Briarhoppers Lift Pump Test Gauge

[Pit Bull]

How much are the gauges?

Briar

How much are the Gauges? I will also send you an Email. Is their another thread that talks about the price?

 

[Pit Bull]

You guys that have Briars test gauge. How often do you use it to keep track of the lift pump?

 

[Briar Hopper]

I'd recommend once a week if your pressures are marginal, once every two weeks if your pump is strong or is the latest version, and every day of the days that you work the truck hard(pulling any trailer except the fold-up Home Depot- type ) or if you are racing it.

 

[CAT 385]

I checked mine today. I try to do it every time I change the oil about 3 times in 2 months.



idle- 13 psi



WOT- 4. 5 psi



Looks like mine is going bad again

 

[beartrace]

I tested mine yesterday. I think I'm OK but not sure ???



Idle =13



Cruise = 12



WOT = 7. 5

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by beartrace

I tested mine yesterday. I think I'm OK but not sure ???



Idle =13



Cruise = 12



WOT = 7. 5

I think your OK, I doubt that a dealer would replace yours yet. Is this the original pump? Is your truck stock? I've sent Briar a check for mine the other day, looking forward to seeing how mine measures up.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Beartrace, those pressures are cutting it close, but still okay. How many miles since you last changed the fuel filter? If more than 10K, and it was back before winter kicked in, you MIGHT need a new filter. Best way to find out? Hook it up at the pre-filter fitting, which is behind the filter housing. You'll have to feel for it, it's not visible.

 

[beartrace]

This is the original lift pump on my truck. I have 44,000 miles on the truck and 5000 since the last fuel filter change.



The numbers I quoted were taken from the pre-filter connection. Should I be taking the reading at the injection pump??



I just installed an Edge EZ and boost elbow but have not retested the lift pump yet. The EZ definitely woke up the truck but I have decided to add DTT TC/VB and DDII's this summer. I think that will work best for my towing situation.



I'm also thinking about adding a permanent FP guage.

 

[chuck3]

I would take the readings at the injection pump, beartrace.

 

[Pit Bull]

Briar

Thanks for the quick response on getting me the gauge. How is this for PSI "0" at idle and when I step on the go peddle it drops below "0". Now here is my question? Why does it start and run with no PSI's? I guess the answer would be that my injection pump is doing all of the work. Thats why when I step on the peddle it goes below "0" because the injection pump is creating a vacuum trying to draw fuel from the tank. Glad I have another 3 years and 60K mile warranty on the injection pump . Well folks I think this proves why you need to check the psi's, my truck ran fine with a lift pump that is as dead as a door nail. I have an appointment in the morning at the dealer to have a new one put on (under warranty). Thanks again Tom your gauge is great.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Oh man, PitBull, that's scary... glad my gauge worked out for you... this is a first, I've never heard of or seen my gauges show vacuum on any truck, though I vaguely remember one member, long ago, who tested his pressure with a dealership gauge, and it showed a vacuum .

Have you got access to another truck to verify the gauge? Try it on a new one at the dealership... .

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Briar Hopper

Oh man, PitBull, that's scary... glad my gauge worked out for you... this is a first, I've never heard of or seen my gauges show vacuum on any truck, though I vaguely remember one member, long ago, who tested his pressure with a dealership gauge, and it showed a vacuum .

Have you got access to another truck to verify the gauge? Try it on a new one at the dealership... .

I have an appointment at 10 AM tommorrow at the dealer, I'm sure they will check the psi before they install a new lift pump. I am taking my gauge with me and will have it checked (hopefully on a new lift pump). Here is what happens. connected it at the VP44, when I turn the key to "on" the lift pump runs and the needle on the gauge moves toward "0" but never goes above "0". When I start the engine, it stays at "0". When I give it fuel, the needle falls below "0" like it is being sucked down. I think it is dead. Wonder what this did to my VP44? At least if the VP44 is going to die, I have 60Kmiles of warranty left. I hope if it dies it does it on Dodges nickle. Also in the last 60 days my mileage has gone down about 1 mpg and it does not seem as peepy? Wonder if that is the lift pump?

 

[SnoKing]

I "thought" my truck was not running quite the same last weekend, so out come the test gauge, screwed it on the injector pump and zero pressure. Pulled the relay and put a little grease on the terminals. Reach down and tighten the connection to the gauge. Drive the truck a little bit and pressure is going down. Second day, put the gauge on and drive to first store pressures fine. Come out to go to second store, and no pressure. At the third store, take pliers and turn the gauge connection another 1/4 turn and pressure jumps and stays up. Drive around, down to the boat and check the boat. Back in and home 15 lbs at idle, 11-13 cruising, and 7. 5 at WOT. SO TIGHTEN the SCHRADER connection tigher than finger tight when testing. Seems finger tight on mine is not enough to push in the Schrader valve.



SNOKING

 

[Briar Hopper]

There are a total of 5 people out of over 150 gauges sold, that reported this kind of a problem, where the gauge hose won't fully depress the needle valve in the schraeder fitting. The majority do not seem to have a problem. For those who do have a problem, you may email me directly and I'll take care of it.

For all future gauges, I'll be machining down the brass collar around the plunger on the hose end.

There is another possible solution, however... . purchase a new schraeder fitting from Cummins or Dodge...

Or take your readings from the schraeder fitting behind the fuel filter.

 

[Pit Bull]

I have one of Briars gauges and it is the perfect solution to this problem. I did not want to go through the expense of installing a permanent gauge. They are a hassle and don't alway work correctly. Brairs is a quality tool and is "very" easy to use. I had a dead pump and the dealer replaced with no questions asked. I now feel confident that I can trouble shoot my pump and it cost a fraction of what a permanent installation would of set me back. This type of help that Briar provided is why I joined the TDR. For any of you that don't have a gauge, I would recommend you contact Briar and get one of his. For the price I don't see how he is making a dime off of this product. I checked on trying to fabricate my own and could not buy the pieces for what he charged for the entire unit. Briar I hope to meet you someday to thank you in person.