Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Permanent fuel pressure gauge hookup?

[Matthug]

Well like the title says I want to hook up a permanent fuel pressure guage but was wondering how to do it. I was wondering if I could do it with the banjo fitting where the fuel inlet is? I know this is where a lot of people test it, but I was wondering if any harm would come from using that to hook up a permanent gauge?

Also, the biggest question, will the banjo bolt for the 24V engines also work for the 12 valve? I'm having trouble finding the right one, will somebody please tell me if this one will work-

http://www.dieselmanor.com/dm_products/DM-DBBLT.asp



Thanks in advance.

 

[Joe G.]

I doubt that a 24 valve banjo fitting will work. I drilled and tapped the banjo fitting where the fuel line attaches to the P7100 pump. Drill from the inside of the banjo fitting so the way the fitting is made will keep the drill bit straight. Tap it from the outside to 1/8" NPT. That's better location than on the fuel filter. Out of the way. You need some sort of snubber to keep the mechanical lift pump pressure spikes from killing the gauge or pressure sensor. I used a needle valve that is just barely open enough for the gauge to work. A grease gun hose goes from the needle valve to the sensor which is mounted on the fender well near the master cylinder so the sensor is protected from engine vibration.



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[EKlem]

Joe G's advice is dead on. That is exactly what I did on my truck. I also got my stuff from dieselmanor. We did my roomates 24V at the same time so I took the banjo bolt that he was supplied with and tried it in my truck but it didn't work. It isn't too bad to just drill out your own banjo bolt.

 

[Matthug]

Hey i never thought about drilling the stock banjo, thanks guys!

 

[WDixon27]

kept my stock banjo and drilled/tapped another to use with the gauge, that way if something happened with the feed line to the gauge on the road i could just put the stock banjo back in, the banjo i used came from a power steering system and was the same size and shape as the stock unit

Hey i never thought about drilling the stock banjo, thanks guys!

 

[Matthug]

Can you get a new stock banjo from cummins? There's a dealer 5 miles from my house.

 

[Joe G.]

Actually, you don't need another one. If something goes wrong with the gauge set up you can use a 1/8" NPT pipe plug in the banjo fitting.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I did mine just like Joe's also. My first sender started leaking a few years back while out on a mountain top in CO and I simply shut the needle valve off until I got the sender replaced. The needle valve is a must on a 12 valve, unless you have done away with the mechanical lift pump, to tame the pulses.

 

[WDixon27]

thought of that and have one of those in the bag of crap in my glovebox too, mainly i didn't want to screw up my stock bolt so i tapped another and used that

Actually, you don't need another one. If something goes wrong with the gauge set up you can use a 1/8" NPT pipe plug in the banjo fitting.

 

[WDixon27]

my isspro gauge and diaphram isolator set up doesn't bounce, i am plumbed in after the filter so i don't know how much that helps on my 12 valve

The needle valve is a must on a 12 valve, unless you have done away with the mechanical lift pump, to tame the pulses.

 

[CumminsPower98]

my isspro gauge and diaphram isolator set up doesn't bounce, i am plumbed in after the filter so i don't know how much that helps on my 12 valve

Maybe the isolator takes care of it for you I don't know. Mine is eletric and without the valve it would bounce bad and kill the sender.

 

[Joe G.]

I originally set mine up for a mechanical gauge. It worked ok, but was kind of ugly. I didn't want a 30 PSI gauge because that is too low for a 12 valve. 60 PSI seems to be too high. My other gauges are Westach so I got hold of them. They have a 40 PSI gauge so I bought that. It is supposed to have a sender that lift pump pressure spikes don't bother. Being kind of a sceptic about those kind of claims and having the set up with the needle valve already in place I'm useing it. Maybe I should have got a 50 PSI gauge instead. Mine will peg the 40 PSI in some instances. Most of the time it is in the high 20s and low 30s.



The gauge on a 12 valve helps to head off problems like air leaks and plugged filters before they get bad enough to cause a starting problem or make you walk. And if you have some sort of fueling problem the gauge will help you figure out what is wrong.

 

[Matthug]

^Thats exactly why I want to install one! I was planning the 60 PSI gauge. I figure hey I'm running a 60 PSI boost gauge and only really running 30 PSI boost so it's no big deal that the FP gauge only goes that high too.

Can anybody tell me where to get that needle valve? And if it's some place like NAPA can I get a part number? Thanks much guys!

 

[Joe G.]

Dunno about the part number. The guy at NAPA got one from their fitting box. Pretty common fitting actually. I've seen them at the hardware store I use. Also at the marine hardware store I use for hard to get stuff.