Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel pressure gauge/sender

[Slingblade]

I just received and installed my Westach fuel psi gauge and high flow banjos from Geno's. Everything works as it should. 15 psi at idle 13 on the highway. My concern is why do most guys use the 18" line to connect to the sender? I mounted mine right to the tapped banjo off of the VP44. The pressure is very steady. I don't believe the pulses from the VP44 would be dampened by using a flexible line. (I haven't seen any pulses on the gauge so I am not sure if there are any to dampen). They would be transferred through the line to the sender anyway. I also can't see the weight of the sender fatiguing the fitting and cracking it. Also, I have read the some have been concerned about engine vibrations destroying the sender so they recommend to mount it at another location other than the VP44 but still to the engine. It seems to me that the engine will vibrate the same at any location wouldn't it? I have read several post about possible problems and fixes for them. But not sure how many are/where actual problems. I don't mean to sound negative. Just want to hear what has happened, what caused it, before I go trying to prevent it. Can anyone clear this up for me before end up replacing parts?

 

[Sticks]

I helped a buddy do his.



I used a 1/8NPT x 1/8 compression (coming off the fuel filter output line), ran that hose up to the fire wall (mounted the sender next to the clutch reservoir), into a needle valve, then into the sender. We will be installing a grease gun hose before the valve soon. This is all three of the recommended pulse isolators that can be found within the TDR.

 

[Slingblade]

Are the isolators necessary? What can happen if I don't use them?

 

[wlowe]

The consensus is that too much of a pulse pressure on the sender shortens its life, seems to be supported by findings of membership.

 

[monkfarm]

I wonder if that's what happened to mine. I mounted the sender right on to the banjo on top of the fuel filter housing) (, and it's been cutting in and out lately. :{

I wonder if there is a difference in the quality of sending units. The one Geno sells is pretty popular, so I guess it holds up (if it's mounted properly)

 

[Slingblade]

Geno's recommends to mount it directly on top of the fuel filter housing on the '98 -'99 24 valve engines. It comes with a 45 degree fitting for that purpose.

On the '00 -'01 trucks they say the to use a 18" rubber fuel line off of the banjo on the filter housing. The engines are the same in both except for the fuel filter housing. I figure it would work fine on the inlet side of the housing, or to the outlet on the bottom. I just don't get significance of the 18" hose and remote mounting the sender on these years of the truck if I don't need it on the earlier ones. I have mine mounted to the VP44. It works just fine so far. I'll wait and see what happens I guess.

 

[mediccummin]

I guess you can just leave it there and you'll see why you need to move it. Then when you buy a new one you can get the hose along with it to mount it with a valve at the fire wall. Good luck.



I would take it as a hint that if most people with past experience are recommending mounting it to the fire wall there must be reason. Do a search and see if you can come up with some answers.

 

[DTangstrom]

I thought it was recomended to mount the sender on the engine so that they vibrated together.

 

[Slingblade]

I had read to mount the sender to the engine so that it vibrated with the engine. The instruction with the gauge show this as well. I also read that the rubber hose was used as a mounting solution because there wasn't a location/fitting available on the '00 -'01 trucks. The tapped banjo was yet another solution. I have done a couple of searches and found very little in the way of failures. There are several solutions though. Can someone tell me of a specific failure and what they feel caused it.

 

[darkhorse]

I followed Geno's instructions & used the 18" hose, mounting the sender on a bracket I fabricated & screwed to the throttle lever cover. Mounting directly on the banjo bolt can over stress the banjo bolt both by tightening the sending unit & by the vibration of the 5oz sending unit, angled off 45 degrees from vertical.

 

[rweis]

Well, I have 25k on mine and it is mounted on a 24" off of a T. I did the T to lessen the pulse shocks to the sensor. I also did the solid state sender. I also put a bypass regulator on after the lp so do not have a sealed system where pressure can't relieve itself somewhere.



I look at the fuel system as a system, not a bunch of parts all independently.



. 02



Bob weis

 

[gtobey]

Here's a pic of my mounting of the Westach gauge sender. I used an aluminum piece to make a bracket, tapped the hole in the linkage bracket for 5/16"NC and used a stainless allen head screw and washer to mount it, got a bulkhead fitting to go through the bracket, and replaced the stock banjo screw with the one that Geno's sells (with larger holes and bigger head and tapped for 1/8"NPT) and it mounted up slick! I made up the Aeroquip teflon hose and fitted it with just the right length to make it look better and last longer than a rubber hose.



I have had no problems with the sender or gauge for well over a year, and it's nice to know what that supply pump is doing!

 

[mediccummin]

Wow thats a bigger sending unit, which brand gauge is that from?

oops read it again, westach. Nice install bracket you made up.

 

[gtobey]

Thanks for the compliment. The bracket is easy to make. Go to your local hardware, get a stick of aluminum about 3/16" thick and about 2" wide, and cut it to length. I drilled my holes in it to fit the fitting and the mounting screw. I insulated it from vibration with that rubber weatherstrip on the bottom that is sometimes used under pickup bed covers. That should prevent the bracket from wearing a hole in the linkage cover.



If anyone wants hose or adapters to make the fuel line, you can let me know. We do that at my work.

 

[DLBurns]

Injector pulses

I have the 18" line coming off a -6AN coupling tapped with a 1/8" outlet which is aprox. 10" or so from the inlet to the the injection pump. This line runs up to the firewall where it connects to the isolator. I just started getting the pulse noise in my Isspro FP gauge and it's driving me crazy.

Would a needle valve in between the 18" hose and isolator eliminate the noise?