Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need some lift pump advice-which way to go?

[WaltHess]

My LP finally died after 210,000 miles. 2001, 3500 HO 6spd 4X4-- bone stock.



I am considering the FASS HPFP since I have never had water in my fuel yet, and the truck is bone stock. Not really sure I need a huge pump when the stock pump flowed enough fuel for my use. I like the idea of the lifetime warranty over the 4 year DDRP. Looking for the most cost effective way to go.



Anyone have FASS problems?



I read that Air Dog / FASS are made by father/son, so I take it that they are very similar.



Can it be mounted in the stock location, or does it have to go on the frame?



Any problems running a HPFP through stock lines, and filter? The stock pump does 20GPH, so how does 95GPH get handled without causing too much resistance to the pump?



Can another year/generation pump be used?



Can another brand Ford/GM be used ? Are they more reliable?



Is there another off the shelf fuel pump that will do the job, at a better price?



Money is tight at the moment, but I do not mind spending the money now if I will save down the road. I just want the best pump for my money.







I need the truck up and running as soon as possible since I have a chance to make some money with it. The company I work for in Utah wants me to do some of the scrap, and material runs into Los Angeles until they get a company truck (used Ford 450/550 flatbed with a 6. 0) I have no problem doing this as the mileage will add up nicely for me money wise being a 900 mile round trip. The truck is used mainly for towing my various trailers, 12',18',19', 40' flatbeds. The heaviest that I was able to get a scale weight on was 18,000#, but I know that I have had heavier loads since then. This is moving my machinery etc, with an occasional tow/haul for someone else. Rarely now does the truck go somewhere empty, or without a trailer hooked up. I do not plan on any power upgrades. Mainly looking to get an exhaust brake, and some gauges with the hauling money.



Thanks for the input, Walt

 

[ChrisOlson]

Hello Walt
after 6 lift pumps I relocated my lift pump to the frame rail and went to the big line kit this lift pump lasted the longest of all the others by quite some time. GAUGES if you do not have them.

I take a lot of grief here on the forums for not getting a supper dooper aftermarket brand but I can get a replacement lift pump at any cummins dealer in the country and I carry a spare. with the frame rail relocation I can change out the lift pump in 10 mins. with very little fuss and no muss.

the supper dooper after market pumps are awesome I am sure. but my above choice workes for me

Good luck.

Chris

 

[JLandry]

Walt,



I agree with Chris, except for an otherwise stock truck, I'd recommend you consider an Airtex gearotor lift pump. It's a direct replacement for the OEM Carter lift pump (bolts right up in stock location or can be relocated), performs much better, yet often costs less. I've been using one for a couple of years now and typically see 18 psi it idle, 13 psi at cruise, and 9 psi at full throttle under heavy load (towing).



Best regards,



John L.

 

[TPetroff]

Walt,



I agree with Chris, except for an otherwise stock truck, I'd recommend you consider an Airtex gearotor lift pump. It's a direct replacement for the OEM Carter lift pump (bolts right up in stock location or can be relocated), performs much better, yet often costs less. I've been using one for a couple of years now and typically see 18 psi it idle, 13 psi at cruise, and 9 psi at full throttle under heavy load (towing).



Best regards,



John L.

That's a Great price on that Airtex pump.

I'm currently using the Cummins campaign pump with no problems as yet,but bought the airtex pump through CarQuest for a spare/or to replace when time allows. Same pump, List for over $220.

my cost $161. still more than Dieselmanor

TGP

 

[JLandry]

... for a spare/or to replace when time allows.

As reliable as the Airtex lift pump seems to be, I still carry a spare in my truck at all times because of how critical good fuel pressure is to the VP44. I sort of look at it as cheap insurance... and I don't like having my truck down while waiting for parts.



John L.

 

[JMetzger]

After 5 lift pumps I said enough was enough. I went with the FASS HPFP 95 & the Vulcan Big Line fuel kit. It mounts on the left side bed wheel well. Have had it on for almost 3 years and knock on wood I have not had any problems. The price of the whole two kits was cheaper then 5 OEM lift pumps. Run 16 PSI at idle & never less than 13 PSI WOT.

 

[mhenon]

Hello Walt

after 6 lift pumps I relocated my lift pump to the frame rail and went to the big line kit this lift pump lasted the longest of all the others by quite some time. GAUGES if you do not have them.



I take a lot of grief here on the forums for not getting a supper dooper aftermarket brand but I can get a replacement lift pump at any cummins dealer in the country and I carry a spare. with the frame rail relocation I can change out the lift pump in 10 mins. with very little fuss and no muss.



the supper dooper after market pumps are awesome I am sure. but my above choice workes for me



Good luck.



Chris

That's the way I went. I picked up a few spare pumps from the Cummins dealer and installed a fuel pressure gauge (gotta have a gauge!!). As Chris said changing pumps is a snap and keeping a spare in the glovebox won't break the bank.

The after market pumps are nice there's no doubt. I may actually go that route some day. For now I have two spares to go and have only replaced one Carter LP in 116K miles That one was still running... just sounded funny.

