Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Another LP bites it . . . . Long

[Joe Mc]

LP on way out. It was replaced under warranty about 16 months and 15k miles or so ago - is that all we should expect from these things? It was the latest rendition too, p/n ending with "AA". Pressure is always 14 - 15#, drops a little when on the go pedal. I've never seen it below 11 @ WOT since installed new LP & gages.



Monday night:

I hope I didn't do anything to prematurely screw it up? Here's why I mention this, running real low on fuel today, below "E". I get home not wanting to run dry on the way to fuel up, 12 miles away, I siphon a gallon of #2 from the heating oil tank. Tank is inside above ground less than 4 years old, with fresh fuel delivered less than 2 months ago. I made sure hose was 3 - 4 inches below fuel level and no where near bottom used clear hose - no dirt water etc. Check pressure upon start up and as usual periodically as I’m driving, it's normal. While fueling I leave it run and check all the under hood and all over stuff. I’m not more than 1 mile from home and notice an unusual flutter on the "A" pillar, FP @ 5# !$&*?]!. Here's the best part - get in the driveway let it cool to 300 EGT then shut down. Turn key to "on" . . . nothing, no sound no psi on gage. Bump key to jog starter . . still nothing. Start up and goes to about 14# fluctuates a 1/2 # or so for 15 - 20 seconds then drops to 5#. Same scenario 3 times? LP Bit the Big One, right?



So any comments on the dyed #2? This couldn't have screwed anything up . . right? It’s the same stuff, just dyed right? Or is this just a coincidence? We use #2 home heating (dyed) in the 900HP Cummins for the emergency generator @ work.



Tuesday:

This morning all's fine until truck starts to warm up then drops to 5-6#. As I drive along I notice back to 12-14#, then after a while 5-6#. This business repeats itself 3 or 4 times on the way to work, which is a less than a 5 mile ride . I recall hearing something about a recirc valve in the VP-44 that sometimes fails and causes low LP or am I mistaken? (108k miles purchased w/75 not sure if orig VP or not) I doubt that it's the gage but, I’ll check w/mechanical one tonight to be sure.



Tuesday afternoon:

Cummins Power Systems - Bristol, PA Part numbers below are for model ISB215;



LP #3990105 $167. 39

180 Stat #3954194 19. 07



Total $197. 65



On the way to Cummins & home psi kept playing hide and seek 5-6# then 14-15# sporadically and for no reason at all? When the psi was @ 5-6# it would increase to about 7# when coming to a stop – full load of fuel + stopping force = extra psi?



sorry so long - looking for any info if the LP is on it's way or should I look @ VP44?

Thanks

 

[Peter Dunn]

Joe the dyed has nothing to do with it. If anything it will help it, the dyed has a higher sulfer content and if better for it. Maybe you got some nasty stuff in it. Change the filter and see what happens. Good luck.

 

[ecpeters]

Joe I am a power tech for Verizon we use dyed fuel for all of our diesel & turbine engines I found we were having a problem with fuel pressure and traced it back to the racor 10 micron filters which were tiring to remove the dye from the fuel. WE up sized our filters to 30 microns now no problem. I talked to a vendor we use and he told me the farmers down in the south were having the same problem with their diesels. Just my thoughts on your problem.

 

[Big White Beast]

I saw this once.........

I checked someones pump when they were here from out of town. His ran at 0 PSI but once moving it would jump right up. Come to a light and poof 0 PSI gain. Seems it needed a suck start from the VP.



On my truck I had a prefilter for the pusher pump. I went with an inline filter. After six tanks it clogged. Tried another with the same results. Both times it was right after a fill up. 20 PSI going in and 5 or 6 going out. I would assume the fill up stirred up stuff in the tank.



Go the cheap route and check the filter first.



Garrett

 

[Joe Mc]

Thanks for the suggestions.



Since this is my daily driver I'll wait till the weekend before attempting the filter change. The psi doesn't go below 3 as long as I sty out of it, so I'll be OK as long as supplying something to VP. If I change the filter and the LP is bad, I'll need to figure out some way to pressurize my tank or other method to prime new filter so I can get back on line - right? The filter is a Fleetguard and less than 3k old, I frequently open the bowl drain to purge off the nasties, however, that dosen't mean I didn't pick up something when fueling up the other night. I guess I could open the drain, catch some in the pan and inspect fuel for particulate prior to the weekend.



Not sure if it's ever been stated this way or not but I'm sure we have all experienced this at least once, "Look at the most recent change, condition or, 'thing you did' - before you started to experience problems", in this case fueling up.



If it turns out to be just a filter, at least I have a spare LP on hand. Gotta look for the silver lining, sometime it's just harder to find eh? :-laf



Hey Whitebeast - I don't like that 0 psi @ stop and need for a suck start from the VP at all, how bout you? Wonder if this pesron's truck ate the VP yet? How long ago was this, do you stay in touch with person?

 

[Big White Beast]

So far his is fine.........

He was down in San Diego and had to go all the way to near Sacramento. Mostly freeway so it might have run fine. He got the LP changed at the dealer and so far his VP seems to be holding up.



As far as the pressuring the tank. I had a hard time starting it once when I put the new style (Read Big) pre filter for my pusher. I took a rag and the compressor and pressured the tank. Fired right up after that.



Garrett

 

[Joe Mc]

Weekend of Fun - EEEHAAAA!

Thanks for everyones $. 02.



I'm gonna have fun this weekend changing; engine oil & filter, fuel filter, coolant & stat (190 to 180), trans fluid and yes the LP. Hope I have enough steam to find grease gun and get state inspection too. I haven't had a chance to wash it for a while yet either . . . sounds like a blast eh?



Fun, fun, fun is it Friday yet? Oo. :-laf