Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) oversidzed aftermarket fuel tank pickup tube...Is it needed??

[SGrasmick]

Talked to a guy tonight who claimed he was running 50 psi on a hx35w which i doubted from the beginning and he was astonished that I did not have some oversized fuel pickup tube that I should install in my tank for more fuel to be supplied to my F. A. S. S. fuel system, I have not personally ever heard of this part and quite honestly do not think it will be that beneficial to have.



Took a ride in his truck and all I saw was a housing on the turbo that was way bigger than my hx35 housing, guessing it was an hx40 but he swears it was a 35, didnt have time to verify turbo id plate







Just wanted to run this by everyone as I had a 3500 running 12. 70's with mach 6's and a silverbullet and never had any fuel starving issues..... I am not trying to sound ignorant to this part but have just never been advised that this should be part of my setup as I have never also heard of a stock hx35 running 50psi either!!!







Is this fuel pickup tube in the tank necessary??

 

[Cummins724]

I talked to a few guys who had a Fass with stock pickup tube then changed it due to similar recommendations. They said that they didn't notice any changes in the truck after installing the bigger pickup tube. When I installed my draw straw, I noticed that my stock pickup metal lines were rusted badly & starting to seep. I'm glad that I changed mine out. As for the turbo, I ran 45psi when I had my HX35 before learning any better. It is possible to run those pressures, but he is just pumping hot air into the engine as the turbo is operating way out of its efficiency range. That truck has to be getting high egts.

 

[rkressg]

I personally run a 1/2" pickup in the tank (a hose with a T-Fitting on the bottom), but I doubt it makes any difference. I did not want any differences in fuel hose diameter (or at least to minimize them) because I run the 1/2" the entire way to the VP44.

To be honest, I doubt it makes any difference. I did re-plumb all the fittings to remove the quick release fuel fittings. The connections are all now long enough (excluding the fill and overflow neck) that I can drop the tank to the ground with out having to disconnect the fuel lines. This makes working on/removing the tank much easier.

On the Turbo, yes, you can probably get 50psi out of an HX35, but like Cummins724 said, you are way beyond the efficiency range of that turbo. 35-40psi is beyond the max for that turbo, anything beyond that really does nothing but make heat (although you might still get more performance from the higher PSI).

I would like to see that guy's EGTs at that PSI and RPM. I bet they are way over 1700 deg.

 

[SGrasmick]

Clamis he runs 1500 which is doubtful because I CAN bury a 1600 degree gauge on level 3 with my TST alone, loking at his compressor housing its about 1' bigger in diameter than my housing, was chatting with HTT today about my future 64 71 turbo and asked about the 35/ 40 hybrid and he confirmed this guys turbo is def the hybrid, after taking a ride in the truck, the turbo just sounds totally different than a "stock" hx35w turbo

Thanks for all the info, as I have seen a few other forums that have also confirmed that the larger pickup tube is essentially pointless. Last year I installed a flow meter on my return line and at no point in time did the flow meter read that there was no return in fuel back to the tank, so obviously that stock pickup tube is efficient enough!!

 

[rweis]

Flow meter on the return line. What are the highest readings you have read on the flow meter, say during towing or higher rpm say over 2500rpm?



Bob Weis

 

[SGrasmick]

I put in a flow meter and it measured in ounces and I dont remember the exact reading as it was a year ago but I do remember it was a good bit still returning

 

[AFoulk]

I installed mine basically just to make life easier on my FASS system so it didn't have to work as hard to draw fuel out of the tank. I don't know if it really helps at all, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[fox]

I had the draw straw for a while and couldn't get pressure when it was at 1/4 tank or lower.

Changed it back to stock and all is fine now.

Many will argue this, but that is my experience.

 

[NoSeeUm]

I installed mine basically just to make life easier on my FASS system so it didn't have to work as hard to draw fuel out of the tank. I don't know if it really helps at all, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

I run a GS-392, but that pretty much is the reason I did mine. No sense going 1/2 way if you are going to do it.



Probably not needed depending upon your fueling.



Jim

 

[Ncostello]

My 99 had stainless steel lines from the tank. Difficult to cut under there, harder to bend.



Knowing what I know about the stock pickup and fuel module... the draw straw isn't a bad idea at all. You might get by without it... but I'd say barely with any types of HP upgrades.

 

[SGrasmick]

Like I said I was running 525hp with no aftermarket tube. I have never even heard of it until some 18 year old kid decided to flip out that I did not have one installed

 

[Cummins724]

I've had my draw straw for probably 3 years now & I've run my truck into the red zone many times. I don't lose any pressure at all. The problem that alot of guys have is that they either cut the tube too short or too much of a angle. I made sure that my tube touched the bottom of the tank & cut it at a slight angle. It works just like stock. What alot of guys don't understand is that the tank will bow down some in the middle when it is being held by the tank straps. You gotta make the tube touch the bottom of the tank.

 

[AFoulk]

Yeah,thats where I screwed up with mine. I have the drawstraw in the fuel tank module, but I had the tank sitting on the floor when I measured and cut my mine. I didn't give it any thought to acount for the tank bowing when it was back in the truck. I ran mine down to just below 1/8 of a tank today, and when I came to a stop facing down hill, my f/p gauge fluctuated and hovered around 7psi. Once I took off and got on level ground again it was fine.

 

[Cummins724]

Yeah,thats where I screwed up with mine. I have the drawstraw in the fuel tank module, but I had the tank sitting on the floor when I measured and cut my mine. I didn't give it any thought to acount for the tank bowing when it was back in the truck. I ran mine down to just below 1/8 of a tank today, and when I came to a stop facing down hill, my f/p gauge fluctuated and hovered around 7psi. Once I took off and got on level ground again it was fine.

I have the original draw straw also, the one that goes inside of the module. I cut everything out except for the bottom screen.

 

[NoSeeUm]

I have the original draw straw also, the one that goes inside of the module. I cut everything out except for the bottom screen.

Same here. I have not had any low fuel problems yet.



Jim