Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Are Blue Chip VP44 pumps worth the xtra $$$

[DShore]

My VP44 injector pump is giving off a 216 code, so it is on the way out, and I am "shopping" looking at Blue Chip Pumps. Is anybody using the regular upgrade or special X? Are they worth the $$$?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Last I heard, Industrial Injection was getting about $1100 for one, plus a core - what does BC charge?



As to one Bosch Certified shop being any "better" than another, I seriously doubt it...

 

[John - K5AWO]

I paid $1200 I think for mine from Diesel performance parts and accessories. Diesel injectors, pumps, filters, kits, additive, gauges and apparel.

That included a new lift pump and free shipping both ways, both for the new and the core back to them. That made the effective price below $1,000 for the vp44 to my way of thinking.

good people to deal with too. Good customer service and they are fast (same day) making good if something is amiss like it was for me. I had also ordered up a set of RV275s, the shipping clerk sent a "set of 1". I called them and they sent out the remaining 5 airfreight overnight as my truck was already down waiting for the parts.

I will go back to them for sure...

 

[John - K5AWO]

??? That link I just posted was for Midwest Fuel Injection dot com and it wrote it out as www*mwfi*com with dots of course.

The forum converted it to that big long descriptor. First time I have noticed that... ... ... ...

 

[SBall]

Score one for Blue Chip

I've installed the Blue Chip pump in my truck and I must say it seems to run smoother than it ever did before with the OEM pump and the first Dodge rebuilt pump. Regarding the claims of better fuel economy, I'm seeing 22-23 mpg in my local driving lately, (last three tanks, hand calculated). With my old pumps, I saw 23 mpg only once and that was prior to ULSD fuel, so the claims of better fuel economy might be true, but perhaps not significant.



Blue Chip provided me with a loaner gear puller, and was very supportive with instructions which was important to this shade tree mechanic. This is now the third injector pump in only 85k miles and I certainly hope it's my last.

 

[DShore]

Standard Blue Chip rebuild w/new computer installed is $1600. Much increased longevity is claimed.



Special X upgrade is $1900, 22 more hp, with 2-3 mpg increase. Both have a core charge of $800.



I have seen prices as low as $1050 from other rebuilders. With that price I could put in a set of mach 1. 6 injectors, but if Blue Chip pump lives longer I would go for their pump. I am looking for some input from long term users.

 

[CumminsAholic]

I dunno about blue chip, but I just put on a HRVP44 from II and wow what a difference. Before I could see just over 30 lbs of boost with my setup without the chip, now I'm just over 40, quite a gain. They're supposed to live a long time too. I dunno how much better it'll be with the chip on, I still have to give it some more break in time before I tap the line and flip the switch. We'll see when I put it on the dyno what the numbers are.

Corey

 

[PAckley]

I have been running with the hotrod VP44 for almost a year now, and tapped it (see signature) and it has remarkably improved performance. The pump however when engine is full operating temperature sometimes has a hunting, lumpy 800 rpm idle which is not smooth like stock. They claim 30% increase in output! As a result, I do not use the edge setup as much as previously. I would prefer a less radical VP44 and use different selections from edge/juice. Now these selections produce much more smoke than before, even at low smoke settings which results in traffic behind me falling back to avoid thick smoke. It does not smoke when edge/juice in stock modes.



I tow a 9-10,000 lb race trailer with this setup and awesome towing capability with 14 mpg which I consider acceptable.



I have not changed injectors, but the Glacier fuel pump upgrade really works and keeps psi above 15 under ALL conditions. Previously had Vulcan system which would fall below 9 psi. I feel Glacier system will avoid VP44 failure

 

[rweis]

The only way you know claims are true is to go past the "longevity" of other rebuilders. I tend to think that the VP44 is going to be an R&R about every 200k in normal circumstances.



On the 2001 with 2 DC VP44's the VP44's DC had MIGHT have had the brass advance piston that Bosch THOUGHT would be better, but turned out to not be better.



I have a very long thread about VP44 heat / cooling and that might lend some ideas. This summer with 105* OAT my fuel input temp was 125* and VP44 output temp was 145*. Remember 160* input is a Bosch limit. AND I run 4 fuel coolers, OAT direct blower on the VP44, dump the return fuel into the tank vent line, and replummed the fuel return line to AN-6 (at one point in the OEM fuel return line it is slightly less than 1/8" ID to move COOLING fuel). AND with all that the input fuel was OAT + 20* (125*) and I think temps in the desert SW (Phoenix etc) are even higher than that in OAT. BOTTOM LINE I think the OEM cooling system for the VP44 really sucks and that contributes to VP44 failures because of component growth due to heat making the already tight tolerances even smaller, and the hotter the temps of the VP44 the less able the lubricity (which is less with ULSD I think) of the fuel is able to do it's job.



Every SUMMER VP44 failurre threads start emerging. What's different about SUMMER?, heat?



I only have 30k on the cooler VP44, so I will not know for another 220k if I am right on the cooling.



Bob Weis

 

[NoSeeUm]

I paid $1050 for my re-man. I can't remember if core return shipping was included.



Jim