Okay, here goes... I'm kinda beat up today, so if I miss something, let me know.
Received my new anodized
PURPLE PE4200 today, as promised by the guys at PE. Took 2 hours of personal time from work tonight to get it installed and the truck back on the road. Since I was draining the majority of the inbound fuel lines, decided it was a good time for a fuel filter replacement as well, since it was due.
Exterior view, the 4200 is a clone of the 4100. The provided mounting holes ( 1/4"x20) are all in the same locations as well. I ditched the rubberized mounts the 4100 came with and, using my existing bracket that I had mounted for the 4100, used 4 SS bolts with SS washers ( 1 lock and 1 flat per bolt) along with a rubber flat washer on each bolt on the pump side to help isolate vibration. Bolted right up and worked well. DO NOT use the provided rubber isolater bolts that come with the PE pumps. They are very unstable and cannot support the weight of the pump. If you go to my readers rigs of the TDR and look under PE4100, you will see that I had to add a zip tie to temporarily support the pump after my initial installation of the 4100. The rest of the install was the same as the 4100. The hot wire runs from a relay under the hood, that uses the original wire that powered the OEM lift pump as a trigger/switch to close the relay and power the pump. The use of a relay is not optional with the PE pumps. It's a must as the pump draws more amps. than the OEM pump. Inbound and outbound fuel lines to and from the pump remain the same as what I used with the 4100. The inbound line to the 4200 is -8AN, which is attached to the hardline ( which is cut just forward of the tank) via a Earl's compression fitting. Outbound from the pump is again -8AN, which is downsized to -6AN with a fitting, to fit my -6AN Weber fitting at the inlet to the fuel filter. The ground wire is attached to the frame, adjacent to the pump using a self tapping bolt and a "O" ring connector, which I soldered to the ground wire. I solder all connections and then shrink wrap same as the conditions under the truck are pretty hostile 'round here, especially in the winter months. All wires are then covered with wire loom to clean up the install.
I keyed on twice, not bumping the starter, to be sure diesel was present in the pump. I then bumped the starter 3 times ( fuel filter change) and fired her up. Heres where I became confused. The pump jumped right up to around 22 psi's ( my gauge only goes to 20) and then setteled around 18 psi's. It was cold and the grid heaters kicked in. Instead of the psi's dropping, they jumped back to 20 psi's everytime the grid heaters kicked in. With the 4100 and Mallory pumps, I ALWAYS observed a decrease in psi's when the GH's were on. Expected it in fact, as we all know how much they draw. After the GH's stopped running I allowed the truck to warm up to running temp while idling with the ebrake on. The psi's pre-filter had settled to 14-15 psi's pre-filter. Somewhat less than I expected. I checked the fuel fittings for leaks then took a test ride.
Here's where I thought I had a problem. Watching both the pre and post FP gauges, the pump was swinging the psi's from 15-20 under light to moderate throttle. Not consistantly swinging them, just on now and then. I hit the open road and nailed a heavy throttle WOT run, the psi's post filter stayed no lower than 10-11, despite the lower reading of 14-15 psi's that I saw at idle. Again, on occasion, the psi's would jump to 18-20 while under throttle, with no apparent trend. I thought I had just installed another lemon and was pretty disgusted with what I was seeing.
I returned home and decied to check the voltage with a multi meter while the truck was idling. At the pumps connection I read 13. 8v, all good. I called PE and spoke with John. I advised John on what my psi's were and the swings I was seeing. The only explanation that I could think of was one radical internal bypass system, so I asked him and he affirmed my thought. The PE4200 has a bypass (at least mine) that actually compensates for fuel delivery and hopefully reduces the risk of cavitation at the pump. John stated the swings I was observing were due to the bypass in action. I have no idea on how it works, but I can tell ya that I could not pull the pump below 10-11 at a full WOT run, so I'm happy. My at idle psi's actually rose to around 16 after I had taken the trip, guessing due to the warmer fuel.
As always, time will tell. I'm way back on the install list for the 4200. I don't know who has the first in our application, perhaps brother TDR member Cscott ? Regardless, I am convinced that the guys at PE are determined to help us in this endeavor. They backed their warranty with a new pump and I will post a failure analysis of the the 4100 as soon as I receive same. While I have difficulty celebrating a company that provided me with a pump that failed after 9 months of service, their customer support is second to none. John at PE stated that they now have around 25 4200 series pumps in service in our application. To date, no 4200s have failed. I hope that my short run with the 4100 will provide them with the data needed to build us a bulletproof pump that will last. If nothing else, that purple pump looks pretty darn good under my salt covered truck

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Scott W.