Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Get a fuel pressure gauge! dead lift pump....

[TomGolden]

I know this is yet another thread on dead lift pumps, but as those who have been through it will attest, you can't warn people enough I feel.



I had Brandon install my shiny new SPA Series 2 digital gauges yesterday at his place in Modesto. One of the gauges is a fuel pressure gauge. Until yesterday, I had never had a pressure gauge on the truck. I did buy one of Briar Hoppers test gauges, but after I got it, I discovered I couldn't use it because I had long ago upgraded to stainless braided fuel lines and Webber fittings, thereby eliminating the Schraeder valve on the VP44 that his gauge is intended to plug into. So.....



After we hooked all the gauges up yesterday, Brandon suggested I bump the starter a few times, so as to make sure my fuel system was pressurized and as ready to go as possible, since we had to open the line to put the fuel pressure sending unit fitting in the fuel line. I bumped the starter, heard the lift pump running, but after the second bump, Brandon said "uh-oh... ... your pump is dead. It isn't pumping any fuel"... . :{



Fortunately, his shop was only 5 miles away, and he had both a brand new, and working used lift pump. Within an hour, he had it swapped out and I was running and on my way towards home.



I will be going to Cummins this week to get a new pump, and maybe even a second one for a spare, so I can return Brandon's pump to him.



As of yesterday, the truck had 44,500 miles on the OEM lift pump. When I changed the fuel filter ~2,000 miles ago, as I always do, I drained the filter cannister of all the fuel/water, and then did the starter bump at least 3 times to refill the cannister, and then start the engine, and all ran perfectly well. So, the lift pump must have went belly up in the last 2K miles. Never once did I ever feel any sort of shudder, hesitation, or other hiccup in the fueling or running of the truck, so the ONLY way to tell the pump is DOA is by a gauge.





As so many others have said, please, please don't let this be you! Get a gauge, or borrow one, and test your pump!!



I was fortunate in that mine died sitting in Brandon's front yard, not a zillion miles from home/friends/anywhere... . and I had a pro to change it out for me and teach me how it's done so I can do it myself next time.



Just passing along my recent experience, hopefully for the benefit of others.



Tom

 

[JR2]

We had this same thing happen at our last Alaska Bombers Meeting. We tested about 5 trucks and found one that was dead. I had my old (but still working) lift pump and gave him a good deal on it. It was a long day of fule system upgrades as we had just finished adding a pusher pump and dual press gauges to another truck.



The lesson here is at minimum you need to check your FP at every oil change if you want to avoid problems with your VP44.

 

[HVAC]

It's good to see you warn the folks on the board of this reacurring problem. It could save them money and time.



For instance, I was just on the phone with a fellow who does a lot of work on diesel powered Rams. He was busily in the throws of replacing a VP44 on a customers truck. I asked him how the fuel pressure supply was and he answered "There wasn't any!!!". The first thing he checked was fuel pressure and found the lift pump was dead. It cost his client a lot more to replace both pumps then it would have had the owner of the truck kept an eye on his fuel pressure.



I've seen this happen too many times. Check your fuel pressure regularly. Even better, install a gauge within the cab.

 

[JHansen]

Gauges are cool... ... . walking home isn't... ... . I wouldn't own another one of these trucks without an in-cab fuel pressure gauge-when mine was on the way out 9 times out of 10 it would show alright pressure stopped at idle-the wild gyrations kicked in going down the road... ... .



Jason

 

[TomGolden]

Well, I picked up 2, yep 2, new lift pumps from Cummins West in Sacramento on Tuesday. One to go on the engine, the other for a spare. After watching Brandon change the dead one for a lender he let me use, I was able to change it myself last night. So, now I have good pressure and Godzilla is happy once again.



Tom

 

[Briar Hopper]

Tom Golden,

I wish you'd emailed me to let me know that you had no way to hook up my test gauge. I have special fittings that I include with the gauge when selling to owners of 98. 5 - 99 trucks, that are virtually the same as Schraeder valves. The other end of the fitting is threaded 1/8 NPT male, so if you incorporated a "T" into your fuel line between the pump and the filter, my fitting would give you a test port.

I'll be glad to ship you a fitting or two, free, if you still want them.

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but you're luckier than most, being that close to Brandon. Dude's got it together.

 

[TomGolden]

Briar, Thanks for the suggestion, but now that I have the SPA fuel pressure gauge on, it's a non-issue. I didn't even think to ask you ahead of time where your gauge connected to the fuel line, or I would have known to tell you about my upgraded fuel lines. Oh well.



It is a beautiful gauge though and maybe I'll find someone around here in need of a gauge that I can pass it along to.



Tom

 

[JR2]

I will tell you the cost of even the most expensive gauge I know of (SPA) is still cheaper than a VP44 buy about a grand.



Tom - why don't you get the fittings from Briar and then take the gauge and fitting to the next meeting of the closest TDR group and start testing pumps.....

 

[HVAC]

Yup!

I appreciate that reasoning #2



Nice point:-laf

 

[n7gxz]

Tom,



What kind of pressure numbers are you seeing with the the braided fuel lines? I'm asuming that you have AN fittings on the ends, -6 size? I have AN-6 on my truck and was just wanting to know what others where seeing for pressures. I'm getting about 9 psi at ideal and it drop down to around 5 to 6 at WOT.



Kevin

 

[TomGolden]

Kevin,



I'm not positive of the exact size of my braided fuel lines, but I expect they are the AN6 type. I put my new lift pump on the truck Wednesday night after work, so it hasn't been on too long, and I haven't yet had a chance to do a full WOT run, so I can't answer that part of the question.



idling I see 15 - 16 PSI. easy driving and cruising on the highway at ~2K RPM it stays in the 11 - 12 PSI range, and will ocassionally dip to around 9 PSI when accelerating.



After seeing an older thread by Steve St. Laurent about the helper pump from the Mitchell's at Enterprise Engine, I am very seriously thinking about getting one of them later this summer.



Tom