Am I Paranoid or Will My Lift Pump Die?

[MN Cummins Lvr]

With all the discussion about lift pump failures I have been reading recently, I am wondering if my lift pump will die in the near future or am I worrying for nothing? My truck is a 99 with 89K on the clock and the engine is bone stock. Are most of the lift pump failures happening with the 2001's? I just don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and have it die. Guess I should have installed a fuel pressure gauge



Thanks,

Paul

 

[jkern]

u maybe lucky...

... or in trouble! my '99 didn't completely die, but it was only running about 3-5psi at normal operating ranges, about 8psi at idle. i would check it quick, and if it is low, i would have to be concerned then how long has it been low, and was there any damage to the VP44. I guess the new thinking is that any positive pressure is ok, but 10 psi or so is definetly preferred.



jeremy

 

[HC]

Those without a gauge should get Briar Hoppers set-up (if you have the easy connections that are found on 2000 up trucks) and check it. You may be paranoid, but at 82k, I'm more paranoid than you, because my 100k warranty is ending soon, and I don't want to pay for an injection pump!

 

[LSMITH]

Paul my 99 is still running the original lift pump at over 90K miles with verified good pressures. There are some other guys that have been through several with less mileage on their trucks. The only way to know is to check it regularly if you do not have a full time gauge. You can buy one of the rigs Briar Hopper is selling, or put one together from locally bought parts, and probably should get one of them just to be on the safe side. If your dealer is decent they should check it for you for free, it takes 10 minutes tops even with a road test. We can also help you install a full time gauge at one of the parties if you can get over in this area, or maybe in Iowa. If I can help let me know, Howard.

 

[Fireman Dave]

GET A GAUGE, PAUL!!!!

 

[RJOL]

... Guess I should have installed a fuel pressure gauge ...

Paul

Paul... The only way your going to know is to get a gauge. You can get a test gauge, or install a full time one ($65 Westach from Geno's). The majority of the 24Vs Cummins diesels probably have gotten by without a failure of the lift pump, but a lot of us have had to replace them. In a lot of cases, there is no warning (except decreasing fuel pressure readings on a gauge). When they fail it can lead to injector failure... For $65, plus a few parts, it just doesn't seem worth it to not have a gauge and not have to worry about it. If you don't have the tools, or don't think you can do it yourself, just ask, on TDR, and I'll bet someone in the local area can give you a hand installing it...

 

[RKohn]

Just buy the gauges cause they're cool.

you don't need to be paranoid to appreciate the importance of more information. Oh, and if you're also concerned about that asteroid approaching the earth...

















it'll be here in about 800 years.

 

[johnrv4]

Have you ever checked the pressure?

Hey Paul, have you ever checked the pressure? You know what would really suck? It could be dead already and you might not know it without a gauge. I checked a friend's 2000 and his was at 0psi going down the road. . He thought that he would have noticed a performance difference, but he couldn't tell. I have checked maybe 10-15 trucks, and it seems to be that the older ones had more problems. I have checked some later '01. 5's and they all had excellent pressures(highest mileage for the '01. 5 was 46K). Let me know, I'll bring my gauge and adapters and we can check yours in IA if you want.

 

[zimman20]

Paul, the thinking here is that a $65. 00 gauge vs. the cost of a new VP44 is cheap insurance. I'm planning on getting one VERRRY soon, my birthday is coming!



What concerns me is what I've read on these boards about people either a)finding out after the gauge is installed that the lift pump is already shot (and has been for who knows how long), and b)seeing that you actually can watch the pump 'fail' if you DO have a gauge and watch the pressures fluctuate wildly or just decrease on a day-to-day basis so you know in advance that the pump is going and don't 'get caught with your pants down' in the middle of nowhere.



Not to mention as much as I love my truck, I want the full performance it has to offer and can't stand the thought that I'm not driving it at its full capacity (read: joy level) because the pump is slowly going south.



