Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ?? for Rweis & Gary & others??? VP44

[rweis]

Bosch made a brass advance piston. I think they thought it would work better, NOPE. Then they went to a steel advance piston.



What the advance piston does is advance or retard the timing, ie critical to the operation of the VP pump. Does A LOT of moving back and forth and is a significant wear point. When the advance piston fails everything else in the VP44 quits. As the advance piston is failing (not maintaining position, missing the angle of advance requested, etc it throws the 0216 code)



The brass advance cylinder seems to have shown up in about 02 and hence there are a lot of 02 failures. Subsequent rebuilt pumps have steel advance pistons. There have been several "updates" to the rebuilding scheme. Therefore you want to make sure you are getting a completely up to date and current pump to get all the updates.



"I bet if you put some diesel in the spare vp and plug the holes it will last quite awhile as a spare... ... chris" might be "pickled" and hold for a long time, who knows.



Bob Weis

 

[BradyWilliams]

First off, there is no new VP44 pumps to our knowledge in the Bosch system. We were fortunate enough to have bought many new pumps at the end of the available era. We always build our pumps as trouble free as can be. Bob is right about the fuel temperature. It continally gains as you drive long distance. In winter operation the fuel does not gain as much temp. as in summer driving. In winter and in cold climates the fuel heater is a very important part in the system. A heat exchanger for the fuel supply could be a good idea for summer driving in a hot climate. You could stop more frequently and add new fuel that is cooler. If you get standed and you have been driving for a long time, you may try pouring cool water over the injection pump. This could get you to town were you can get service, if your failure is due to a diaphram failure. My sons have experienced this first hand with there new trucks. The brass bore pump housings are being taken out of the system by most VP44 builders. We have seen one case of a brass bore housing put back in service by a VP44 shop. I don't understand why. We just make mental notes and move on. There have been many updates to VP44 pumps. We always include them in our exchange and rebuilt pumps. Putting regular diesel fuel in a pump for storage is not a good idea. It will dry up and cause parts to stick. Calibrating oil is made to give very good shelf life. We have seen no problems with storage using a good quality calibration oil. Thanks, Brady

 

[RJWEST]

OK: getting Smarter ( maybe it was the Smarty ) not this time,
It's all the good input on the forum ( and the patience it takes to educate a newbe )

So: Being a early 2002 truck, probably built in 2001, I may or may not have brass timing advance head, No way of telling by pump sticker, ( I will have to check it )?

No new pumps being built by Bosch! Don't like that idea... .

Possible plan, Install new/rebuilt pump, get old bench checked and pickled for
spare.

 

[rweis]

I did not know you can "pickel" the VP44.



I think there are fewer and fewer updates as this technology matures, so a spare pickeled using calibration fluid VP44 may not be a bad idea. Maybe send in a pickeled pump every couple of years to be recalibrated to be sure you have not done anything to "de" calibrate it.



- ASIDE -

Thanks Brady for the input. Anyone ever notice that II is one of the FEW rebuilders that EVER chimes in with ideas / information from time to time. AND I will NOT be bashful about saying with conviction that II will be my pump rebuilder of choice because they do contribute to discussions.



Credit where credit is due.



Bob Weis