Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) fuel pressure gauge

[ebrooker]

I have a 99 dodge diesel. I'm looking at the JEG's fuel pressure guage. Will this work for my truck? I would like to mount it under the hood hopefully right on top of the fuel filter canister. My understanding is there is a place to place a fuel guage on top. What will I need to mount this, I would like to have all the stuff sitting there when I replace my fuel filter.



The fuel pressure guage I'm talking about can be seen at this link. Also I have a stock truck so will the 0-15 psi work.



http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1597&prmenbr=361

 

[C.]

ebrooker, what you are planing to do should work. If there is room for the gauge to mount directly over the filter. I would think it would be easier to read a gauge that had the port out the bottom instead of the back, like the JEG's gauge you mention.



On my truck I got some hydraulic line quick disconnects and put them on the filter housing and on a guage with a hose. Then all I do is pop the guage on to check pressure and pop off when done. The gauge has a hose long enough to reach in the cab. That way I can check pressure while driving. The gauge I use is made by Lisle and cost about 15$.

 

[GeorgeW]

I mounted a 0-30psi gage (NAPA, $14) in the port after the filter on top of the fuel filter housing. The gage came with a 1/4-in NPT so I had to buy an adapter as the port in the filter housing is 1/8-in NPT. I just returned from a 3500 mile trip to the Rockies and I checked the fuel pressure once or twice each day. . This is an easy and inexpensive way to keep tabs on your fuel pressure.

 

[ebrooker]

Could you give me some part numbers because I have been to 2 napa stores, 1 autozone and 1 carquest looking for a gauge. Will any sort of pressure gauge work such as a oil pressure gauge. I'm having trouble locating one with 30 psi or less most fuel pressure gauges go up to 100 psi.

 

[SEmerson]

Mounting under the hood is useless. Unless you have a small freind that will ride under there to watch the guage. You need to see it under load.

 

[GeorgeW]

Mounting the gage under the hood is not useless because the pressure can be checked at idle - the test that Dodge specifies. This should be adequite; if the idle pressure is above 10psi the lift pump will supply sufficient fuel for a stock engine.



I was told that Dodge also now recommends a flow test and specifies 44 oz fuel flow during the 20 seconds that the LP runs when the starter is bumped without starting the engine. I did this and measured 48 oz. My LP idle pressure is 12 psi so I feel confident about the current state of my pump (95,000 miles). With the under hood gage I can easily keep tabs on its health.



ebooker, I checked my gage and could not find a NAPA number. It is a "Precision" glycerin filled gage. It was not in stock so they ordered it. The one I bought is 0-30 but they also listed 0-15. Your NAPA store should have gage catalogs that show these or similar gages.

 

[SEmerson]

Mounting the gage under the hood is not useless because the pressure can be checked at idle - the test that Dodge specifies. This should be adequite; if the idle pressure is above 10psi the lift pump will supply sufficient fuel for a stock engine. QUOTE]



One example here would be a plugged filter. you would still have great idle but very low if any fuel at load. Dodges test is as good as their lp though.

 

[GeorgeW]

Of course, one assumes that the proper port in which to measure idle pressure will be post filter. Also, proper maintaince re fuel filter is also assumed.

 

[RJOL]

I'm always amazed that guys will spend $$$ on upgrading/modifying their trucks, but won't spend less then $100 to put a guage in the truck, so they can monitor FP under all conditions, and catch a problem in the early stages, before failure...

 

[Ron Bissett]

Right on Rick note these are new to the TDR and wan't to justify the way they did it some times things are done wrong for so long they think its right. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[gitchesum]

Mounting the gage under the hood is not useless because the pressure can be checked at idle - the test that Dodge specifies. This should be adequite; if the idle pressure is above 10psi the lift pump will supply sufficient fuel for a stock engine.

Gotta disagree with ya there George. I've got a 2002 with 50,000 miles on it. Bone stock other than gauges. I'm using the tapped banjo bolt on the VP, downstream of the fule filter.



Driving down the road, I've seen my guage drop to zero under normal throttle, and just stay there. I'll clutch it, turn the key off, and then back on again and the fuel pressure goes back up to 11 or so. If my fuel pressure gauge was under the hood, I would never know about this as the fuel presure is fine at idle.



Just something to think about.

 

[dpease]

Gauges on the filter housing under the hood

I did the same thing... but Curt, Ron, and Rick are right on

Like you guys, I thought the gauges on the filter housing were okay

(I had pre and post filter)

I checked post filter at every fuel fill. Idle was always 10-12psig.

One day I noticed a quick drop to about 5psig returning immediately to 10psig.

With in the week I had a gauge mounted in the cab.

Results:

Moderate acceleration 3psig

WOT 0psig, recovery to 10psig, about 4 miles at 50 mph

Was I lucky enough to catch the problem in time? Only time will tell.

I now carry a back up lift pump and have mounted a pusher pump at the tank.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Blair]

You have to watch the pressure under load as it will always drop. I have also seen the factory transfer pumps fail intermittantly then start back up again. The down side with fuel pressure gauges is you can't run the fuel line direct into the cab because it's ilegal and really don't want to. You need to run an isolator or electric gauge for safety reasons. Another option is a low fuel pressure warning LED kit that BD makes, it turns the LED on when the fuel pressure drops below 5 PSI and takes up very little space in your current gauge panel.

 

[lsenus]

In the cab is the way to go. If you're concerned about using the A pillar pod, one possible idea might be to get a Shelf-It Console from Cabelas. That way you could mount the guages overhead, so to speak. Simply run any wiring up the A-pillar and use std mounts.

Shelf-it overhead console