board now being supplied by Bosch.



As pointed out above, ALL authorized Bosch shops SHOULD be using the SAME parts and procedures as set forth by Bosch - after all, that's what the "Authorized" part is all about!



Of course, that only applies to what would be considered a "normal" rebuild to OEM spec - a number of Bosch rebuilders are now offering performance pumps that are based upon what are probably non-authorized by Bosch, but warranty supported by the individual rebuilders - in other words, presumably a STOCK rebuild would be covered for early failure by ANY authorized shop - but a "Hotrod" pump might only be covered by the shop that did the rebuild on that specific pump.



Perhaps BC or II reps would offer comment?



As to the pump brace/support issue, yes, that was a fairly common problem, where a weak support design was breaking and allowing the pumps to further loosen at the front mount area and create failures - later bracket design apparently eliminated that problem.