JMO... Mike

 

[WaltHess]

OK, you guys have me a little confused. Money wise a new LP from Cummins here is $176, and has a 90 warranty. So 2 pumps are $350, and 3 would be $528. I can get the FASS HPFP for just over $400 which has a lifetime warranty, and a better track record of lifespan. I figure I was extremely lucky to get the life I did out of mine. If I was confident that I would get another 210,000 out of the next pump I would go with a factory, but I am leery of them after what I have read. My brother who also has an 01 lost his at 90,000. I could see installing the HPFP, and leaving the original setup in place, so that in an emergency I could get an OEM pump put back on. Then again, the FASS pumps are being sold in more, and more places now, so they may not be that hard to locate away from home.



I will look into the AIRTEX.

 

[ChrisOlson]

Hello again Walt
A lifetime warrenty from sooper dooper pumps does not do you any good when you are in a mountian Pass in a pull out with out an operating lift pump and no cell Phone service. you say there are more and more places that carry the sooper dooper pumps. But the warrenty that comes with The sooper dooper pumps is honered from the parent company not from the shops across the country where you did not purchase the pump. All electrical pumps fail at some point even the soopper dooper ones even the mechinacial ones do as well. I am all for up grading and trying different things. But having parts on hand and being able to change them is priceless when traveling.

I am not bad mouthing the Sooper dooper Pumps I have considered several of these pumps but have done what I have done with my set up simply for convience.

I also travel remote and back roads a lot. I carry lots of spare parts and tools as well.

I have considerd the gear rotor as a replacement but still would carry a spare carter or 2.

have a great day

Chris

 

[Allnew2Me]

I had all the same concerns and came up with this solution. I didn't see the need for the FASS with the filters as I wanted to keep the stock filter/heater. I used the FASS 95 and it works great.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...002/190424-no-more-lift-pump-troubles-me.html



It has been flawless since I installed it.

 

[JMetzger]

Like I said earlier I went with a super dooper pump because I was on I 70 on the Eisenhauer pass & the pump went out so I said no problem & replaced it Went about 1 mile and that wonderful OEM went out, and no cell service. If I have to carry a bunch spare pumps I am going to something differnt which I did

 

[Tomscreek]

Have you checked out the direct replacement pump from Geno's?

 

[ChrisOlson]

Hello
just for calirifaction I would like to add I only used the term sooper dooper as a general term for all of the aftermarket pump systems, I did not want to attack any one brand and I was not trying to be funny. and I am sure they are all good products. just not for me.

have a great day.

Chris

 

[darkhorse]

There are a number of good pumps on the market now. I went with a FASS 95 HPFP with a big line kit through the original filter. It has worked flawlessly for 3 years. btw, any pump will work better back by the tank.

 

[WaltHess]

Thanks for the help guys. I ended up with a HPFP from a local dealer. Most of my use is on trips to my folks estate outside the SF Bay Area, and to make scrap/material runs to L. A. for where I work in Utah. With the HPFP I can leave the factory piping , and use an OEM in an emergency. But, than again where I am driving there probably wouldn't be much of an emergency, not like living in Alaska, where one's survival could be in doubt. So, Chris , I can see your reasoning.



The DDRP had a few detractors, and it has a 4 year warranty. The reports I read on the HPFP have been good with one guy already putting 300,000 miles on his. I do not drive my truck everyday like some of you guys. I parked mine when fuel got too expensive to use it as a commuter. I commute 200 miles a day , 1000 miles a week minimum to work, and back. I use a 1998 Saturn SW2 wagon for that now. Great little car. I paid $2,500 for it with 98,000 on the clock. It currently has 212,000+ miles on it, with zero problems. Averaging 35-37 MPG @ 75mph, and I have gotten a best of 43. 2 mpg. A guy at work has a Ford Ranger with 450,000 miles with no work to the engine, 3 transmissions, but no engine work. So, what I am saying is that one solution may not work for everyone, but with some knowledge we can make an informed decision that works best for us. As the old axiom says---Your mileage may vary.





Thanks for the help, now I have to get it installed. Any tricks, or tips on that? I like the idea of mounting it horizontally to get it up, and out of the way like others have done.

 

[JMetzger]

I just put mine in the way the instructions that came with the pump said to do. Was really not that hard of a job.

 

[aviatorman]

Hey Walt: Why change horses now? My lift pump is 8 years old and 120K on it. The reason it's lived this long is I took it off the side of the Engine block and put it down on the frame rails with the Vulcan relo kit. Get another Carter Lift Pump, and if ya haven't done it yet,, put it on the frame rail. My pump still puts out 14 psi and wide open throttle drops to 9 psi.

 

[WaltHess]

Just an update on this. I went with the FASS HPFP, and installing it was pretty straight forward, biggest problem was getting the fuel line off the tank. Their instructions could use better pictures though, dark and nondescript. Working good so far. Yes it cost more than a stock pump, but they seem to have a better track record of durability. If I could believe a stock one would go another 210,000 I'd use it, but they seem to go at random mileages, so I went for the aftermarket unit. Thanks for the input, and the truck currently has almost 240,000 on the clock.

 

[kevgkbg]

? iff i relocate lift pump do i have to take old pump out. never done on 2000 3500 its in a tight spot

 

[WaltHess]

I left mine in when I installed the Fass HPFP.