Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) FASS Pumps

[MRiley]

I've been thinking about adding one of the FASS pumps to my truck. The fuel pressure is ok under unloaded driving but when pulling my 5er I notice that the pressure will get down to 5 or 6 psi on long hard pulls. (I live and 7000 feet so whenever I come home I always have some steep hills to climb. ) My question is how hard was the install, where did you get your pump from, and $? I figure it will be much less to put in a new pump than replace the VP. I have a pretty stock truck but am thinking of adding a box to help on the hills and with the elevation in the future and thought I should work on the fuel issue first.

 

[DFerverda]

I just bought this wed afternoon.

http://www.vulcanperformance.com/servlet/the-125/Vulcan-<i>Draw-Straw<-fdsh-i>™/Detail

I also ordered the lift pump relocation kit.

Eric was very helpful , after i ordered, i realised i needed a couple more fittings i gave him a call and ordered the needed parts.

Today they all showed up, very impressed with the parts/quality and the quick shipping.

The instructions are idiot proof and i will do this mod tomorow.

Dirk

 

[jabird]

Dont go with a FASS

 

[MRiley]

Dont go with a FASS

WHY??? Whats up with FASS. I thought it would be a good way to compensate for the pressure issues.

 

[RConner]

Will you let me know why not to, I have been thinking about it.

 

[groser]

I've had a FASS now for a few weeks. Works ok but I think it may have been overkill. I tow a large 5ver with stock engine around the Co. mountains and my fuel pressure would go to <5 psi , sometimes zero when climbing steep grades at full throttle. They cost between $750-900 installed. I probably could have pressured Dodge to replace the lift pump under warranty but they would have put it in the tank. Several threads in here about moving lift pumps, increasing line size, etc. I did read a thread at another diesel forum that if your V44 is already weaknd from low lift pressure that the higher pressure from the FASS may cause the VP44 to malfunction. Didn't understand it and the post was from a company that repairs VP44s so who knows!

 

[AFarmer]

You can get one at a better price than that. I will say that they are a lot better now than they used to be. I hear a lot of people w/ newer ones really enjoying their reliability and performance. PM me for details.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

MRiley & RConner,



After 120,000 trouble-free-zero-issues with an AirDog I highly recommend one. I have been around FASS pumps both with and without the FASS filter system. Especially because I have been around FASS and my personal experience with AirDog I encourage you to check out AirDog before you purchase anything. PM me for the name/number of a dealer.



Trent

 

[PRout]

BlackSheep:

Please give details. In what ways is the Airdog superior to the FASS?

 

[johncameron]

I like my FASS II. No issues at 25K and geat FP to boot!

 

[steved]

40k on my FASS without issues.



steved

 

[Jefff929]

BlackSheep:



Please give details. In what ways is the Airdog superior to the FASS?

Dude are you baiting him or do you honestly not know the Air Dog/FASS story?





BTW, I bought a FASS full meal deal

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

AirDog

Shortshift,



It would be greatly appreciated if words were not inserted into my mouth.



However, since you asked, I will refer you to a thread that speaks for itself. Click on the link and scroll down to post #12 by Roger rodbolt.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119200&highlight=airdog



Hopefully this will satisfy your curiosity.



Trent

 

[PRout]

Dude are you baiting him or do you honestly not know the Air Dog/FASS story?


BTW, I bought a FASS full meal deal

Duder,
Nope, not baiting. Was asking for clarification in WHY someone would choose an Airdog over a FASS. Answer to question #2: Am aware.

BlackSheep,
Thanks for the link. .
From what I understand, most of the issues stated in the link have been resolved in the current version of the FASS. Pls correct me if im wrong.

With the 150GPH FASS I did end up installing a 1/2" pickup tube in the tank because the screen on the original one was plugged, and the tube was starting to crack. Not sure what that has to do with any particular brand of pump though. Im sure it was a major factor in the life of the oem pump. At the same time added a separate return fuel tube that directs warm fuel and the fass return, away from the pickup tube so to help keep air and warm fuel from being directly picked up again. With this setup, I dont need to turn the truck off while fueling, but do anyways.

Ive asked the question before of what the GPH rating of the Airdog is, but havent received an answer, and didnt see it on the website.

For me, the politics behind the units are not a factor in making a decision in which one to buy. I bought the fass because I knew I was getting a 150GPH unit that is beefy, and there is plenty of info available on how to keep it running. For the Airdog, its mostly "Buy an Airdog", or "Ive had one for so many miles without a problem", or "The airdog has a superior method of removing entrained air". . But not many details on HOW. .

My goal was to be able to keep cruise pressure down at the recommended 13. 5 psi, and with power mods still dont see below 12. 5 (12 at worst case). Im satisfied with that. Thats with the OEM fuel filter/heater/watersep inline, but needed 1/2 inch lines throughout to make it happen.

 

[CAfricano]

I've had a FASS for a year with about 60,000 miles on it. Not a single problem yet.



2001 QC, 4x4, Fass, Westach

 

[steved]

For me, the politics behind the units are not a factor in making a decision in which one to buy. I bought the fass because I knew I was getting a 150GPH unit that is beefy, and there is plenty of info available on how to keep it running. For the Airdog, its mostly "Buy an Airdog", or "Ive had one for so many miles without a problem", or "The airdog has a superior method of removing entrained air". . But not many details on HOW. .

Exactly.



And the fact that there are known dealers for the FASS and a much larger following of the FASS as well. Only recently have I seen ANY "dealers" for the Airdog... too little too late in my case.



