Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Dead Lift Pump Solution????????

[Paul Holbrook]

I talked to a Cummins Tech about the lift pump problems on the 24 valves. He said that they were caused by crap from the diesel clogging the lift pump. Claimed he'd taken several faulty pumps apart to find them clogged with "crap". Claimed also that he'd fixed the problem on several trucks by putting a fuel filter on the fuel line where it enters the lift pump... ... ... Said he'd install one in mine for 80$... ... ... Comments??????Oo.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've disassembled several of my failed pumps and several other members here have done so as well. AFAIK noone on here has found any debris inside of the pump. I went through 4 lift pumps in the first 60,000 miles on my truck and have been running a dual lift pump setup (carter pusher at the tank, stock carter at the engine) for the last 45,000 miles with no degradation at all and no failures. I'm not running a filter. IMO putting a filter before the stock pump would only make things worses because it would cause a greater restriction and make the pump work that much harder.

 

[me4osu]

The pump has a low enough inlet pressure due to its distance from the tank. The pressure drop through a filter installed upstream of the pump, while supplying clean fuel, would lower the inlet pressure to the pump. This would cause it to work harder and IMHO fail sooner.



Do a search on this issue. The best solution currently is to install a pump by the tank to increase the inlet pressure to the lift pump. From what I have read, these pumps fail regularly as well.



I am still waiting. I am religiously using a Stanadyne equivalent fuel additive in every tank, and I watch my FP pressure with a cab mounted gauge. I have 20,000 mi on my latest lift pump, and the next one costs ME (108,000 mi).

 

[Big White Beast]

I am using one........

Only it's pre pusher pump. I used an in line one from Purolator. It is made for gassers but had a decent size so I figured it would last a while..... Wrong!



Lasted about 6 tanks. Took it off and blew it out back-wards with the compressor onto a piece of paper to see if it had contaminants in it. Nothing came out that I would consider dirt. I doubt it was a bad load of fuel as I had an extra filter of the same type and it's been through 3 tanks now. Keeping an eye on the pressure gauge though.



Napa makes a canister type filter like the oil filter that goes to 40 microns I believe. Just have to get a mount that will screw to the rail and put some valves on for changing filters with no mess. As I live in SoCal I'm not worried about the weather. If it is a concern the make filters with heaters.



Looking forward to any suggestions.



EDIT: The pump manufacturer (Carter) will only warranty the pusher if it has filtration before the pump. While dirt may not kill pumps flat out I'm sure it degrades the lifetime of it.



Garrett





#ad

 

[keimmmo]

I personally would not add a filter to the system of any Dodge diesel without adding a pusher pump! I run a big cummins 2 qt filter due to concerns for dirt. Yes, I DO get crud in my fuel! I run it between a pusher pump and the original.



I added the pump and filter at about 10k. Have 25k now. No problems so far, but that isn't really many miles. Time will tell...



Steve

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2001. 5 SLT Laramie QC 4X4

 

[A Johnson]

I'm with Steve and the others. The lift pump has a screen in it to keep the big chunks from getting in the pump and stalling out the vanes. I guess the question is , is your lift pump getting clogged with debris? If it is figure out how to keep the debris out of the tank. I myself have torn several lift pumps apart and the only ones that had debris were out of transit buses, these had butt connectors wire ends and welding slag from poor workmanship at the OEM and these were all identical buses with identical debris. I also am concerned about inreased restriction without having a pusher pump in place.



Did he fix the problem by installing a filter or by installing the latest and greatest lift pump, and do these have more miles on the new lift pump than they did with the old before adding the inline filter?

A Johnson

 

[Dane]

Most boat supply stores have fuel filters made for diesel fuel...