Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) So is the VP44 just a maintenance item?

[VicR]

Been seeing a lot of posts in the past 6 months about VP44's just up and dying without the 'usual' warnings. Don't know if these trucks are just getting to that age or if its a ULSD thing or what. Like many of you I depend on the truck to take me to some pretty remote areas of the country where a dead VP44 would be more then just inconvenient. Is it time to start looking at the VP44 as a maintenance item (like a water pump) and replace it in the comfort of my own garage rather then wait for it to break?



-Vic

 

[rjrkihap]

Hey Vic;



Others will chime in with more knowledge than myself, however these pumps do seem to have a limited lifespan. I have been told that on average they will function for around 150,000 miles (as they are rotary style pumps). Mine (with a completely stock setup) made it 90,000 miles. Had I been monitoring the lift pump (my stupidity) it might have survived longer. I know asking the VP44 to do much more than stock (ie tapping the wire to achieve more fuel delivery) does have a life shortening effect.



As for replacing it in the comfort of you garage, yes this is possible depending on you skill level.



Just my thoughts.



Ron

 

[rweis]

Could be,



There are a couple of us trying different things trying to keep it from being a "maintenance item". Fuel cooling, after shutdown air cooling, replacing lp to MUCH better fuel feed pumps, much better fuel pickup in the tank, etc.



There are many many threads on the VP44 for sure, and you may indeed be correct that it is a "maintenance item", but at what time interval?



Some have failures as short as 50k, some as long as 250k. DC replaced mine at 53k and I am trying to make this one go 250k+ (200k to go).



I think it is like anything else, we are just now really learning HOW to take care of it well (RASP, Walbro, FASS, big lines, fuel bypass' back to the tank, cool fuel, lubricity, GOOD volume, correct psi (13. 5), super clean fuel to name a few).



Bob Weis

 

[FLynes]

I'm having an AirDog installed today, as I write this post... hopefully this new addition will help my VP44 live longer, but if it doesn't I'm getting a new one from Blue Chip; they seem to have done their homework on the VP's weaknesses. Either way, I now have the go-ahead from my wife to do what I need on the truck, after our scare on Saturday. After the AirDog install, I'm putting in gauges, one of those being to keep an eye on the fuel pressure.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Automatic trannies are typically good for roughly 125K miles - and run well over $1K for repair/replacement. A good set of tires lasts 50-100K miles, depending on usage - and cost over $1k for replacement...



I figure any of the VP-44's rebuilt by major Bosch shops, containing all the latest revisions, should go well over 100K miles, and the rebuilts are currently going for a bit over $1K - so yeah, as long as I can count on mine lasting well above 100K miles, I'm willing to consider it a "maintenance item"...



Time will tell! :-laf

 

[rjrkihap]

Hi All,



I have been wondering about the availability of the VP44's in the not so distant future. If they are "maintenance items" as seems to be the case, then how much longer will they (a rebuilt VP44) be available. We're already hearing cases where the 1st Gen crowd is not able to find parts for their trucks. Also, from what I understand, there are no more new VP44's available. Although this is not necessarily a bad thing, it still makes me wonder how many times can a pump be rebuilt?



Just my thoughts.



Ron

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Hey Vic;



however these pumps do seem to have a limited lifespan. I know asking the VP44 to do much more than stock (ie tapping the wire to achieve more fuel delivery) does have a life shortening effect.



Ron

175,000 miles on mine, wire has been tapped since 40,000. The wife 06 had to be towed the other day with 10,005 miles on it because of a dead lift pump. My 93 ate the injection pump at around 100-120,000, as far as I am personally concern the VP-44 24 valve truck are the most dependable, mine has never left me stranded or worried that I won't make it home.



Keep your tank as full as possible, fill up at half tank and read some of Bob's information. I've always filled my tank early which is going to give more cooling so I think Bob is on to something here.

 

[Jefff929]

Is it time to start looking at the VP44 as a maintenance item (like a water pump) and replace it in the comfort of my own garage rather then wait for it to break?



-Vic

How is the water pump a maintenance item? If the water pump fails I would like it to be in my yard. Will it happen that way, IDK? what is the change interval used?



I consider a maintenance item belts and hoses, stuff I can say x-years or miles and I need to do something. Trany or break fluid changes done every 2 years.



