Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift Pump Failure Information

[RBallard]

Funny how information can come to you! I was at work yesterday, I am a fire protection product engineer and one of the items being worked on is a plastic glass bulb protector. Representatives of the company were in meeting with my boss. Later on my boss comes to me and we are talking and he mentioned that Cummins was working with this company in search for a new plastic to be used in the lift pumps. He goes on explaining how Cummins has experienced so many warranty claims. They contribute the failures to fuel drain back. Apparently when the truck sits for a period of time, fuel drains away from the vane and when initially started the plastic is damaged, or melted as he stated. My boss knows nothing about the Cummins motor or lifts pumps and may have jumbled some info. Some one on the list should be able to confirm if the impeller blades are plastic or not. I know someone confirmed that the bushing is plastic which may also be affected. If this were the case, wouldn't a plastic check valve solve the problem everyone is having.



Have to keep an eye out for lift pump numbers to change; supposedly they are very close to production of a new impeller.

 

[TomGolden]

Very interesting information. Thanks for sharing it with us. Will be interesting to see what, if anything actually becomes of this issue... .

 

[Whitmore]

The only plastic in the L/p is the coupling between the motor and the pump itself, the veins are steel as is the pump housing. The plastic coupling only represents about 10% of L/P failures. The spring and check ball for the spillback are steel too.



cheers, Kevin

 

[MAllred]

I buy it. I practically live in my truck on the job in driving 600 miles a day. Rarely does the truck sit for more than a day. The lift pump pressures on my original are within limits and the truck has 139,000 miles on it...