Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Got any butter? Cause my vp44 is toast!

[slavallee]

NO MODS, 26K miles and my injection pump has taken a dump in bed. Check engine light came on and code P0216 (injection pump timing failure) flashed. :--) No loss of power or bucking at all. Just for S's and G's I checked the fuel filter. Filter wasn't due to be changed, but I changed it anyway. Disconected the batteries for a while, and still flashed the code upon restart. Took it to Moss Bros. in San Bernardino and they say the injection pump is toast, but strangly enough, the lift pump is still working fine

Could it be that my injection pump was just a bad one from the get go? Should I trust them when they say that the lift pump is still good. Can anyone say "time for a FP gauge"?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Lemee get this straight - your engine is still operating FINE, and you figure the VP-44 is gone because of a code reading?



I think *I* would sorta wait and see - and check for other causes - like the notorious poor ECM contact at the plug...

 

[Bob Wagner]

the ecm will log that code up to 200 times.

 

[csevers]

All the Vp failures I have seen from "failure to meet commanded timing" come when under load, the truck will hicup or studder and set the code and other wise drive fine till the need for more power not on start up, that seems strange. I wouldn't condem the vp just yet. Do a little more trouble shooting if you can.



Good Luck

Craig

 

[slavallee]

Hey, I didn't condem the VP. The diesel techs did. The truck is still under warranty and I find it hard to believe that a dealership would replace and injection pump out of the goodness of their hearts unless they felt they had to.

 

[MPatrick]

VP 44

Mine was replaced at around 58K. The lift pump was still good.

Cummins SE said the VP 44 was also toast.



Do you drive your truck below a 1/2 tank before you fill up?

I think that had something to do with mine.



I would replace those **!TY fuel lines with something that flows better.



Like others have mentioned, It could also be electrical.



Could a bad electrical connection cause a VP 44 failure?

 

[n7gxz]

When my VP44 went a week and a half ago it set P1688 that could only be seen with the drbIII tool. When it went the check engine light came on and the engine stopped, cold dead.



Kevin

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by slavallee

Hey, I didn't condem the VP. The diesel techs did. The truck is still under warranty and I find it hard to believe that a dealership would replace and injection pump out of the goodness of their hearts unless they felt they had to.

The D/C techs do plenty of things out of ignorance and D/C policy--or mood of the moment. Probably has plenty to do with the SM and GM and how well they are getting along this week.



Just because the DC folks say so--don't make it so. Even if they have ASE stickers and everything.

 

[slavallee]

I have to say that I do let my fuel level get down past the half tank mark. I more often than not, will fill up when I have about 1/3 of a tank left. I don't see how this could make a huge difference though.

 

[slavallee]

Either way you slice it, a new VP44 for free is not something I'm prepared to say no to. I wonder if there is anyway to get the autopsy results on the old VP so to speak. More than likely the dealer will just pull out the old throw in the new and never bother to look for a cause.

 

[lmills]

The vp-44 is cooled by the diesel fuel. As the fuel flows through it gets hot and what ever is not used its returned to the fuel tank. If you have a low supply of fuel then it will be constantly hot, and not have enough fuel in the tank to help cool it as it returns. Most people will not let their tank get below 1/2 way so that there is an adequate amount to cool the warm fuel. I personally logged almost 100,000 miles trouble free without any issues from my vp-44. My lift pump was starting to get weak, but was the same one when I traded it in. I left mine go below 1/4 tank at least twice a week. In order for me to fill up every half tank, I would have had to fill up every other day. So I didn't worry too much about it.

 

[MPatrick]

Fuel Levels

Because of the location and design of the lift pump: When the fuel level is low, You won't have much head pressure to push fuel to the LP. The LP works better with higher head pressure.



When you run around with low fuel, That causes low fuel pressure at the inlet side of the VP 44 and starves it.



Sit in your favorite computer chair with a cold one and do a few searches: VP 44, Lift Pump, Fuel line restrictions, etc. .



