Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) So who has the most miles on their lift pump?

[Turbo Trucker]

I have 114k miles on my pump so far, truck is stock. I don't have a guage, but mileage and power are both fine still. What's the most a lift pump has gone?

 

[DarrellB]

67k here, I have 275 hp injectors and a PM2 and the pump just keeps on going. 15/17psi at idle, and 8psi at WOT.



You might want to get a temporary gauge and give it a check though. Many of pumps have died and no one has known till it's too late.



My friend just picked up his 02 and I checked the pressure for him and it was only 6psi at WOT.



Give it a quik pressure check just to be safe.



Darrell

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Mine made it 131k. Fortunately cummins nw had one in stock so my truck was only down a couple of hours until i replaced it. Now that it has failed Im gonna install a pusher pump. Your lift pump will last a long time but way below minimum pressures. It is not wise to not give your injection pump an insufficient fuel supply. Check your pressure frequently or buy a guage. You will sleep better at night. I know i do.

 

[LSMITH]

Just over 100K on mine right now. Still going fine.

 

[ARARAR]

How long

67k on my stock pump and it's going down hill. Readings were 12 @idle and 9 @wot, 10-11 cruising when I first added a gauge @ 35k. Now 0 sometimes but mostly 8 @idle and 5 @wot, 7@cruising. Time for a replacement.

 

[3dracer]

A good friend of mine here in town has 145,000 miles on his original. It is a 98'5 also...

 

[brobeson]

I have 2 trucks

My 98 made it to 85K

My 2001 made it to 95K.



Both time the trucks kept running, just would not go very fast, and I was able to get to a dodge dealership.



Bob

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I have 90,500 miles. Idle press. 13+ psi; wot press. 10 psi.



Also have original brakes with 1/3 pads left. I use a PacBrake also.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

brobeson - If it was to the point where you had that kind of driveability problem then your lift pumps were below the current spec of 8 psi min at WOT for a LOOOOONG time. I put at least 20,000 miles on my truck with no noticeable drivability problems with a bad lift pump. From my talks with vendors you have to get down into the 5-7 inches of VACUUM before you have those kind of problems.



WWadell - I'll bet you the cost of a replacement lift pump that if you put a fuel pressure gauge on your truck that you will find that your lift pump is well below the spec. EVERY single person that had significant mileage on their trucks (>50,000) and I asked if they'd checked their pressures and said "no, but it's driving fine" after they put a gauge on found their lift pump was bad. We're talking well over 20 people. I can't think of an event I've been to in the last two years that someone hasn't replaced their lift pump after finding out about the issue and checking it with a pressure gauge - and the vast majority of those were going down to ZERO psi of fuel pressure under load. Unless you put a gauge on your truck you simply cannot know whether you have a bad lift pump or not. There are a few lucky ones out there - but they are few and far between. `

 

[Pit Bull]

Got to agree with Steve. Mine drove just fine. Put a guage on it and it had "0" PSI.

 

[LWINGATE]

What type of guage and where would you mount it to check it out?

 

[juicedcummins]

Steve's got a point about the pres being down.

The lift pump I'm running only has 10k on it and it is about to fail. Today on the way home from a northern fishing trip it was acting up to the point I only saw 2psi @ cruise and comp off. The next step was to put on the coveralls and switch it out with a spare untill it came back to 10psi.

I'm trying to fiqure out how to get warranty out of cummins on this one with it being so wild .

 

[Texas Diesel]

41,000 and 14/12 PSI and I'm on borrowed time :{

My fuel pressure gauge is watched closely and I have a 7 PSI warning light that another TDR member told me how to install, it only was about $20 and gives me peace of mind, someting the llift pump never did. On a recent trip to Florida a borrowed lift rode under the back seat, just in case I couldnt make it to a dealership.

 

[lsenus]

I had 89000 before the injector pump went. I have no idea when the lift pump died. I had no performance issues at all. I tow nearly every weekend going to/from horse shows. Then one day, leaving work, my truck made the most hideous sound. No more injector pump. Thank god for the warranty. $3000 for a new injector pump will hurt. Needless to say, gauges have been ordered and should be here today, and in by morning.

 

[TomGolden]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Got to agree with Steve. Mine drove just fine. Put a guage on it and it had "0" PSI.

Amen and hail Mary... ...



Mine had 44K miles on it when it died yesterday. I had never had even a temp gauge, because I upgraded my fuel lines last year from the banjos to Webber fittings, and so had no place to plug in the Briar Hopper test gauge I bought a few months back.



Anyway, after having my SPA pressure gauge installed yesterday, the pump died. When I changed fuel filters less than 2K miles ago, it worked just fine, as it refilled the fuel filter cannister, which I always drain when changing the filter. Up until this point, I had *never* felt any surging, sputtering, or any other type of problems with the fueling system.



Just ordered a new one from Cummins West in Sacramento for $149.



Tom

 

[JHansen]

My fuel pressure gauge saved me from walking and/or having to replace a failed VP44-I honestly don't know which is worse . My personal opinion-I would NEVER run one of these trucks again without a fuel pressure gauge! When mine failed, it would start wildly fluctuating in pressure-after a while it would level out at a decent pressure. I can't help but wonder without a gauge how long it would have gone before total failure-I'm thinking not very long... ... .



Some people (not TDR members) I've talked to can't be bothered to run a gauge-or flat out refuse. Their prerogative-I've towed at least 1 of these guys home when his packed it in on a lease... ... .



Jason

 

[geusterman]

Anybody know what Chrysler has done since 1998 with this system? What changes have been made to the lift pumps or systems since it was discovered as a weak area? Are the new trucks remedied? Has ANYTHING been set right in the last 4 years or does Chrysler just love warrentee work? George

 

[JHansen]

Here's what I think George!

There have been I don't remember how many changes to the lift pump itself trying to remedy the problem... ... . IN MY OPINION (sorry to yell but I don't want somebody stomping my neck) the new pumps are better-but the idea of using an electric pump to try and suck fuel 10 feet and lift it to boot is insane! The on-block lift pump may work alright on a medium-duty truck (less distance to pull the fuel) or a farm tractor (tank is generally above the engine height-wise) but it's a godawful stupid idea on these trucks. Shame on Cummins engineering for perpetuating this setup to begin with-and DC engineering for not telling them to stick it where the sun shines and engineer a proper fix. Again IN MY OPINION, the only ways to fix the problem properly are 1. to add a pusher to feed the stocker, 2. remount the stocker down by the tank, or 3. go to an in-tank pump. I'm pursuing option # 3-probably a couple weeks though before I get around to it more seriously.....



Get a gauge man-you'll be better off for it!



Jason

 

[geusterman]

Thanks Jason. A set of gages are high on my "first things first" list of improvements. I have 1300 miles now and want to start logging it's vitals. Then we tweak away... .



An intank pump makes me nervous regarding roadside repairs. I like the additional pump post tank idea. Has anyone been able to document the longevity with that solution? Just curious...

George

 

[JHansen]

There's a thread or two floating around on here about pusher pumps and how many miles have been clocked in on them... ... . but I don't have it off the top of my head . Steve St. Laurent was the leader of the pack-hopefully he'll chime in here with the applicable thread.



Jason