Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel Pressure gauge

[Alexdring]

What is the max pressure my 02 will make at the lift pump? I am going to buy the Westech fuel pressure gauge from Genos Garage and was wondering if i should get the 0-16 psi or the 0-30. Does it make over 16?



If you havent seen my other threads I am throwing codes and have the "dead pedal" Instead of buying a pressure tester kit from Geno's I decided to just get the full time gauge now.

 

[rjrkihap]

Stock LP should show between 11 and 14 at Idle on the clean side of the filter. I am seeing 15 to 16 with my FASS. At WOT it will drop 3 or 4 PSI.



Good Luck



Ron

 

[Alexdring]

What would happen if for some reason it makes 17psi for a moment? Will it spring a leak or tweak the gauge?

 

[RMecum]

I went with the 30psi Westach... with my FASS I see 20psi on occasion and most of the time the needle is mid range, 10,15 etc.



Just a note, I've been thru 3 sending units for the Westach although no problems since I installed the FASS a year ago. I think maybe the stock lift pump might have beat up the previous sending units.



mike

 

[Alexdring]

Well thats interesting since i do plan on upgrading to the FASS after I fix everything.

 

[rjrkihap]

Hey Mike,



How did you know that the sending unit was going bad? I've heard that this is an issue with Westach?



And I also see 17 PSI for a moment or two. Although I have the 16 PSI gauge, I would agree with Mike and get the 30 PSI gauge since gauges are most accurate in the middle of their range.



Ron

 

[24V-DSL]

Get the 30 psi. I had an autometer 0-15 electric, and when I went to the RASP pump it was pegging the needle. Autometer tech told me it is hard on the internals, and you really don't know what your maximum pressure is. With the 0-30 I see 17 at idle and 13-15 at cruise.

 

[WalterRyan]

The short answer to your first post is get the 30 psi gage.

The short answer to your second post is you will not hurt the gage.



I have had the Westach fuel pressure gage installed for over 4 years now and have not had any problems at all. I bought the 0-16 model because it was above the specs for the stock pump. I barley got over 0 after installing it so I replaced the lift pump. Mine has spent at least 90% of its life against the pin since that day. I have replaced the lift pomp twice since and when the pressure drops below 16 it works fine. I wish I had bought the 30 psi gage and would if I was to do it again but being pegged has not hurt it.



Walt

 

[RMecum]

Ron/Alex



My fuel pressure gauge would get real erratic... go to zero, hang at 8 jump to 15+ and if I tapped on it with a screwdriver handle it would stabilize for a while. I had business in the area of Westach's shop at the time so I just stopped by and told them what my gauge was doing. They told me the entrails of the sending unit weren't too keen on diesel plus the pulsing of the lift pump was hard on the guts too.



So I think they've come up with a better unit plus I think the FASS provides a smoother fluid flow... no problems lately.



Having said all that, make sure all your Westach gauges are grounded real good... they're kind of finiky that way.



I've got the trans temp gauge (you won't see that @ Geno's... check Westach's website, it's a cool gauge with color coded temp ranges) the Boost/EGT combo and the fuel pressure on a triple pillar mount and I'm very happy with the look and performance... . now the bugs are worked out.

 

[LowFly]

Its actually the VP-44 that beats up on the sending units..... ask Auto Meter... ... see link here: Auto Meter



Anyone with a VP and electric gauge, i would highly suggest a Snubber. Even mechanical. I had to get a needle valve with mine as it would buzz my mechanical bad at about 2,200 RPM. Put the valve in and cranked it down... no more buzzing.



rjrkihap,



I would get a known working mechanical gauge and double check your pressures. It should not be dropping that low. If we confirm the gauge to be reading correct, we can try some other things.

 

[jkalchik]

I've also had a Westach 0-15 fuel pressure gauge for the better part of 4 years, with no problems.

I may have accidentally come up with a vibration solution. I remote mounted the sensor on a bracket (near the brake M/C,) and plumbed it to the outlet test port on the fuel filter with an 18" length of grease gun hose. I did *NOT* bleed the air out of the hose, and the sensor is higher than the fuel filter.

 

[RMecum]

Dan



I forgot about the snubber... I did intall one but I think I've been through one sending unit since then.

 

[LowFly]

I've also had a Westach 0-15 fuel pressure gauge for the better part of 4 years, with no problems.



I may have accidentally come up with a vibration solution. I remote mounted the sensor on a bracket (near the brake M/C,) and plumbed it to the outlet test port on the fuel filter with an 18" length of grease gun hose. I did *NOT* bleed the air out of the hose, and the sensor is higher than the fuel filter.

The only issue by not bleeding the air is your gauge will tend to read low under low as air is compressible and fuel is virtually not. As long as you are aware of this, it will buffer the sending unit.