Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) lift pump elimination???

[TMills]

Ok, I have heard alot about the failure of our lift pumps and how they can leave you stranded on the side of a small country road at 3:00am with nobody around. I was wondering if anyone has figured out how to install a new different pump or a more reliable way to get fuel to the engine? I don't have a fuel pressure gauge and as far as I know my pump works just fine. I just don't want to be able to add my story to all the other stories out there.



This may have already been talked about and if it has I would like for someone to point me in the right direction or tell me what to search for.



Thanks

 

[jgillott]

There are some active threads on the FASS system out there now. I'm not going to go into any of the specifics, but some of my friends are having some good luck with them so far. I think that there are some other comparable systems out there, but I'm not very familiar with them. I am in no way trying to start another product war, I just happen to know several people who are now using the FASS, and I think that is the direction that I'm going to go before I have another Lift Pump failure.



A good first step for you would be to get a set of gauges in your truck so that you can monitor your fuel pressure. More important than being stranded along the road, is the damage that can be done to you injection pump from a prolonged low fuel pressure situation. Do a search on fuel pressure/lift pump pressure and you should have several days of good reading.









Justin

 

[ntillm01]

After reading the posts about the various failures and frustration people have with the lift pumps, consider a few thoughts from the gasoline side of the world. I have to remind myself of this every time I read about the lift pump being horrible and the stranded scenario and the visious damage it causes to the VP44 injector pump. These are all valid concerns, but...



Gasoline cars have a similar set-up with an electric pump.

I know of several gasoline pumps that fail as early as 20K.



Gasoline cars are garanteed not to run if their pump fails.

Several (including myself) continued to drive with a dead lift pump, almost unaware that it was.



So, I consider the Dodge/Cummins setup to be less risky, as far as being stranded, than a "normal" car or truck running on gasoline.

 

[rashwor]

You can do a search on Lift Pump and find many threads and thoughts. One thread that sums it up and is cost effective in making it happen is titled "Saving Private Carter". Many have had much success with moving the lift pump back in front of the tank.



The FASS can be expensive and does not have a long term track record yet.

 

[Ncostello]

If you dont have a guage... then as far as you know your pump isn't working is the way I look at it. You wouldn't really have a good clue otherwise. The cheapest thing to do is get one. You might go 100K miles before you have any problems.



Would be nice if you could just have a 1/2" line from the tank to the engine and not use a pump at all. If I had the money... I'd try this on a truck just to see how far the VP44 could go. Everyone knows it will run with a dead pump. But if there were basically no restrictions at all cept the filter... . Hmmmm.

 

[OTRPU]

Yup, it's a sneaky little devil, injector pump will suck it's little heart out trying to make up for what the LP isn't doing. I didn't have a clue until it was all over. By then it's too late, ignorance is bliss and I got to replace both. My best advice, get a guage or have someone check it, it's the only way to know for sure. Might save yourself a couple grand.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[Bfoot17]

My lift pump was failing and i knew it because i could not get it to prime back up. And I drove it at about 10,000 miles before it got the VP. This was also before I became a member of TDR.