Now where did I put Geno's number?





zman

 

[mongoose]

I've got a 99, i've put two pumps on it so far. First one quit completely. Could not hear it on start up, it wasn't cycling. Second one, slowely lost pressure. When i took it in, it was holding about 9 psi at idle, about 3 or 4 at 70mph. I would definetly recommend a gauge of some sorts!

 

[Amianthus]

Hey Pauly, I've got a '99 and mine died. You're next!!!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Paul, based on the results of this poll ( https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37902&pagenumber=3 ) I'd bet money on it that you already have a failing lift pump. Of those that have checked their pressures 55. 4% had a bad lift pump and replaced it and 40. 9% had a bad lift pump and replaced it with LESS than 50,000 miles on their trucks. If you add in those that haven't checked their lift pump pressures (BIG mistake IMO) a full 44. 4% still have replaced their lift pumps! None of those numbers include those that have had multiple failures and I personally know of at least three of us that had replaced at least 3 that answered that poll. The ONLY way to know if you have a failing lift pump is to check the pressures at idle and at WOT under load - you should see no less that 10 psi at idle 8 psi at WOT. BTW, I was on my 5th lift pump on my '98. 5 at ~60,000 miles.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Have you ever checked the pressure?

Originally posted by johnrv4

Hey Paul, have you ever checked the pressure? You know what would really suck? It could be dead already and you might not know it without a gauge. I checked a friend's 2000 and his was at 0psi going down the road. . He thought that he would have noticed a performance difference, but he couldn't tell. I have checked maybe 10-15 trucks, and it seems to be that the older ones had more problems. I have checked some later '01. 5's and they all had excellent pressures(highest mileage for the '01. 5 was 46K). Let me know, I'll bring my gauge and adapters and we can check yours in IA if you want.

Just got FP gauge from Briar, checked my 2000 a few minutes ago. It runs fine and I have "0"PSI at idle and when I am driving it drops below "0". Guess the VP44 is creating a vacuum sucking fuel. I have no idea how long mine has been dead. Getting a new one installed tommorrow. At least I have 3 more years and 60K miles of warranty left on the injection pump.

 

[RJOL]

Re: Re: Have you ever checked the pressure?

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Just got FP gauge from Briar, checked my 2000 a few minutes ago. It runs fine and I have "0"PSI at idle and when I am driving it drops below "0". Guess the VP44 is creating a vacuum sucking fuel. I have no idea how long mine has been dead.

All you 24Vers who don't think you need a fuel pressure gauge take note!!! I sure hope your VP44 hasn't been damaged!!!

 

[hammersley]

OK OK -

We Need A Special LIFT PUMP SITE! Question:



1. How do you request a dealer to check this - exactly what do you ask for because as I've tried to ask they say - why do you suspect their is a problem. If you say I heard about it on the TDR - not sure that will do anything... .



2. I have almost 90,000 on my 01. What do I do? I know there has been a lot written about a corrective action, but changing the pump seems to only putting off another failure due to a bad design, rather application.



3, I checked with one of the TDR folks who has a shop in the Seattle Arer, and he suggested that I add a Carter HP Frame mounted pump and then eliminate the Stock Lift Pump. Apparently he has a connector that plugs into the MAP to simulate the fuel pressure reduction needed for starting etc. He also recommended that I run new lines with no restrictions.



4, If I do that - is that an end of the problem or an I just starting another??????

 

[Shooter]

www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38933

 

[HC]

OK, add me to the list. Got Briar's gauge yesterday, just got in from checking pressures. 9 psi idle, drops to under 3 WOT. Not bad enough for me to note a definate performance difference; just bad enough to risk damage to my VP44.



Don't count on early warning signs; you may not have any. Check the pressures and/or add a permanent gauge!

 

[DarrellB]

Paul, mine is a 99 with over 60k on it and I'm still on my stock lift pump. I have one of Briar's gauges and checked it about a month ago and all's good. never dropped below 8psi at WOT.



Big D