Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift Pump leaks due to ULSDF, warning from Cummins!

[BK]

I was searching the web for info for another thread here,while doing that I found an interesting link / PDF.



http://www.blueridgediesel.com/CUMMINS TSB_082905[1].pdf



States that a seal in the Lift Pump can leak from ULSDF.



It seems by the p/n on the Cummins Early warning, that the newer lift pumps aren't effected?



The Early Warning lists the original p/n... 3990105



The $70 lift pumps we've bought are 4932707.

Which is not listed on the warning.

We know from all the investigation into the $70 lift pump that a very new number and had other changes, maybe the seal too?



Or maybe the part number didn't exist at that time of the early warning?



I emailed the folks at http://www.blueridgediesel.com/ to see if they know.



Will post their reply if I hear from them.



In the mean time...

Any one have some concrete insight?



-Bob

 

[Texas Diesel]

More good news





Thanks for the heads up.

 

[BK]

No problem. Real interesting and didnt remember seeing anything on the forum about it.

I haven't gotten a reply yet from the site that posted it.

 

[BK]

Got a reply from the shop, Blue Ridge Diesel that posted the Cummins notice.



Seem like good folks, a shop that's into solid diesel repairs, on stock systems and for reliability. Not into bombing. The one gent I emailed back and forth with is a TDR member as well.



If they find anything further, they're gonna let me know.



I'm also going to forward them the link to this thread since they are members.

He did say in his email to me that they respect the rules on the forum and are a bit hesitant to post in fear it may seem like they are "selling".



But these guys are knee deep in it and have solid info and experience to offer.



I have no association with them, other than 1st tripping over them when googling about the LP, trying to find another site with the pigtail adapter p/n for the LP, for another thread.



Hopefully the TDR members of Blue Ridge Diesel will just add on to the thread as they find info out.



Any way. . got their permission to post their email reply to me.



I think there's good input in it, so here it is in it's entirety.....

Greetings! Thanks for your inquiry. We have asked the same question, and also about the additive. We have received several different answers (opinions) depending upon the branches we contacted. However, in contacting Stanadyne, and talking to our fuel injection manufacturers, the problem seems to come from the solvent properties (less lubricity) of the new ULSD fuel attacking the seals that are “set” from the use of fuel with 500ppm sulfur fuels. We experienced the same situation around 1993 when the sulfur requirements were lowered to 500ppm max. The recommendations are that after the ULSD fuel is mandated, and it is the only “over the road” fuel out there, once a leaking seal is replaced, it should be fine. I have not heard that part number 4932707 is affected. It seems that with the new part, and using only ULSD with the proper lubrication additive should remedy the situation. I guess we will have to wait and see if they include part number 4932707 in any future correspondence.



The use of an additive is surely a good idea, and it is purely your choice to do so. Any OEM seems to be hesitant to endorse another manufacturer’s product of any type due to the legalities and issues that must be resolved with their research & legal departments before recommendations are made. And as you know, any one company looks to see if they can offer a similar product and make money on it before they tell someone to go somewhere else to obtain it. You can rest assured that Stanadyne has had and continues to hold major OEM endorsements, and they continue to stay in the forefront in technology in manufacturing quality fuel system components and products to protect them. We wholeheartedly recommend and use their additives without any reservations, and have used their additives with continued success since the ‘80s.



Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.



Best regards,

Gerald

www.blueridgediesel.com

-- email address removed --

800-476-0456

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I especially like this paragraph in the above:

Any OEM seems to be hesitant to endorse another manufacturer’s product of any type due to the legalities and issues that must be resolved with their research & legal departments before recommendations are made. And as you know, any one company looks to see if they can offer a similar product and make money on it before they tell someone to go somewhere else to obtain it.

I remember quite well how Cummins aggressively recommended AGAINST the need for fuel additives for diesel fuel - UNTIL they came out with one of their own... :-laf :-laf



"It's worthless SNAKE OIL - unless/until OUR name is on the label, and the cash is going into OUR cash registers!"

 

[BK]

One of the last TDR mags had a nice inclusion in one of the columns about just that.



Seems now there maybe a real need for it??

I remember all the talk when the first reduction came.

And all the Cummins' statements that no additives are needed and can only be a problem... yadayadayada.



And I can see that if Cummins has no idea what's in it. . and it might screw something up, a seal or something.



Now when this other super duper low sulfur fuel hits the pumps... it sounds as if the sulfur content is soo low. . I just thought we might have VP44 problems and or lift pump lub problems, never thought about the seals.

 

[dcoffman]

I especially like this paragraph in the above:







I remember quite well how Cummins aggressively recommended AGAINST the need for fuel additives for diesel fuel - UNTIL they came out with one of their own... :-laf :-laf



"It's worthless SNAKE OIL - unless/until OUR name is on the label, and the cash is going into OUR cash registers!"

I remember also and have been using Howell's additive since about 20000 miles and now have 139000. My first LP went at 19000. I'm on my 2nd LP,I think it's worth it. MHO

 

[gtobey]

Additives...

I remember also and have been using Howell's additive since about 20000 miles and now have 139000. My first LP went at 19000. I'm on my 2nd LP,I think it's worth it. MHO

Hey there, folks! BK, I enjoyed conversing with you via e-mail, as it my turn to reply back to you, and I hope to do more soon!



You folks are right, there are a lot of background "going-ons" that take place before any additive can be recommended by another company, some of which involve the pictures of dead presidents. That's just a fact of business. But now that we've got the ULSD hitting us in the pump and injectors, as well as in the wallets, one has to do something to try to protect what he has left! I have used a quality additive in all of my diesel vehicles since '81, and I was particularly fond of the performance of that additive in my daughter's '83 Volvo with the non-turbo VW six cylinder, (old pokey smokey, but it was good for a young girl because she couldn't hot rod it and it was built like a tank), that ran over 200K miles with nary a pump or injector failure. Boy did that save ol' dad from major expenses when she was on the road in college! I digress...



Bottom line... . pick an additive that does what it says it does, one you believe in, and use it faithfully. Not every now and then... , but in every tank, and especially in the recommended concentration. Don't add more just because if a little is good, a lot is better. That logic doesn't seem to work the same with the ULSD!



For more information, please read the great article in the TDR issue 54 written by Doug Leno about ULSD and about additives. There is some great information there.



Makes me shudder when I think that there may be a shortage of "winterized" diesel this year... .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Makes me shudder when I think that there may be a shortage of "winterized" diesel this year... .

FROM a related thread - apparently the Kerosene normally used to dilute #2 diesel for colder weather use is itself too high in sulphur content to legally use to winterize ULSD - so there isn't a clear method to provide cold temp protection other than additives like Stanadyne and Power Service.



Sure speaks well for the "technology intelligence" of those nice folks making decisions about what fuels the public is allowed (required!) to use, doesn't it!

 

[R.ebel]

Fuel

I'm already seeing the price of fuel go up in the S. E. Wyoming area, now I know why. I new something was going on. The price usually drops pretty hard in this area of the U. S. during the colder months of the year but I guess not any more thanks to the EPA!!!

 

[gtobey]

I'm already seeing the price of fuel go up in the S. E. Wyoming area, now I know why. I new something was going on. The price usually drops pretty hard in this area of the U. S. during the colder months of the year but I guess not any more thanks to the EPA!!!

It's the old "Less for more" theory at work...