Poll ; how many mechanical fuel pressure gauge users actually had a leak in the cab

[barbwire]

I am thinking of using a mech. gauge in A pillar, and want to know how many people actually have had leaks in their cabs from them. TIA for responses

 

[Joe G.]

I did. The leak caused a small moat around the t-case shift lever. I changed to an electronic 40 PSI Westach Gauge. So far, I have a lot better performance and no danger of fuel in the cab. I have no experience with other brands of electronic FP gauges so can't comment on performance of those gauges.

 

[Oil Burner]

barbwire,

I just had a sending unit fail on my electronic gauge (westach) after about 14 months of use without a snubber. I ordered a mechanical gauge with an isolator (runs ethylene glycol to the cab and not diesel fuel). I realize that leaking either fluid will not be a good thing, but I need a reliable set up. Just my experience so far. I have a buddy who has had a mechanical gauge for a year with no leaks. Put a snubber or needle valve in line or it may vibrate (especially if attached at the VP).

-Jason

 

[Joe G.]

I should have mentioned above that I left the snubber and needle valve from my mechanical gauge in place when I installed my electronic gauge. I've been running mine for over 30K miles now. Works perfect.

 

[Billy Diesel]

I've run a mechanical with an isolator for just under a year now with no problems.

 

[SEmerson]

I use mechanical in both trucks. Never a problem. If there is a concern just run a isolator.

 

[FATCAT]

I had a leak

... on the first day of running the guage, but it was just a matter of tightening up all the connections real tight.



Make sure you have a snubber or needle valve to quite down the pulsations.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I ran one in the cab WITHOUT a snubber...



Talk about noisy!!



Matt

 

[Oil Burner]

Holeshot,

I drove one to Muncie from Pittsburgh PA with a mechanical gauge and no snubber. I thought I was going to flip out half way across Ohio.

-Jason

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I feel your pain.



I only ran that setup for about 2 hours total. I drove it to work one morning (45 miles)... and disconnected it on my lunch break. :-laf



Now my truck is 1200 miles from here... collecting dust.



Matt

 

[barbwire]

OK another question

I guess that one question leads to another Now I learned something more that I had no idea existed. This noise situation. I take it that without a snubber, that the gauge makes unwanted noise,correct? If this is the case, Does the snubber eliminate almost 100% of the noise? I do not need anymore things to compete with the radio unnecessarily.

From all that I read on TDR, it would seem that the mechanical gauges are more reliable, more acurate, and not to mention (cheaper). A person wants more goodies for his rig, so, you can't spend all your money in one place, if ya know what I mean.

So, if at all possible, I want to go with a mech. gauge. But, if it is not feasibly

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Ran a mechanical without an isolator on my 2001 and didn't have leakage.



I had no snubber either, I rethreaded my gauge to accept 1/8" NPT fitting and used the thin tubing that is used for boost gauges. I tapped into the line at the bottom of my filter canister It was quiet as a mouse and cost $35



Vaughn

 

[Dreher]

I've had two mechanical guages in my cab for over a year and neither has leaked any fuel. They are both snubbed with needle valves.



Bob

 

[barbwire]

Perfect settup

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

Ran a mechanical without an isolator on my 2001 and didn't have leakage.



I had no snubber either, I rethreaded my gauge to accept 1/8" NPT fitting and used the thin tubing that is used for boost gauges. I tapped into the line at the bottom of my filter canister It was quiet as a mouse and cost $35



Vaughn

Vaughn, this is the setup system that I believe that I was looking for. Do you think that the 2004 setup will be almost identical? The price is right anyway.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Keep in mind that there's a BIG difference between an electric lift pump (ISB, ISBe) and a mechanical lift pump (6BT).



The mechanical lift pump sends out some NASTY pulses of fuel that get transmitted via the sender line to the gauge in the cab. Without a snubber, It's loud... very loud.



Matt

 

[barbwire]

Matt, is it just the first gen. of trucks that have the mechanical lift pumps? This would not be an issue on the 98. 5 and newer would it?

 

[Chipstien]

Originally posted by barbwire

Matt, is it just the first gen. of trucks that have the mechanical lift pumps? This would not be an issue on the 98. 5 and newer would it?

All 98. 5 and newer 2nd Gens use the electric lift pump.

 

[Chipstien]

I know Bill Fleming (illflem) has been using the setup the Vaughn uses for years and his has never leaked. I have been using a Mechanical guage in my truck for almost 2 years with a needle valve and no isolater and have had no problems. However, I couldn't scrounge up the courage to use 1/8" nylon boost line. Seems too easy to wear through if it happened to touch anything. I spent a little more and had a 1/4" Stainless braided teflon line with 4-an fitting on one end and a 1/8" npt on the other. A little overkill but at least the Stainless braiding "almost" eliminates the chance of something wearing through the line. Too bad there is no 1/8" braided line.



BTW, what has happened to Bill..... he hasn't posted since the 4th of December.

 

[barbwire]

I'm not sure, but I think I know

A little overkill but at least the Stainless braiding "almost" eliminates the chance of something wearing through the line. Too bad there is no 1/8" braided line.



BTW, what has happened to Bill..... he hasn't posted since the 4th of December. [/B][/QUOTE]



I think that Bill became angry because of a political bout here on the TDR, but I am not sure. Someone will surely verbally backhand me if I am not correct on this. But,I do miss Bill's input on subjects pertaining to our trucks. His knowledge is very helpful to people like me who need to hear from people like him with the experience that he has.

As far as the overkill goes, I thinks, better safe than sorry,eh?

Now I just need to order my gauges... ... .

 

[The patriot]

I run a cyberdyne electric. Two senders. One pre filter, one post filter.

I feel I should have gone mechanical.

Even with a brand new filter I have at least 2 psi drop. Guess the senders arent all that accurate.



I missed the whole illfelm debacle(sp?). I was stuck at work all that week.



Eric