Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Life expectancy on VP44

[IdahoJim]

Assuming good fuel pressure from the lift pump, and a stock engine, what sort of miles should be expected from the VP44 in my '01? I spend a good deal of time in some country 50 or more miles from the nearest pavement. I worry about being stranded with a bad injection pump. I've currently got about 125,000+ miles on my outfit. I recently replaced my stock lift pump witha new OEM unit and did the Vulcan Big Line relocation. Before replacement my fuel pressure was in the 5-10 range. Now it's a solid 14-16.

 

[Supermod56]

That's pushing it with a 125K, how long did you run it with the reduced pressure? I bought a 44 to keep in the trailer when we are on the road racing, don't want all that stuff crapped out somewhere!! Might want to consider it



Tom

 

[BarryG]

I am on my third pump. First one lasted 72k second one lasted 70k. Sure hope this one last longer than that. My first one my lift pump was not great. Second one always had good pressure. Now I have a rasp and it definitely has good pressure all the time. We will see what happens this go around.

 

[n7gxz]

My first VP44 went out at about 90K but it died from an internal electrical problem and not a mechanical failure. I have about 30K on my second one now and it is still going strong.

 

[TowPro]

I talked to the current owner of my 98 the other day. I put 98K on it, he is now at 125K and still on original VP44. I put 2 lift pumps on it when I had it. Pump wire was never pierced.

 

[COWBOYDUALLY]

Vp 44

My dad has used his 01 ho 6 speed for long mile hotshot trucking only, he his the most meticulous person ive ever met when it comes to maintence. he never had any mods no extra gauges BONE STOCK!!!!! that truck is now in retirement, he uses a business class freight shaker now with a caterpillar 3126. the 01 has i believe over 300,000 on it now with the original vp44 on it.

his TDR handle is TSearls, ask him about it, its hard to believe and he sill uses it for trips to New York about two times a year... ..... Jeremy

would i go that far with mine? nope but with the mods i have maybe i will be as lucky, probably not i like POWER!!!!!!! :-laf

 

[Graphic man]

160,000 and still running strong on the original VP44 (knock on wood) :-laf





Scott

 

[Rman]

I've seen my friends go 225k with a comp tapped in for 200k of it.

 

[Supermod56]

My first VP44 went out at about 90K but it died from an internal electrical problem and not a mechanical failure. I have about 30K on my second one now and it is still going strong.

That is the usual cause, they get hot and smoke the electronics if they don't have enough fuel to cool em, they also have a bushing inside that goes bad also.



Tom

 

[DirtyDodge]

When my original pump went, it was not instantly. I got a check engine light and over the next month the pump slowly died. I think alot of people know it's coming before it happens. If you get the check engine light. you can always cycle your key switch on off on off on with one second inervals between them. It will display a code where your milage is displayed. If you get the 0216 (think that's the pump code, someone will correct me if I am wrong) you know it's coming real soon.



Good luck with it, I wish mine lasted as long as yours. It died at 66k.



Derek

 

[IdahoJim]

Thanks to all who responded

It didn't run very long with the single-digit pressures, and I don't drive hell-bent-for-leather, so I'm probably OK for awhile yet. The truck runs very well. I was concerned because I'd seen so many posts of trucks just suddenly stopping. Not something I want to have happen 50 miles from nowhere in the wilds of southern Idaho.

 

[Short Stack]

Vp44

You guys are lucky, my first wen't @ 46K, :{ the second @ 62K, :{ on my third still going @ 83K knock on wood. Oo.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

143,200 plus a little bit and still the original VP, when I bought the truck with 24,000 the lift pump was dead, I replaced that and then tapped the pump wire at around 42,339 miles. I was around 80,000 miles before I started using additive. Some last some don't, the post above by COWBOYDUALLY proves my personal theory somewhat, trucks that get driven alot don't eat VP's, if you drive short distances they like to die.

 

[rweis]

Turbo Tim 1 ... Some last some don't, the post above by COWBOYDUALLY proves my personal theory somewhat, trucks that get driven alot don't eat VP's, if you drive short distances they like to die.



I think that is the point about the FedEx start, stop, start, stop, ... . and the heat cycles of the electronics is one of the prime causes of VP44 problems.



A couple of us are working VP44 cooling issue ideas; fuel coolers, engine shutdown blowers to limit heat soak, fine tuning the input psi. Of course we could be barking up the wrong tree also .



My personal goal is to keep the VP44 temp to no more than OAT+0* to OAT+10*.



Bob Weis

 

[Mundgyver]

I have 160,000+ on my VP. My fuel lines were expaned out ot 3/8th ID all the way to the VP when I put my FASS on over 100,000+ ago and I run a cooler also.

 

[FourBarR]

I have 392,000kms (235000k) on original vp-44. stock except for kn filter, and 4in. exhaust. 3 lp last one back at tank. always put howes meaner in every tank and since 50,000k added mmo with the howes.

 

[IdahoJim]

I've been following your tests with great interest. I appreciate the trouble you've gone to trying to help everyboby get good life out of their VP-44's... thanks

 

[IdahoJim]

Maybe that's why mine has lasted, too...

I have 392,000kms (235000k) on original vp-44. stock except for kn filter, and 4in. exhaust. 3 lp last one back at tank. always put howes meaner in every tank and since 50,000k added mmo with the howes.

I used Power Service in my truck from day 1 until about 100K. I just started using it again.

 

[FourBarR]

sorry on the post on the life of the vp44. and p74213 lp it is a direct replacement of the oem pump. last price was 210. 00 plus taxes. hope this helps.