Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Blue Chip Special X

[DMcCloy]

Does anyone have any experience with BC's Special X pump? Any mileage improvements?



My vp44 is dead and need to decide which pump to get. Lots of good info here on TDR about II and BC pumps but wondering if the Special X is worth the extra $$. I have the power I need (ez-afe), just looking for mileage.



I plan to get a new pump and a Walbro LP (or stock LP and Vulcan Kit). Any input would be appreciated.



Thanks from the new guy.

 

[Bobalos]

is that his $1900 pump? If so thats the one that I have. Ive put 3 tanks through the truck (2 commuting & one 300 Mile freeway drive) & have not noticed ANY increase in mileage. I am going to call chip next week when I get back from our camping trip & have another data point to discuss with him. I was VERY happy with his service & with his knowledge & it SURE makes good power, but I am a bit disapointed with no mileage increase. I will NOT say that there is anything wrong with the pump until I check out the rest of the truck though, just to be sure.



Bob

 

[Jong]

Any updates on this injection pump? I think I may be replacing mine in the near future and was wondering if it was worth it. The HRVP from I. I. looks like a better overall deal, though.

 

[GOT-Torque]

Check the classifieds or send me a PM, I have all of those items for sale. Ad should get approved by tomorrow afternoon.

 

[J.Keith]

I have one.

But what is this "fuel mileage" of which you speak????

I'm making to much soot to get that!







Seriously though, I get around 19-21 empty if I behave myself. Thats WAY up from my pre-Blue Chip #'s. But then again I nursed a dieing VP for almost 20k miles so I didn't have a whole lot to compare it to.

 

[Batphreak]

I put one in a few weeks ago to replace my dead VP. So far mileage is up about 1. 5 mpg. Was getting around 16, now I'm just a little better than 17. 5. Waiting to see what happens when we get rid of this winter fuel, I'm going to be a bit disappointed if I don't see 19 this summer. The power bump is really nice though, I like the pump. Bob, let us know what Chip says about your pump, I was planning the same type of call if I don't see the mileage numbers.

 

[DMcCloy]

I installed the Blue Cip "Special X" and it went well. Good instructions, Chip's gear puller worked perfectly, truck runs great. I have not had time to run a tank or two of fuel to check the mileage yet but will post again later.

 

[Bobalos]

I called & talked with him yesterday. I took my BullyDog POJ off of it last night & am going to run a few tanks through it & see if that does not make any change to the mileage. if not, I am going to swap my stock injectors back into it & see if that does not help it. He said that EVERY truck that he has put one of these pumps onto has seen an increase. Mind you trying to sort between 1 & 2 MPG in varrying traffic conditions can be difficult, but most of us put LOTS of fuel through these trucks & know when something changes (or doesn't change).



I will let you know when I get a few more tanks through it.



bob

 

[rivercat]

how are these pumps doing? anyone towing or using one with big injectors?

 

[Batphreak]

Mine is doing great. Haven't seend the 19mpg I was hoping for, but a steady 17. 5-18 during the summer is still pretty decent, especially since I still have stock exhaust and everything on my truck. a couple months ago I haul a trailer weight of about 10k (10k load rated gooseneck flatbed with a '72 GMC 1/2-ton weighing in at about 5k on it, empty trailer was around 5k too). Went on a 600 mile round trip, hauled it like a champ and clocked about 13mpg, that's even going through the hils in central MO. Chip told me there shouldn't be a problem with this pump and my in-tank lift pump, and there hasn't been 1 hiccup to this point. I've put around 30-40k miles on it so far.

1 effect I have noticed from the advanced timing is cold weather starting. Cold in this case defined as 10DegF and below. It starts in those cold temps, but it does get a bit grumpy about it, have to cycle the key a couple times and put a couple long cranks into it. That's if I don't plug in the block heater. Plug in the heater and it kicks off without a hitch in the mornings, even down to -20F or so (coldest I've been in so far, that was in Southern WI).

 

[MCondit]

Mine has been great. no issues installed it July 08 appox. 31,000 miles. Avg fuel mileage increased 1. 5 local 3. 0 hwy.

 

[gtwitch]

I have to agree with both Batphreak and MCondit I have had my BC for about 18 months and have had no trouble at all. Chip sells a great product and his installation instructions and customer service via phone is, "to put it lightly", "fantastic" The cold weather starting is as Mcondit says and this I can live with, but I would like it start like it did with the stock unit. I have not talked with Chip about that. Mileage did go up about 1. 5 to 2 mpg under no load conditions on my 99 DC and performance under load is better than stock VP44 and who cares about mileage when you need performance to get the job done!!



gtwitch in wyoming

 

[SKuyper]

Hey gtwitch. . what part of Wyoming are you in? I lived in the Dayton area ( Sheridan Co. ) from 2004 til this past spring when I moved to Northern MT... something I'm not sure I didnt make a mistake in doing. . ha ha

 

[SSolderitch]

the big selling point for me (with BC sx) was the NEW case with steel bushings and NEW electronics that you don't get with the $1050-$1100 pumps. Special x has more NEW internals... I think it is as close to a new pump with all the updates as you can get. I think you get what you pay for... . this pump should last a very long time.

 

[rivercat]

yes but I have a HO and the site states Only SO trucks can use the special X

 

[WAYNE]

I've had mine almost a couple years , it's been awsome this past summer on a long road trip ( 1,700 ml ) I got my best 25 mpg W/AC and cruise on 72 mph. Cant complain about that

 

[smcstay]

I installed a Super X the first week of September after experiencing my first ( and hopefully last ) VP44 failure. My intent is to post a more complete summary of the whole VP44 / Super X / do it yourself / mileage experience. I log all of my fill ups and watch my mileage faithfully. After I run 10 full tanks of fuel through the new pump, I will post my mileage comparing the 10 fill-ups prior to the Super X and the 10 fill-ups after.
Reading this inspired me to look at the numbers so far:
4 Fill-ups since installing: 10/24 - 16. 94mpg, 10/13 - 17. 12mpg, 10/07 - 17. 31mpg; & 10/01 - 17. 84mpg
4 Fill-ups prior to VP44 failure: 8/4 - 14. 98mpg, 7/26 - 15. 45mpg, 7/20 - 16. 07mpg; & 7/5 - 19. 15mpg.
Average of the 4 tanks since the Super X: 17. 25mpg
Average of the 4 tanks prior to failure: 16. 41mpg

For a difference of . 845mpg.
Not the 2 - 3 mpg I was hoping for, but this sort of thing cannot be fairly evaluated over 4 fill-ups. That is why I was going to wait until I had run 10 tanks of fuel through.
I think that will start to give a more realistic average.

My hope is to see better improvement than . 845mpg.
That hardly justifies the extra expense of the Super X.
I will follow up with more detail later.

So far, I am happy with the performance of the Super X.
By far the biggest reason that I was willing to pay the extra cost, was because I wanted to buy a more durable injector pump. Only time will tell if this was justified.