Fuel PSI Gauge

[Lordsman]

Hello,

I was wondering what fuel pressure gauge you guys are using in the 0-30 range? Seem's most only go to 15lb. , and since your 12v pressures are higher, I figured you guys would know best. Reliability, accuracy, and durability are real important. What are you guy's using? Thanks in advance.

 

[illflem]

I use a 40 psi mechanical liquid filled rear 1/8"ported stainless steel water pressure gauge, about $10 from Grainger. No need to look at the numbers I just see that the needle is mostly pointing straight up. If you are looking for an electrical gauge good luck, they seem to jump from 15 psi to 80 with no in-between. Too little or too much. On mine an oil pressure tubing kit connects the gauge to a needle valve mounted on the injection pump inlet banjo bolt that has been drilled and tapped with a 1/8" NPT port. Whole setup was under $25.



On a 12 valve you must use a gauge snubber or needle valve 5WL12 ($6. 52) to dampen the pulses from the lift pump or you will fry a gauge or sender in short order.



You can also use a $25 fitting that TST sells that adapts the fuel filter bleed screw to 1/8" pipe thread. This doubles as a snubber. Only problems with this setup is that the bleed screw area is harder to access and you lose easy use of the bleed screw for a filter change.

 

[Jeff Burke]

Once again, illflem, you are the man. Thanks for the info.

 

[vc]

I talked to the folks at Westach gauges one day about a year ago concerning an electric gauge. They said they could make us up a fuel gauge that would be appropriate for our pumps. I think it was around $40-50 for the gauge and thne the sender would be in addition. They had two different senders and I can't recall price, but one was expensive and other was ok. If I recall it was going to be around $120 for what I was looking at, but I can't remenber if that was with the high dollr sender. You could give them a call and find out again.

vc

 

[JPS]

fuel pressure gauges

Where are you mounting fuel gauges? Would like to monitor pressure before and after fuel filter,and maybe use digital read out gauges. Anyone know if these are available.

 

[mikepvg]

illflem



I use the TST gauge & adapter w/ a Stainless Steel Fuel line. Works great for testing but not for a long term setup since the fuel line eventually fills completely & the pulses send the gauge needle into a wild useless frenzy. Took a long cross country trip to CA to actually see this happen.



Do ya think one of them subbers connected inline after the TST adapter would solve this?



Mike

 

[illflem]

Mike, I'm sure it would, without one mine pulsed so bad that the dash shook. I like the Grainger 5WL12 needle valve just in case you ever need to shut it down completely. It has a lock nut on it so the adjustment doesn't move. Problem with it is that it is 1/4", you need bushings. It's best but not necessary to have the needle valve as close as possible to the pressure source because the hose to your gauge will pulse also and can get chafed by anything it touches. But in the bleed screw location there isn't enough room and I'd be afraid of the added weight on the small TST adaptor breaking it. That why I opted to tap a port in the IP inlet banjo bolt, you can also buy these from Geno's. You may not have a problem with a SS line chafing, but then again you could. I have my TST adaptor set up on a grease gun hose and only use it for checking other people's pressure, I like to be able to use the bleed screw easily on my rigs.

 

[mikepvg]

illflem



Thanks for the advice. I too like the idea of having the bleed screw available. Therefore I currently do not have my setup connected but it is in place. Its easy enough to unscrew the bleed screw & just screw in The TST adapter when I need to check fuel psi. However, a permanent setup would be ideal. It also gives me more to do on those long trips by monitoring more gauges



Mike

 

[illflem]

Mike, on a 12 valve the fuel pressure isn't quite as important as a 24 but is interesting. That's why I opted to go the cheap route, gauge mounted down low and unlit. FP does make a great diagnostic tool though. Interesting thing that I've noticed is that the outside temp makes a pretty big difference in pressure. I'll go from 16 psi at 95° to 30 psi at 25°, both at idle. Once the truck is run for awhile and the fuel circulates though my idle pressure settles at 22 psi no matter what temperature. The amount of fuel in the tank also makes a big difference in temp related pressure changes with low levels creating larger changes.