Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel filter canister won't re-fill.

[rweis]

Of those that have failed, the bypass valve seems most frequent.



That is my read as well and why I went the bypass regulator route in addition to most of the things others had done (AN-6 lines, frame mount, filtering, dielectric grease). However I do carry a spare all the time



I just wish there was a way to test things faster. I don't mind testing something different and being wrong in the results. It just takes a heck of a long time to accumulate the miles and then you do not get all conditions and manner of drivers and towing situations and road conditions and stress points.



Even if my fuel system modifications run 500,000 miles it is only under the conditions I have driven and that is not good enough to say it was a success across the board.



Ah well, works for me so far



Bob Weis

 

[quadzilla]

I am on my third lift pump, and it too is about dead. Luckily, all three were replaced under warranty. Now it is on my dime, and I want something more reliable. While I agree on the topic of guages (have one installed on my truck), it doesn't do anything to solve the stock lift pump being prone to failure. I will say that it will allow you to catch the lift pump problem early enough to save the VP-44 from potential demise. But, I am sick and tired of having to replace the crappy lift pump, so I ordered my Airdog about a month ago, and according to Ekstam's people, I should have it in about a week. I think the FP guage is invaluable, but it doesn't prevent lift pump failures. Just my 2¢.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I think the FP guage is invaluable, but it doesn't prevent lift pump failures.



Putting it into perspective, my oil pressure guage doesn't "prevent" me from running low on oil - nor does my fuel guage "prevent" me from running the tank dry - but they sure provide me the proper info to AVOID those situations!



SURE, I realize what is intended in the above, and that the writer wasn't claiming any healing power in having a guage installed - but *FAR* too many guys show up here on a weekly basis with various problems and resulting questions that CLEARLY could be isolated or headed off entirely with proper instrumentation!



Then we get into endless rehashes of guessing games via long distance in trying to sort out what's wrong with greatly reduced tools to accomplish the needed assistance - sorta like trying to do brain surgery over the telephone when the distant "surgeon" doesn't even have the required tools...



Shucks, we even have one current thread where an owner sez "I have a funny noise somewhere under my hood - anyone know what it might be?"



JEEZE, gimme a BREAK!



*I* want to help as much as the next guy here - but it's hard to do if the one WITH the problem doesn't have even basic troubleshooting equipment or skills, or even fully describe his problem!

 

[rweis]

I have a fair amount of flight experience,



We had (retired now) a fair number of gauges. Gauges are just an indicator. Then YOU have to do something if what ever is out of limits. On our trucks we each set some of the limits ie fp. Other limits like 1250* pre EGT for constant temperature is given by Cummins (I think), 10 lp psi is something we each decide on based on what we have read and have decided. Guys with 20 psi into the VP have decided that they are comfortable with that.

Some guys feel any positive pressure is ok.



But again, they are indicators. Without indicators you are literally "flying by the seat of your pants". You don't actually have to have any gauges.



No fuel gauge, no speedometer, no odometer, no oil pressure, no temperature, no voltage, no gear indicator. Just disconnect all the gauges and crank her up. It still works. You are just "flying by the seat of your pants". The fewer gauges to provide information the more you need to know about the specific workings of every possible system in extreme detail. How fast are your going? Well, go slower than everyone else. Count the paint stripes on the road, figuer out the distance between each one and the time and convert that to MPH. Opps, just created a guage.



When you have a "problem" you have to be able to communicate "what" the problem is. Well, it "feels like" ... ... ... .....



You know, your child has a problem with their bike, "Dad, my bike doesn't feel right". Well, you go get the bike and ride it to see what does not "feel right".



It is widely recognized that some fo our trucks have a "fuel" problem. If you don't measure it or have a way to measure it you are just guessing it does not "feel right".



I totally agree with Gary. To be able to help we need information to compare against.



Then there are those the will not, or refuse, to read through the problems and solutions of others in the past. Ther are tons of information on TDR. Please at least be courteous and do a search of the problem.



Your problem might not be exactely like what you found. The first time you change your oil filter you go back and read to figuer out why the filter is sooooo tight. However, maybe yours will not come off regardless. Then the beauty of the collective knowledge base of TDR comes in to play.



But please do your part, search, read, install the gauges you feel are minimal. If you are wondering if your xxxx is working right, then be able to help us help you.



Soap box time is over, I'll go sit down and be quiet.



Bob Weis