I have learned a tremendous amount from this site.

 

[Smokewagon]

On my 3rd one!!!!!

I'm on my third 44. I'm really, really, really I wish I had bought a 12 valver before they went to the P. O. S. 24 V. Now my truck is shuddering, and fuel mileage is almost half. Yes, I take extremely great care of my trucks and equipment and have been accused of changing filters and oil too frequently. I am at my wits end... ... . I guess I better get ready to buy #4 If it goes this time, and it appears it's on its way, I think I'm gonna buy one from Piers. Anyone running one of his hot rod pumps??



Dave

 

[dlange]

I run a Hot Rod pump and love it.

 

[krs]

Code P0216 has been probably the most common indicator of a failing VP44. Read these forums - it's almost a universal, and in every case the pump has been bad either right then or soon after.



Don't live a life in denial - take the pump.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

fill at 1/2 tank???

I bought my truck to drive - not spend all my time swinging into fuel pumps! I have 152,000 plus on my original VP44, and routinely take the tank down to the last 5 gallons. I realize that my pump may die tomorrow - probably not, it is getting a "Preporator" installed tomorrow, but I may well be on borrowed time. I think that if one watches the fuel pressure to the VP44, tank level is of very little, if any, consequence. Given what we know about the lift pump's life span (I'm on lift pump #3), not monitoring fuel pressure is a much greater abuse of the injection pump than running the tank toward the "empty" mark.



Just my opinion, and worth every penny you paid for it! ;-)



Ray

 

[PRout]

Originally posted by slavallee

Either way you slice it, a new VP44 for free is not something I'm prepared to say no to.

Right. That's why this should be reacted to as a positive thing, and "flaming" is not needed here.



Good for you that this will be covered by DC.



Just think, this is purging the mighty cummins of a weak link early on in the warranty. When it comes out of the dealers with a new VP, it will have over 70k more miles under warranty to answer the questions.



Was the original VP a defective unit?

Did something else take it out?

Did something else cause the trouble code?



Either way, it looks like you end up in pretty good shape.



Now, if this happened at 103k miles, it would be considerably more negative. That would be a good time to be asking questions, and above all, be preparing for the flamers to get out the butter.

 

[CEkstam]

The effect of low fuel levels and hot fuel is of importance in understanding why fuel system components are 'toasted'. As fuel levels drop the flow restriction or 'dry suction lift' conditions increase. This combined with the lesser volume of fuel in the tank to dilute the hotter fuel will cause high levels of vaporization (cavitation) and lots of vapor to displace the lubricant of the fuel system. The lubricant is the fuel.



A note on viscosity. As we all know, the film thickness between the lubricated surfaces is directly related to the fuels viscosity. Water has a viscosity of 1 centistoke (cSt. ) Hydraulic fluids have viscosities that range from 32 to 68 cSt. at 100F. Increasing the temperature from 100F to 140F will reduce the viscosity to about 1/2 of the original.



With the viscosity of the fuel low because of the operating temperature of the VP44, a sudden displacement of the fuel film by fuel vapor created through cavitation from the failure of the lift pump results in metal on metal abrasive wear... . and toast!



The continuous feeding of vapor under these conditions will also toast the pump over a period of time. (A commercial note) The Fuel Preporator will, under low fuel level conditions maintain a steady flow of pure fuel (no air/vapor) to maintain a constant lubricating film to protect your investment. Check our web site @ www.ekstamworldwide.com for more info. Also, we have a new and smaller Preporator comming very soon. The Preporator Model FP-80 is only 7"L X 3. 2"W X 10" T (including the 6micron StratePore tm fuel filter). Flows and pressures are the same as the FP-135A. Good Stuff!!



Give us a call @ 1-877-463-4373 for more info.



Thanks



Charlie

 

[Bob Wagner]

good info Charlie, thanks

 

[barepa]

As i understand, it,s not the hard parts that give up on vp44. it,s the electrial parts. is that right.



dave