How does this relate to a VP44? I know of guys who have gone through 3 VPs in the time I have changed 0 @ 125k. They are at the mercy of the auto god(s), and **** and moan all the while doing little or nothing to solve or prevent further failures. I monitor fuel pressure, use a lubricant, have a FASS and have spent a fair amount of time and money educating myself and prolonging the usable life of the pump I hope. Am I bullet proof? no, I'm not that arrogant, and think it could happen at any time. I look at the VP like a power steering pump, it may last the life of the vehicle or not, when it is time it will get replaced. Hopefully, I am not out in central or eastern Oregon between Burns and the Heart mountain refuge. That would suck, because I will likely be pulling my trailer.

 

[RCrosby]

vp-44

hey guys, I just meet up with an old buddy about four day ago. that those hot shot driving here in south la. I have not seen him in about a year, he has a 2001-3500, and he pulls a goose neck trailer. he told me he had some minor problems in the past, the big problem was the 6 speed transmission had to be rebuild at about 320,000 miles, and you may not believe it are not, his vp-44 pump was just change out. at 470,000 miles. in mid. December. i looked at the pump an it was new, he told me that he never added any thing to the fuel. fuel up and roll. he said that maybe his truck did good because he is working it. maybe my 2001 may be that lucky. not with my luck.

 

[mhenon]

Been seeing a lot of posts in the past 6 months about VP44's just up and dying without the 'usual' warnings. Don't know if these trucks are just getting to that age or if its a ULSD thing or what. Like many of you I depend on the truck to take me to some pretty remote areas of the country where a dead VP44 would be more then just inconvenient. Is it time to start looking at the VP44 as a maintenance item (like a water pump) and replace it in the comfort of my own garage rather then wait for it to break?

-Vic

For what it's worth I drove on a 0216 code for six months before getting the VP swapped out. It occasionally went into the limp mode, some white smoke and surging but never left my stranded.

As long as you don't sieze the pump from over-heating or lack of fuel I don't think it will die without plenty of warning.

Get a fuel pressure gauge (that's mandatory) and keep the tank full. You should be fine.

Mike

 

[Fordiesel69]

Stupid question, the 24 valve got the VP44 in 98' and im sure it was tested before then, after all this time why can't it simply be fixed or updated so it is not so fragile. Can;t they find they exact source of failure and simply improve that part? An injector pump should not just up and quit because you starved it from fuel by accident.



Is it something electrical that fails or some mechanical part inside?

 

[mhenon]

... . Is it something electrical that fails or some mechanical part inside?

Yes... to both! The latest pumps are a step up from OEM. With reasonable care and feeding they should last. I don't worry about mine near as much as I use to.

Mike

 

[monkeyman]

The VP44 was changed several times before it was superseded by the CR. Steady clean fuel and a decent pressure it will last. The 216 code is electrical and it will run longer with that code. I blew my original one with to much pressure!
Rick

 

[BeefDoc]

My VP44 failed today, no warning whatsoever. Driving down a residential street 30mph, died just like I shut off the switch. Mechanic says the internal electronics are shelled. 270K on the truck, FASS, fuel gauge and always lots of fuel in the tank.

 

[rweis]

My VP44 failed today, no warning whatsoever. Driving down a residential street 30mph, died just like I shut off the switch. Mechanic says the internal electronics are shelled. 270K on the truck, FASS, fuel gauge and always lots of fuel in the tank.

This is exactely what cooling the fuel and after engine shutdown blower are all about. 270k is a really long distance before the PSG probably desoldered some connection and then it "is shelled". It could have been PSG component failure as well. Rotor failure?



When youdrive your truck, what is your driving style? Do you drive long distances (hours) at a time?, do you drive it for a short time?, do you idle it for long periods? do you use additive in the fuel?, anti-gell? Do you do anything other than fuel it and run it?



Bob Weis

 

[BeefDoc]

My driving style is variable, I do not "beat" on my truck, but many times I use it hard. I do not regualrly accelerate heavily or "get into it". The truck weighs 10k all of the time (I had to hire a low boy to haul it to the dealership when it died) and I do pull it some on the farm. I am a cow veterinarian, so I drive some long distances, do a lot of short trips, and in the winter it idles a lot. Many days it runs 12-16hrs (when its 0 or below). I do have a high idle solenoid on it so the engine temp stays in the operating range during idling. I run powerservice year round (white jug), I tried a product called CA-40 for 15k this past summer, did not see improvement, went back to powerservice. I try to run #2 fuel year round, if it smells #1, mileage goes down, lots of extra pings, and no power. I do have a 95 FASS, change the fuel filter every 2-300hrs, oil every 100-150hrs (Cenex TMS diesel oil).

I found a VP44 with less than 10k on it that will go in the truck tomorrow, along with new Bosch 300hp injectors. Hopefully, these will go another 270K.



Matt