The biggest turnoff from the Airdog to me was lack of info, lack of dealers, and just lack of overall following... two people saying "I have XXX,XXX miles on my Airdog... " didn't have enough, how to say it... statistics? Especially in a thread with 40 FASS owners. Hard to compare the results of two people... if you understand my meaning. While the FASS did have brush issues, at least I could see that was about the only issue they had and I bought a FASS (with extra brushes) knowing that... How was that put in the TDR Rag, knowing an evil is better than not knowing an evil?



And while there are threads galore out there about the FASS brushes causing issues, I believe that issue has been significantly reduced with the intro of the new internal-brush motors... so you cannot compare older FASS problems with the new FASS design.



And further... both the Airdog and FASS are still electric motors... they both have a certain life expectancy. Have we just prolonged the inevitable??



steved

 

[DFerverda]

Did the upgrade to the fuel system Saturday afternoon.

Lifted the bed and installed the Draw straw and gutted the fuel module. Left the bottom screen and cut the side screens out. Ran the lines and installed the lp on the frame in front of the tank, with the small 10 micron filter on vulcan's website. Ran the 8n lines to the fuel filter and also to the vp. The directions say 15 ft lbs torque on the fittings, They mean it. I broke a jic fitting off in the vp. It came out ok with an easyout . Took the line off the vp and bumped the key and dumped about a gallon of fuel through the lines and filter and out the vp hose into a gallon jar, put the line on the vp and bumped the starter again and let it pressure the system.

Hit the key and it purrs like a kitten.

My fuel pressure is now steady at idle at 13 psi and cant pull below 10 WOT.

Before it was 9 idle and down to 4-5 range at NOT wot, cause i was afraid it would go to 0. Called eric a few minutes ago to get a new fitting (the one i broke) He will take care of this issue for me. Nice guy. I temp in a banjo fitting on the lift pump for now.

The whole thing was done in 4 hours and am glad i did it.

Dirk

 

[Jefff929]

Shortshift,



It would be greatly appreciated if words were not inserted into my mouth.



However, since you asked, I will refer you to a thread that speaks for itself. Click on the link and scroll down to post #12 by Roger rodbolt.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119200&highlight=airdog



Hopefully this will satisfy your curiosity.



Trent

gotta love these LP threads, kinda like a trany thread. Oo.



went to the designated posting by Mr (Larry) Rodbolt. I got issues with some of the stuff he claims. Here is the deal, most of what he said is ok, I have a problem, burden of proof. The FASS may come with filters that are not "fuel filters"... is that hard to solve, not really. As Joe consumer here, in this case Jeff, there is not a lot of information on why the Airdog is better, just that it is. Mr. Rodbolt continues this tradition, not really stating why a solid chunk is better than a layered unit with gaskets. Sorry, I'd like someone to tell me why it is better with a rundown in layman’s terms. Start like you are talking to someone who doesn't work in a machine shop, and tell me why a unit with repairable parts is not the cats meow. :-{} Again, frustrating “Bankspeak” in place of rational this is better and this is how & why.



The desire for a non-biased fact based look at these products was so bad for me that I looked at piecing together parts from many different companies in an effort to cobble something together. I eventually caved I determined it just wasn’t worth my time, and I bought something. I felt bad abandoning my search for a system that removed air, water, and contaminants from the fuel system. My piece of mind was achieved by paying someone to do the research footwork I was repeating.

 

[pacersfan]

Lets see, EVERY good idea on the FASS was directly copied from the Fuel Preporator/Pure Flow line. Just look at the MAJOR changes made to the FASS right after the release of the AirDog.



1/2" lines

Downsized to 100 GPH (yes this is a plus)

The 150 GPH is available for those that actually NEED the extra fuel

power to the motor is from the battery, not the ECM

Fill hose fitting (fuel up while it is idling)

2 micron filtration

ALL copied from the AirDog right after its release.



But then again, FASS copied the whole thing, why not copy the updates as well - gotta stay competitive somehow. If you can not be innovative, copy something that is.

 

[steved]

Lets see, EVERY good idea on the FASS was directly copied from the Fuel Preporator/Pure Flow line. Just look at the MAJOR changes made to the FASS right after the release of the AirDog.



1/2" lines

Downsized to 100 GPH (yes this is a plus)

The 150 GPH is available for those that actually NEED the extra fuel

power to the motor is from the battery, not the ECM

Fill hose fitting (fuel up while it is idling)

2 micron filtration

ALL copied from the AirDog right after its release.



But then again, FASS copied the whole thing, why not copy the updates as well - gotta stay competitive somehow. If you can not be innovative, copy something that is.

There again, I could care less about who did this vs who did that... the bottom line is, does it work?



The fact is when I was looking to buy, there was (and still is for the most part) very limited info on the AirDog. Dealers were almost non-existant, even last fall. Very little consumer feedback/reports that weren't simply the "buy one, it works great" with no backup/technical support...



And if the FASS is a copy of the Airdog, then I should have nothing to worry about for a long time according to the AirDog promoters...



I'm not saying the AirDog isn't a great unit, but that the information (or lack thereof) regarding the Airdog caused me NOT to buy one. I would have more seriously considered an AirDog if there had been more info and following.



As I already stated, I would rather buy something with a known (fixable) issue than the buy something that has the potential for issues that just hadn't been reported... at the time, I was wondering (based on the FASS vs. Airdog thread) how the FASS could have the minor issues it did and the AirDog have absolutely no issues if they were as indicated, a copy of each other?



steved