Briarhoppers Lift Pump Test Gauge

[TNT]

Briar

Received the 2 fittings Saturday. Thanks Todd

 

[Briar Hopper]

Glad to see they got there fast, Todd.

 

[cbconway]

Got your kit

Tom,



Got the kit Saturday. Looks beefy; I'm really pleased.



Q: Should I use teflon thread or antiseize compound or nothing when installing?

 

[Briar Hopper]

Chuck, I never have used any teflon tape on brass-to-brass fittings, and never have had a leak from one in my lifetime. That's in both industrial maintenance applications (my real job) and on my truck and my friends' trucks. Brass-to-steel, now, that's a different story. I'd use some there, just in case. (never had any leaks there, either, but going by advice from old-timers at work) Pipe dope compound, just a little goes a long way on these small fittings. With teflon tape, be careful not to get any strands hanging down inside. Do not use anti-seize compound.

Uh, guys, for the rest of you reading this, the test gauge & hose I'm selling, does not need any sealant on it.

Chuck is talking about where the schraeder valve I supplied him with for his 98. 5, screws into the fuel filter housing. Not between that valve and the gauge hose.

 

[rashwor]

Got it today!

Briar,



I just checked the mail and I received my gauge today! Sweet looking set up. Now to give it a test and see where I am in the lift pump game!



Thanks for your time and help!

 

[The Sequel]

Briar,



I got your guage in the mail today and it looks great. Now for some lessons for a mechanically challenged individual like myself. Do I hook it up to the schrader valve on the back of the fuel filter housing on my 2001? I've read some are doing pre and post filter tests but I don't know which I hooked up to. BTW, as I am a novice to all this, any explanations can include things like "the little black round thing with the nut on top" etc . I believe someone mentioned that the post filter schrader is on the VP44. If that is so, where is that in relation to the valve on the back of the fuel filter housing?



My readings from the valve on the back of the fuel filter housing are as follows:



Idle - 9#

WOT - 2# eventually raising to near 4#

65 mph w/cruise set - 6#



Am I correct in assuming my lift pump is going bad or have I done something incorrect? BTW, thanks to all you folks here who don't mind helping out those of us who wish we knew what we were doing .

 

[SnoKing]

The Sequel



Sounds a little low, I found the valve on the injector pump on the side of it below the plastic cover. How miles do you have on your truck and when was it built? SNOKING

 

[Briar Hopper]

Tim, those pressures are low. Not good. Better start seeing about getting another pump. Wish I was out there to help ya. You have lots of options, but a lot of it depends on how good your dealer is, and whether they'll listen to you, really listen. I had two dealers here that wouldn't, even after I showed them my pressure readings on the AutoMeter gauge mounted in my cab.

 

[The Sequel]

I've got 36,000 miles and bought it 7/00. Not sure when it was built.

 

[mopars1]

Briar, I would like to step in here and tell all of you with the 24 Valve that according to DC the lowest you want to see at the injection pump is 8PSI at WOT under any conditions. They have upped the low pressure limit because of injection pump failures. Under load the pump is not getting enough fuel through it to lubricate it and if the pump clearances are a little tight you will have a failure if run at a lower fuel pressure over a period of time. Just a concern all of you might want to think about.



David

 

[Briar Hopper]

Thanks for the confirmation, David. I had thought that 6 or 7 psi was as low as you'd want to see it go at WOT. Not anymore, evidently.

I'm working with a supplier to bring an affordable, better pump system to market, no Mallorys, no Barry Grants or any of that. I have to try it out on my truck first.

Tim, at 36K miles, you're right on the edge of your factory warranty. Get to the dealer SOON. They might cut you some slack. (some of them will deny the lift pump is covered under the 100K Cummins warranty, not so) If all else fails, Kwikkurt is in your area, tell him Briar sent ya. Even if you have to buy one from Cummins at $150 or so, and put it on yourself, or have Kurt do it, that receipt from Cummins is your warranty on the new pump.

 

[The Sequel]

Thanks Tom. I guess I did hook it up correctly then? I have an appointment Thursday for some unrelated warranty work and when I made the appt. I was under 36,000 but told them I would be over by the time the appt. came around. They said it wouldn't be a problem. I will add this to my list and see what happens. So far they have been good at taking care of things. BTW, any idea where the info on minimum psi is listed at? I'd like to have something from Dodge or Cummins on paper to show the dealer if there is a problem.

 

[mopars1]

The specs came from the Cummins Techs at the STAR Hotline. I don't know of any published numbers that match what they want to see. I would have to assume some owners who have modified their fuel supply to the pump could get by with a little lower psi if they had installed larger feed lines. I am not an engineer and don't want to get into that debate here. I just wanted to let anyone interested know what the new specs for the fuel pressure at the inection pump is.



David

 

[Briar Hopper]

Just a heads-up, I'll be out of town from March 8th through the 17th, so there may be a bit of a delay on getting some orders shipped. I'm hoping the suppliers I get the gauge parts from will have the parts in by Thursday, the 7th, so I can ship out the four orders I'm sitting on. My apologies to anyone inconvenienced by this. Guys, if you want a gauge, you need to email me at -- email address removed -- as my inbox here on the TDR will only hold a few PM's, and after Friday, I have no idea how soon I'll be back online. Thanks !

 

[rashwor]

Briar

Keep us in the loop on the fuel system you are wanting to develop. It would be nice to have a permanent fix to the persisting lift pump problem.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Okay rashwor, I'll do that. It'll be another week or two before I have details on the system.

I'm getting email from a lot of people asking the same questions, so I'll try to answer them here... . Checking your fuel pressure at idle is not good enough. You need to tape the gauge to the windshield and go for a drive, observe your pressure at wide open throttle. Yes, the hood can be closed without pinching the hose. Anything below 7 to 8 psi as mentioned by Mopars1 above, indicates your pump is dying.

 

[CAT 385]

Briar, just wondering if you recieved my check OK.

 

[CAT 385]

Test gauge is great

Just received my test gauge, it is a must have for anyone with a 24 valve. It is really simple to use.



I had 6 psi @ WOT and 14 PSI @ idle





My thanks and appreciation go out to Briar.

 

[RBerry]

Briar,

I received my gauge. Pre filter test show,idle 11. 5#, WOT 7#, cruise @ 65, 9. 5#. Not sure what to think of the idle pressure.

Thanks Tom, it's Great.

 

[claymike]

Took my truck into the dealer today hopefully to get my second lift pump. I was told by the tech that the lift pumps are no longer on restriction and they do not have to call Star to get the ok to replace it.



Mike