Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift Pump Failures and Fuel Additives

[Sageair]

I have posted this twice b4 so if they all show up at once I apologize. Has any one who uses a fuel additive with added lubricating properties suffered a lift pump failure? I specifically ask this of those who use such an additive every or every other tankful.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Yes, I religiously used fuel additive (Stanadyne Performance formula) through 4 lift pump failures.

 

[DavidC]

Yes every tank. 36000 miles pressure was marginal 11psi idle 5psi wot. Installed new pump but while doing this I also found the rear pump cover stud engine side loose. The loose stud could have been my problem but by then I just went ahead an installed the new pump. If I get ambitious some day I will reinstall the old pump with all the studs tight just to see what happens.



Dave

 

[Whitmore]

Yes, I have used Stanadyne with every tank full and with 40k on the clock I am on my 3rd pump now.

 

[Bigsaint]

Ditto, every fill up.



Scott W.

 

[jrollins]

well i have run power service diesel clean, marvel mystery oil and now i just use Howe's i don't use it every fill up but i use it one or twice a month sometimes more. i have never replaced a lift pump and i have 117,000 miles. .

 

[Big White Beast]

Chip......

Have you ever checked your fuel pressure??



Not trying to be smart but some people haven't noticed a problem so they never check. Doesn't mean the pump is still good.



Garrett

 

[BillH]

Every fill-up. The L/P on my '01 went at 24000 miles, on my '02 it went at 4000 miles and the VP shortly after.



Bill

 

[jwdeeming]

My lift pump failed at about 30k miles. I don't recall ever using additives prior to that.



I put an additive in about every other tank now and at nearly 80k miles the second lift pump is holding - but I don't believe there's a correlation.



I use an additive made for and sold at Johnson's Corner Truckstop ('World Famous Cinnamon Rolls") - my scientific seat-o-the-pants meter says it runs smoother, a tad less smoke, and a tad better mpg.



And yes, "tad" is a number.

 

[overfueled]

carter lift pumps (OEM)

I run dual carter replacement pumps (P4600HP 7 psi, P4601HP 15 psi) with 3/8 SS lines. I got 11 months on the first set of carters before they went south ( I live in the north). I am working on the 2nd set. I took a look inside to find out just what went bad, to my surprises I found out. It was not the motor, or the rotor vain (the pump). It was the nylon bushing that connects the two shafts between them. The motor had more than enough power to rotate the shaft, where I think the problem lies is in the viscosity of diesel at –10 deg F. It appeared to be too much for that bushing and the slot wore out at less than 12,000 miles and would no longer engage the shaft to rotate the pump. Both of my pump problems have been in the winter. If carter which makes the OEM lift pump put a steel bushing in the pump a lot of problems would have not happened. Or maybe they would have. I think that the bushing will wear out anyway it is just a matter if time. Like I said the problem is enhanced when the viscosity of diesel at –10 deg F. it is to great for the plastic bushing over time. OverFueled



Also I use Amsoil Diesel Fuel Modifier with every tank.

 

[jrollins]

Re: Chip......

Originally posted by Big White Beast

Have you ever checked your fuel pressure??



Not trying to be smart but some people haven't noticed a problem so they never check. Doesn't't mean the pump is still good.



Garrett

Yep, i have a isspro fuel gauge installed in the truck, at idle i get around 11psi and at WOT i get about 7psi.

 

[MAllred]

I use Howe's every fillup and have had no lift pump failures in 118,000 miles. Nope - havn't checked pressures but the truck is stronger now than when new...

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Howe's religously and... ... ... Lift pump what lift pump?

 

[BIG BOB]

Power Service every tank. I have now gone through 5 Mallorys. The latest one was last week with just over 12,000 miles on it. The one before that had about 6,500 miles on it.



Looking real hard at the PE4200.

 

[pcarlson]

I use additives (Power Service or Stanadyne) almost every tank. Lost the VP44 at 13,000 and my original lift pump still has healthy pressures.

 

[me4osu]

Bought truck with 60K miles and used Power Service religiously. Lift pump said adios at 82K. Since then, I installed a FP gauge and have used either Standadyne PF or John Deere Summer Formula in every tank.



Currently I have 128K miles and 14 psig at idle and 12 psig at WOT.

 

[JyRO]

A d/a question but...

I'd say you guys have talked about this before but I've not ever seen or read about it. What kind of fuel pump do the other ISB applications use? Surely they don't use the same POS LP that used in the D/C. Especially for marine use. If that fuel pump was known, couldn't we retro-fit that onto our trucks and be done with it? Granted, there maybe be fit problems, and likely cost problems. Personally I wouldn't bother until my truck is past 100,000 miles. But once it is, this is an avenue I would explore if it was worthwhile.



BTW, no additives before losing the LP (at ~45,000 miles). But am now using Stanadyne PF.



pcarlson - I think that's the 1st time I've ever read someone report they lost a VP with a good LP. Perhaps its more common than I thought. Interesting.



- JyRO

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The other ISB applications use the same pump as ours. However, in the vast majority of those installations the pump is a LOT closer to the fuel tank than in our application. ex - medium duty trucks usually have saddle tanks under the cab right behind the hood rather than under the bed behind the cab.

 

[JyRO]

Hmmm...

Steve - I realize their is a head loss difference. A different set of parameters on their fluid dynamics having the tanks closer. I wonder though if those trucks have LP issues anyway. Or is the LP, that much more reliable with the tank close like that.



Which leads me to this question. I wonder if the LB trucks have more LP issues than the SB trucks? Is a poll in order?



- JyRO