Pusher pump question

[Cobra]

I just put gauges on my 01. 5. The truck has 10,000 miles on the clock. At idle it shows 14. 5 to 16 psi on fuel pressure and I made three runs at WOT. The pressure never fell below 8 psi. My truck was manufactured 8/00.

With the high pressure results, can I assume that my lift pump is strong enough that I don't have to consider putting a pusher pump on my truck.



Oh yeah, my truck is stock and I don't intend to bomb it.



Thanks of the info,. I hope Steve St Laurent and Even A. Beck read and reply.

 

[Lsfarm]

Strong for now

Cobra, don't be fooled! Your pump is only good for now, it will probably fail. Mine just did!



I put my gauges on at 10,600 miles, I had the identical readings as you have. Now at 14,750 miles the pump will sometimes drop to 1-2 psi at WOT, the pressure wanders around from 5-10 psi, and the pump is noticeably making more noise. Sometimes it takes over a minute to prime and make any pressure.



The reason that these pumps fail is that they are pulling the fuel from the tank, pumps like to push fluids, not pull.



The reason the pusher pump just in front of the tank is added is that it supplies fuel to the factory pump so that it will not die an early death.



I'm getting my pump replaced under warrantee [hopefully] Monday, and if they won't treat me right, I will buy one from Cummins [about 1/3 the price] and do it myself.



Either way I will install the pusher pump this week too!!



This is why we install gauges! Greg L

 

[tmacc]

Hey Bill,

How's it going? I see you changed your profile.

We just put a Enterprise pusher pump on *ICEMAN*'s truck today. Works great. Pegged the fuel pres. gauge. Couldn't do any real testing because of the wet roads, but w/ EZ & PM3 on #6, never went below 10psi. Oh, we also installed Ray's banjo bolts and drilled out the schaeder valves and the banjo fitting between the fuel filter and lift pump while we were at it. Hammer was also there to lend a hand. We may do a group pusher pump/banjo bolt fest in the future. We'll keep you posted. I think this is a worth while modification. Even if your going to keep things stock. (Me thinks thou doest protest too much. "I want keep it stock. " Well,... . maybe a 4" exhaust. )LOL

Tom

 

[dan_gilson]

Are there any recomendations for pusher pumps?



I have a prime-loc and had Cummins measure the fuel pressure after its installation because I was worried about pressure to my main pump. I gets pretty low at max HP@2700 RPM. Cummins says that as long as it does not draw a vacuum it is OK. The main pump is designed to run at a low pressure. It still concerns me with all the post about lift pumps going bad and killing the main pump.

 

[RJOL]

Fuel Pressure Gauge

Originally posted by dan_gilson

It still concerns me with all the post about lift pumps going bad and killing the main pump.

That's why a lot of us have installed fuel pressure gauges. What you look for is erradic readings before the lift pump totally fails. That way you catch it before it kills the VP44... .

 

[Todd T]

Cobra, as long as you keep an eye on your guage, you should be OK.



but dont assume it will never go out just because you are stock.



for you guys of the same thinking, you should make it part of you regular maintenance to check FP on a regular basis. see the thread from Briar Hopper about a cheapy guage for testing with.

 

[HeberRam]

Fuel Gauge!

Cobra... . Todd T is right. Depending where you tapped in either before or after the fuel filter, you can determine if your fuel filter is causing restricton. I recommend if you haven't already, change out your fuel filter and then you will have a good bench mark. If you add "bombing" items in the future ie, injectors, fueling boxes or larger turbo you will notice a decrease in pressure. I recommend everyone should install a fuel pressure gauge as I feel its just as important as the other gauges. You will now be able to determine if your lift pump starts to fail... You can then save your injection pump... . Heber

 

[Cobra]

TMACC

Hey Tom,

I have been riding Harleys forever. So to me putting on a good sounding exhaust is not considered bombing, just normal operations. It's great to hear a nice exhaust note. Music to my ears.

 

[rickhans]

Questions:

1. Has anyone had a lift pump failure while a pusher pump was installed?



2. If so, did DC void the warranty because of the pusher pump being installed?



3. If the lift pump fails, out of warranty, would it not be cheaper and easier to install a high pressure pusher pump, disconnecting the 12V from the failed lift pump, or will the failed lift pump put a restriction on the fuel flow?



4. I also have an '83 suburban with 6. 2 with around 225k miles. It is retired. I always carried a cheap electric fuel pump with hose and clamps in my tool box and used it a few times. It was handy for bleeding the air after fuel filter changes (there are 2 on the 6. 2) and for pumping gasoline out of the diesel tank. I figured that I would splice it in and hot wire it if I ever had a failure in the lift pump, but it was mechanical and I don't remember ever changing it. What kind of problem would it create on the Ram to do a temporary install keeping 12v on it all the time in the event of a failure on the road. Will it damage the injector pump with too much pressure?