Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) How much life left in VP44 ?

[JPLB22]

I know there is no way to really measure how much life the VP44 has left in it. I'm looking for experiences and opinions.



On Saturday my LP died completely while driving to work. I had 0 psi at the inlet to the VP44, and the truck was running horrible. It would barely idle at stop lights, and wouldn't excellerate much faster than I could push it. So I immediately turned around to go home and get the wifes car. I was driving under those conditions for about 7-8 min. I am the original owner of the truck, and that is the first time anything like that has ever happened. I'm on my 4th LP, but have always replaced them before anything bad like this has happened.





Now if you guys or gals were me, how confident would you be in a long life left for your VP44 ??



TIA



Jeff

 

[GFrance]

Just currious how many miles on your truck? I didn't see any box or other power enhancements in your sig. Four lift pumps, How many miles you getting out of these pumps? I think I would be looking at the Rasp mechanical pump before installing lift pump #5. I wouldn't think you did the vp44 any harm since you didn't run it for days with low pressure.

 

[JPLB22]

I have about 48,000 miles on my truck. This LP that just died had a whopping 3,800 miles on it, and the one before it had 14,000 and so on and so forth. And I am definately considering after market pumps, mainly the RASP and FASS, but as always money is an issue.

 

[MKizziah]

I made it 112K before my vp44 went, did a PM replacement @90k on the LP, which died and took out the vp44, I suspect.



Best bet it to get gauges and a lot of them. I added a fass and placed one on the fass one pre stock filter and one on the vp44. I can now see if my filters are clogged up. go check out supluscenter.com lot of 0-30 gauges for under 10 bucks. liquid filled under 20.



Chhers,

Matt

 

[JPLB22]

I've already got 4 gauges. One of them being a FP gauge, DiPricol 0-30 psi. The FP gauge is reading from the inlet to the VP44. I also have a Wildcat Max Flow Kit, and recently checked the screens on the fuel module in the tank, they were perfecly clean.



Jeff

 

[haverlockee]

My 4 month old lift pump just totally died on sat and i think it took out the vp with it also. 4 1/2 hours to get it started with a new lift pump and no luck. so now i ordered new vp, pusher pump and big line kit and fp guage from DD. so hopefully i can catch it in the future

 

[GregFisher]

Jeff

unfortunantly your 02 dodge has an 027 vp44 injection pump cummins and its infinate wisdom had bobby bosch try and reduce the cost the injection pump by using a brass bushed housing to help save cost of the injection pump.

unfortunatly due to our exp. the brass bush housing has an aproximate life

of 50k miles. this results in possible timing codes being thrown as well as poor

perforamce and fuel economy. If you have any codes especally in the timings nature get to dc as soon as possible and demand a replacement inj. pump.

email or post if any questions.



thanks, greg

 

[JPLB22]

It's been about a month since I've checked codes, but up until that point the only code the truck has thrown is an 0500 speed sensor code. I will check the codes again today.



I have a Max Flow Kit on there and I'm kind of worried that the dealer will try to void my warranty on the VP44 for that. I know they're not supposed to unless they have proof of the cause, but they don't seem to care about that little detail.



Jeff

 

[DHawthorne]

There must be a reason why some trucks eat lift pumps and others just keep going on. My truck ate one at 92k. I now have 132k on the truck. Same VP-44.



I had a 85 6. 2 diesel suburban in the middle eighties. My fuel pressure was low so I installed an electric fuel pump. First pump went 35k. Replaced with the same pump and added an inline filter. Changed the filter element every 15,000 miles. Never changed the pump again. The filter I used was a Racor, SM2000. 10 micron filter element. It was small enough to mount behind the pump toward the tank. It has a drain on it as well. The stuff I use to get out of that Filter was unbelievable. You can also see whats in the filter. High impact plastic material.



I think you should pull your tank and have a look at wants in there. Pain in the nect job. If you fine grit or sand you can figure your pumps are ingesting that garbage and wearing out early. Your filters should show some of this if this is true.



The other possibility is electrical connection to the LP. Check the voltage and see if its to low. Could have a slight ground in the system.



The LP almost sits on the engine anyway. Heat sure don't help.



I would also search this web site for addtional info that might help you out.



Dave