lift pump drama...

[JLovas]

Need some advise here folks~



Replaced the factory lift pump on my 04 a couple years ago with the kit from Glacier Diesel that included a Walbro 392 pump. Factory lift pump was still working, but was concerned about its future and didn't want go with an in tank pump like the 05's+. I had been pleased with the kit until the Walbro pump failed on Friday. Kit was about 2 1/2 years old and about 40,000 miles on it. Called Napa trying to get a replacement pump and they couldn't find what I was looking but did find a pump for my 04, I said "Really?". I was well aware that the factory lift pump has been disconuned a couple years ago, but I went to Fargo to see what they had. Its was a Carter pump, with similiar flow/pressure ratings as the walbro, and was told the pump had female 1/4" pipe thread fittings, so I brought it home. The pump was a little different style and I knew I would have to make my own mounting bracket (on the frame rail, same location as the walbro), no problem I thought. Got the pump home and it doesn't have NPT, its a bango type thread and I didn't have any male bango thread to barbed 3/8" fittings. Latter I was reading the directions with the pump and its a replacement for a 1998-2002 ISB engine. Do I have the dreaded lift pump from the 2nd gen pickups that had so many problems!?!?! Has anyone else had problems with the Walbro pumps or replacing them??? I have the bracket already made for this Carter pump but don't want to intall it if I have to replace it every 40,000 miles. Need some advice from the vast collective knowledge of the TDR!! Thanks guys!



The Carter pump has a casting number of 13988F26B on it and the Napa number is P74213.



If this pump it ok to use, I presume I'll be able to find a fitting that's male bango to screw into the pump and 3/8 barbed to connect to my existing rubber fuel lines I used with the Glacier kit.



On Edit: I just got off Glacier's website and I see they don't offer this kit/pump anymore. Was the Walbro 392 pump prone to failure? I called Rich on Friday afternoon and left a message with him, but haven't heard back yet.

 

[TCDiesel]

The stock lift Pump 03/04 is available at Geno's,I am sure Glacier will take care of You. At present I have decided to Make a Adapter Plate that will allow two factory lift Pumps Mounted on the factory filter Housing, You will be able to run both Pumps at the same time or just shut down the additional Pump. I have already tested the circuit it works fine and will support two Pumps.

 

[JLandry]

JLovas,



I sure as heck wouldn't use that Carter pump you have... it's very unreliable and just not worth the risk.



I *think* the Walbro pump is functionally the same as what is currently used on Airtex pumps, which are becoming popular for aftermarket replacement on 98. 5 to 2002 24v engines. Take a look at this particular Airtex pump version which has barbed fittings on the ends instead of banjo bolts. The barbed fittings can be removed, but I can't say what threads you'll find in the pump housing... I don't believe they're NPT.



Airtex Pump for Frame Mounting



Good luck,



John L.

 

[DaveHess]

JLovas, Are you in Fargo??? I'll be there the 27-29 March out of Bismarck. Give me a shout will ya'?

 

[MFalkinham]

I have a Walbro 392 that I bought long ago prior to Glacier selling them. I bought a second Walbro to carry with me as a spare, but have never needed it. For the $100 price it is cheap insurance to me, especially during out-of-state trips. You can buy Walbros on eBay and could probably get one overnighted.

Just wondering, does the pump not spin at all when 12v power is applied? Also, did your install include a pre-pump strainer/filter? There was a time 2 years ago I though my Walbro was failing as the fuel pressures were jumping all over the place on my gauge. Turns out the fuel was gelling. This was when ULSD was just released and the anti-gel additive ratios weren't adequate.

Hope you get it figured out!

- Mike

 

[AMcCormick]

I just installed an air dog system after the stock failed. A bit pricey but it is an upgrade and has a lifetime warranty and can supply more clean pure fuel than I will ever be able to burn. The engine is running smoother after the new system.

 

[GaryOwen]

I had a Walbro pump fail at 42k miles that I purchased from Glacier. Replaced with a spare that I carried and have 247k mile on it with no problems.



I contacted Rich at Glacier on the pump failure and he wanted to see the pump. Returned it to him and he said that one of the brushes was completely worn out - the other looked new. May have been a bad batch of brushes?

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

The Walbro on my Son's 01' just went out this weekend. It's been on there 2-3 years and has 40-50k max on it. Called Richard at Glacier. Said he has a few left but has not been carriying them for about a year and a half. Got one on the way from him. He said most Speed shops carry the Walbro or you can get them off of E-bay.

 

[JLovas]

hmmmm, seems like there are a few problems with the pump... .



After some thought, I went to Midland Diesel and visited with them about recommendations and I ended up getting the Fass 95 system without the filters. I visited with a couple different techs there about the pros/cons of the extra filtration option. Midland specializes in diesel injection systems and I've done a fair amount of business with them in the past with my agriculture equipment so I value their judgement. They didn't seem too worried about the stock filter not being adequate, saying as long as your up on your filter maintainance, then you would probably be fine ( I change the fuel filter every oil change). One tech went so far as to say that he remembers reading a bulletin from Cummins stating that they were going from a 2 micron filter to a 5 micron filter in an attempt to avoid some filter plugging issues and injection pump/injector starving issues. Another con I saw with the Fass filter setup is that the filters are going to be on the frame rail where they will be subjected to cold temperatures. I've run straight #2 fuel with power service added since day one and have not had any fuel gelling issues, but my pickup sits in a heated shop when I'm not driving, which helps a lot. So based on those two factors, I went with the Fass 95/no filters setup. Hope these pumps will stand up a little better than the Walbro...



Thanks for the advise guys!

 

[HOBrian]

On Edit: I just got off Glacier's website and I see they don't offer this kit/pump anymore. Was the Walbro 392 pump prone to failure? I called Rich on Friday afternoon and left a message with him, but haven't heard back yet.

GDP no longer sells these because Richard would have to sll the entire line of product just to sell the pumps! Not worth it.