Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) OOPS! Lookout, Heads Up!, FYI, Beware

[Steve Robinson]

If you are looking to buy a Fass DDRP lift pump, HEADS UP: They have a high failure rate. But LOOKOUT: their small print will kill you. What I mean is, don't even think of buying one from any dealer except the few which Fass calls, "Authorized Dealer" or you will have no warranty. Further, after you find one of these dealers, you have to contact Fass to see if Fass has "Terminated/Unauthorized" them or not. Talk about jumping customers through the hoops. It gets worse: if you want to return a new unused pump to them, Fass will not give you your money back OOPS! I'll quote their warranty information, "... returns must be offset by an equal value order. " in other words you'll get merchandise but not your money.



FYI: I'm on my second (and last) DDRP before I became "educated. " The first one failed and killed my injection pump. Don't let this happen to you. With my second DDRP only on the truck one week, it only provides 16 pounds at idle and 7 WOT. These pumps are not any good and I think the company runs their customers over all the hurdles, because they know it and don't want to refund customer's money. Bad business practice and I don't think they'll be around long because of it. My pump has been on the truck less than a week and I can't replace it soon enough, with a pump manufactured by a different company. Beware!

 

[DAN V]

Steve, I would check out Bluechipdiesel.com. They have a couple of really good pumps. The one I have been looking at is I believe the FRRP. It puts out a constant 15 PSI all the time IIRC. Just my opinion. Dan.

 

[Ncostello]

Since day one back when the prototypes were being pushed around at small diesel events... I've never been impressed with anything about FASS pumps of any kind. Nor their marketing hype. The pumps look like a giant Frankenstein setup with big hunks of aluminum stacked like legos topped off with hardware store brass 90's. And their whole explanation of entrained air and how their pump functions to remove it was like reading a second grade storybook to me. It's fine to quote Caterpillar and Cummins as to their feelings on entrained air... but no real explanation has ever been shown to me as to how this microscopic air is actually removed by a FASS. A pump sitting there running with some clear hoses hooked to it and some bubbles percolating around (which I can see) doesn't prove anything to me about microscopic air in diesel.



Furthermore, the motors look generic and so does the wiring going into them. The motors look like something I'd see on a bandsaw from Harbor Freight.



For me... I've always been waiting for a simple, compact, reliable and well designed pump with some OEM looking fittings (not hardware grade screw clamps that eat the hose and look more at home on a lawnmower) that does one thing... moves fuel under about 16psi from the fuel tank to the filter head up on the engine. And doesn't cost $600. FASS has never seemed to fit my requirements. Nor does Fuel Preporator (or AirDog or whatever it's gimmic name is). I believe they were the same thing at one time... with a bunch of inner family fighting and lawsuits.



Just my opinion... which I express from time to time on TDR.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Thank you Dan, As I've become more educated about lift pumps, I have read quite a bit about the different brands/models including testimonies from end users. The FRRP is an AirDog Raptor pump. This pump is meant to bolt into the position of the original lift pump, as does the Fass DDRP. Unfortunately, the Raptor has not had the reliability all have hoped for. Although some users claim they have had good results with the pump, many others have reported early failures. This is an expensive crap shoot, as I am sure you know. A loose consensus believes mounting the pump directly to the engine, subjects it to a damaging vibration, which leads to its failure. Personally, I have no idea if vibration is the killer or if it is a design flaw. To me, and I suspect you may feel the same, I want a pump that will give me years of failure-free service, and the reason for a failed pump is only of distant importance. What I believe about the Raptor FRRP and the Fass DDRP is the chance of failure is just too great for me, and I'm willing to spend more money to avoid being stranded in the Mojave Desert, as my last DDRP caused. Thank you for the suggestion nonetheless. Steve

 

[DavidC]

A few guy's around here swear by this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/22052316000...em=&sspagename=ADME:X:AAQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr

Dave

 

[NIsaacs]

What I believe about the Raptor FRRP and the Fass DDRP is the chance of failure is just too great for me, and I'm willing to spend more money to avoid being stranded in the Mojave Desert, as my last DDRP caused. Steve

Just something to think about... ... if you go with an aftermarket high dollar pump and it goes south you can't get parts at the local parts store like you can the oem setup. I lost my oem at about 85k, changed to another oem and at about 170k before it died, changed it with an Airtex in the oem location. I now have 226k so I am about due again. The VP44 is original so far.



Nick

 

[DAN V]

A few guy's around here swear by this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/22052316000...em=&sspagename=ADME:X:AAQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr



Dave

Wouldn't the Walbro be the same as the kit to move the stock lift pump to the frame rail?

 

[DavidC]

Wouldn't the Walbro be the same as the kit to move the stock lift pump to the frame rail?

Different type of pump and supposedly very reliable. Try a search for walbro, maybe pm some of the guy's that have it and get their take on it. I have read a lot of good things on it and do not really remember reading any negatives.

Dave

 

[cerberusiam]

If you want reliability then go with the in-tank pump and replace the fuel lines with a larger size. The in-tank pump is more than capable of maintaining flow and pressure with a few mods. The only caveat is there is no data on life expectancy outside the factory pressures.

 

[JR]

I personally think the OEM lines are part of the problem no matter which pump you have. Like sucking down a big gulp through a tiny straw. If I were in your shoes since your sitting on a brand new pump I would do a relocation to the frame rail and upgrade your fuel lines from the top of the tank to the lift pump, from the lift pump to the fuel canister, and from the canister to the VP using either 3/8 or 1/2" lines. That will take care of the radical pressure drop you are seeing. It is hard for any pump to maintain consistent fuel pressure through the OEM lines. You will be putting less strain on the pump because you are now pushing fuel through larger lines, not pulling through a small one.

 

[cerberusiam]

I personally think the OEM lines are part of the problem no matter which pump you have. Like sucking down a big gulp through a tiny straw.

I totally agree. I thin a lot of the FASS and AD failures are due to restricted suction and too much resistance to pushing the fuel to the IP. Granted they are using some crap motors on them but a reduction in how hard it has to work would be a benefit and may make them a bit more reliable.

 

[mfurrh55]

my airdog had 1/2" lines and still crapped out

 

[JR]

my airdog had 1/2" lines and still crapped out

I'm not saying it makes them indestructable, just less likely of a failure. Like I said the bigger lines will definitely help minimize the pressure drops the OP is seeing, and PROBABLY help the pump survive a little longer than it would otherwise.



Lots of people are quick to throw a product under the bus when they have issues but how many are out there running perfectly fine day in and day out for years on end? We will probably never know for sure.



I'm Just trying to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

 

[VolsFan]

Totally agree with Diesel4life. I love this site for all of the useful information, has saved me a lot of time and money. But I think folks need to reevaluate before they make a blanket statement like "brand x is junk" I have always believed that there are far more happy owners than disgruntled ones when looking at the big picture. I don't think fass and airdog got to be large corporations by selling 'junk'. Had a situation a few yrs back when a contact swore that goulds well pumps were junk, went through three in a row that were allegedly defective. I knew this could not happen. Long story short wiring was wrong. something to think about

 

[mfurrh55]

I didn't say airdog was junk, i just got a bad one is all, And my fault for not sending the warranty card in, but i did have 1/2" fuel lines and it was wired correctly, Monte