Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) advice on fuel pressure gauge?

[THenningsen]

I need a fuel pressure gauge but don't know anything about them. Do I want mechanical or electric? What's the difference? I know I don't want fuel run inside the cab, so what are my options? Is it best to connect to the fuel filter or to the vp44? Thanks.

 

[DMcPherson]

you can get a tapped banjo bolt to replace the banjo on the inlet side of the vp (with the schrader valve) that will accept most gauge fittings, or fuel pressure senders. the gauge is up to you. I will me running a mechanical with an isolator but because Im cheap. lol. electric would be easier and cleaner. hmmm, maybe Ill put them all outside on the hood in cups... .

 

[THenningsen]

what does the isolater do? Who makes a good electrical guage?

 

[DLausche]

what does the isolater do?

The isolator is what will keep the fuel out of your cab and is only used with a mechanical gauge setup. The line between the isolator and the gauge would be filled with an anti freeze mixture. The other side of the isolator is plumbed to the VP via tapped banjo like DMcPherson indicated. There are many brands of isolator. I ended up with a Bellofram isolator and it has performed with zero problems for 2 years now.



Personally, I think the mechanical gauge is more reliable so that is the direction I went. Appears to be many cases where the sender in the electric gauges go bad after a while and need to be replaced. The electric gauges are a lot easier to install though.



Not sure what brand of gauge you might be thinking of. DieselManor.com has all of their DiPricol stuff on sale for really decent prices now. I talked to him yesterday - a really nice guy to deal with. He carries the Bellofram isolators and tapped banjo bolts too.



-Deon

 

[GOT-Torque]

I used a digital gauge from www.dakotadigital.com. Heres the link to my pressure gauge http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....tegory_id=262/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd350.htm



I used the Odyssey Series II Fuel Pressure guage and the 0-30psi Sensor. It works great and you can set a low warning level that will cause it to flash the current value when it drops below the setting you chose.



I think it was about $100 plus shipping if I remember correctly.



Also, I already installed the big fuel line kit which replaced all the stock banjo bolts so I mounted the sender on the fuel line between the fuel filter and the injection pump. This way I can tell if my fuel filter is restricting the pressure any. I used a fitting sold from www.vulcanperformance.com Oo.

 

[OL RATLR]

) > advice on fuel pressure gauge?

I have been running a Isspro EV series mechanical about 3 yrs no leaks are problems. Oo.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

I just installed my Fuel pressure from Dakota last weekend. I like it a lot. I have the EGT but have not drilled the manifold yet. My mechanic thinks I should move the reading from the vp44 to a pre/post filter deal to know the output of the lift pump and the restriction of the filter. .



Does anyone know of a tee I can put inline to do this, or are there fittings I can replace at the filter?



Thanx.

 

[ARoss]

I'm using Westach gauges. Had my fuel pressure for about a year and no problems yet! Westach deals in aircraft gauges, which, I would guess, need to be accurate ... not to mention the fuel is similar. "Geno's Garage" for $69 (fuel pressure and sender).

 

[GOT-Torque]

vulcan performance has inline fittings that work with the Dakota sender. Also, what I plan on doing eventually is installing a second tee and sender just prior to my fuel filter (current sender is just after it), then running the signal lines thru a select switch so I can toggle back and forth reading the fuel pressure. You only need one digital display this way.