Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel Press. ???

[Renoram]

I just installed my Westach electric fuel press gauge to complete my set of 4.



Question: My fuel press at idle is 15-16psi, WOT 11-12psi. Hasn't gone below 11psi. From all the reading, it seems to be the normal to have 15psi idle & 5psi WOT. My lift pump is original & I have about 65k miles. My reading is post filter at test port plug.



I'm wondering if my gauge is accurate???



Any thoughts on this would be appreciated?

 

[Renoram]

Dl5treez



Thanks for the reply. One more question please- when I turn on my key the fuel press. spikes up to 12psi for a second & then back to zero until I start the engine, then it holds the 15psi. Is this normal each start?

 

[Cryppie]

Completely normal, over 7psi at start will set codes. Once the engine fires, it comes right back up. Just one of those "do everything to protect the VP44" things.

 

[Uncle Jack]

I've had my used 98. 5 2500 for a few weeks. Have wanted one of these things since first riding in a friend's 3500 Cummins a couple of years ago.

Anyway, I put a few hundred miles on my truck before finding TDR. The LP posts (and the cost of a VP44) scared me to death! So, today I hooked up a cheap oil pressure guage just to see if my old style LP was doing its job. When I first turn on the switch, the pressure went to about 8 pounds, so I thought maybe everything would be OK. I started the truck and the gauge went to almost 0 and stayed there!

This truck's not moving until the FASS system is in and operational - ordered it today.

 

[TnLRacing]

What would be acceptable pressure, when having the quage hooked to the schraeder valve on the VP?

 

[jerrethomas]

Originally posted by TnLRacing

What would be acceptable pressure, when having the quage hooked to the schraeder valve on the VP?

i would say anything in the area of 12 - 15 psi. at idle would be good. no lower then 7 psi WOT. mine idles about 15 going down the road cruising is about 11. 5 and WOT mine goes down to 7 psi for a second and then comes back up to between 8 and 9 psi. Hope this helps.

 

[Sageair]

RenoRam. With the three kids in college I'm having a tough time saving up for gauges but I am getting closer. Any chance I could look at your setup sometime when I'm down your way?

 

[Renoram]

Originally posted by Sageair

RenoRam. With the three kids in college I'm having a tough time saving up for gauges but I am getting closer. Any chance I could look at your setup sometime when I'm down your way?

No problem- When are you coming to Reno? I will be out of town next week until Friday. Just let me know & we can hook up at the airport area.

 

[Sageair]

Renoram, I sent you a pm. Thanks Steve.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

One of my buddies is checking the pressure on his completely stock 1999. He is using a guage that came with a banks kit.



Here is the kicker, it is showing 0 pressure both pre and post filter, and from what he is telling me the pump is not cycling on with the key at all. Is it possible for it to even run with the lift pump not working at all? It doesn't miss or do anything strange, runs great.



I have to go look at it in a couple of hours, figure I could get some info here first before I go get dirty.

 

[JFinke]

Yes it may still run, and may even run well. Right up untill the VP44 takes a 2000. 00 crap. Many lift pumps never get found untill a filter change or when they destroy the VP44.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by JFinke

Yes it may still run, and may even run well. Right up untill the VP44 takes a 2000. 00 crap. Many lift pumps never get found untill a filter change or when they destroy the VP44.

I just found out that last time he changed the filter it would not prime. Also I had push in the pressure port valve while it was running to see if it would squirt fuel out. Well is sucked air and died, not good. So he it checking for power at the pump now to see if it is a power or pump problem.



So what are some good pusher pump upgrades out their now???

 

[JFinke]

I have the pusher pump from enterprise, or you can build your own from summitt, jegs, ect. He probably only needs a new lift pump if his truck is all stock. But he definatly needs a fuel psi guage. The other option is to go with a FASS or Preoporator replacement system. If you do a search on any of the names listed here you will get several hundred pages of answers.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

I have an extra Carter High volume 16psi pump layin around home, I would imagine that would work.



It is stock but will be getting something like an Edge EZ down the road

 

[Uncle Jack]

Mopar_Mudder,



See my previous post on a similar problem. My 98. 5 24 valve runs just great, but pressure from the lisft pump is near 0 with the engine running. 8 pounds or so when the pump first cycles, prior to starting...



From reading up on the topic, I determined that the regardless of where my failure is (I strongly suspect the LP in my case) I would eventually end up replacing the stock system with a FASS, so I just ordered one rather than wasting time and money on "band-aids. "



Assuming voltage is getting to your friend's LP, I think the FASS is the best permanent fix for the situation. Keep in mind that the 12 volts is "pulsed" prior to starting the engine, so it may appear as a lower voltage until the engine is running.



Bottom line is, I think $600 of prevention is worth $2,000 of cure. Especially when you consider where you might be when this, or the next, lift pump fails.



Another advantage to FASS (by Diesel Performance Products) is their commitment to a quality product and customer satisfaction. They seem to be great folks to work with.



See their web site at: http://www.dieselpp.com

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Their is power, pump is for sure toast.



The FAST is a great system but I know it is way out of his budget. I think I got him talked into getting something like Diesel Dynamics pump which I think is in the $200-300 area, its something better then stock any way.

 

[KLockliear]

I would recommend moving your FP pickup point to the banjo at the VP44 with your stock fuel lines. That last fitting (not the banjo bolt) is the restrction... so taking the reading before it may give a falsely high reading.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by KLockliear

I would recommend moving your FP pickup point to the banjo at the VP44 with your stock fuel lines. That last fitting (not the banjo bolt) is the restrction... so taking the reading before it may give a falsely high reading.

I will take note of that, right now we got NO reading so no worry about a false high, LOL



I was looking on your site and don't see any pictures or instruction of your pusher pump. Do you have anything I can show him?

 

[KLockliear]

Not here at home. We provide a fitting to adapt to the pump with our FP gauge kit.