Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Testing a Theory

[jrandol]

Ok, I would like to test a theory of mine about VP44 injection pumps and timing advancement. Please humor me here, I have no clue if this holds valid or not but I would like to get accurate results. Please take the following poll ONLY as it applies to you.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Over 20,000 miles on my '02 - vast majority towing, lots of steep grades with Comp running on 5x5 - NO VP-44 problems...



AHHhh - but the CLUTCH - well, THAT'S a different story...

 

[pwr2tow]

Your Poll is not very clear to me on what your trying to accomplish.



What's the difference between choice 1 and 3?



What's the difference between choice 2 and 4?



I could answer the same for 1 and 3 or I could answer the same for choice 2 and 4.



Eliminate choice 1 and 2 or add failed to sentence would make more sense to me. Maybe I'am missing something. Please explain to me, it's been a long day.

 

[jwdeeming]

70,000 miles on the setup in my sig. Lift pump failed once, but the VP is ok.

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by ronsram1999

Your Poll is not very clear to me on what your trying to accomplish.



What's the difference between choice 1 and 3?



What's the difference between choice 2 and 4?



I could answer the same for 1 and 3 or I could answer the same for choice 2 and 4.



Eliminate choice 1 and 2 or add failed to sentence would make more sense to me. Maybe I'am missing something. Please explain to me, it's been a long day.

I cant change the poll now. The difference between 1 & 3 is 3 means your pump is still intact with the timing box (read the poll title)

Same scenario for 2 & 4.



Its all right ronsram, I have lots of long days too

 

[TomGolden]

Just for your full understanding...



I added my EZ box and DD3's at around 12K miles.



Upgraded EZ to drag Comp at around 35K miles, and I soldered the pump wire. Normal street use the Comp is on 2x3, 5x5 usually only when drag racing.



Lift pump failed at 45K miles, added a pusher pump.



Truck is just now hitting 77K miles, no other known problems with the truck, engine or VP44.



Tom

 

[BillGotthelf]

I had TST comp box, injectors and turbo but I believe mine died because of the #@^&% lift pump.

 

[John - K5AWO]

This poll needs more input. I was going to create one very similar to this one, but this one is just fine.



More voters please,

John

 

[PHX ATC]

I refuse to speak of this mysterious VP44 "pump" of which I hear of. As soon as I do, I will have to change my vote and then I'll be ****** off.





shhhhhhhhhh, so far so good w/ the EZ... ... ... ... .....

 

[rweis]

As long as we are talking about VP's I need some education about them.



IS there a solonoid that has something to do with staying open longer to provide more fuel with a timing box that (the solenoid) overheats and is the primary failure point? Something like the fueling boxes hold the solenoid open longer and then the solenoid starts a process of going into overheat and failure?



Is the solenoid (if there is one) cooled by fuel?



I get the feeling that what is failing in the VP's is part of whatever regulates the amount of fuel that goes to each plunger that then goes to each injector. Based on speed, add on boxes, tapped pump wires (or untapped pump wires), maybe heat of the fuel?, maybe ???



I could be REALLY off base and tell me if I am.



When we push the VP's with boxes etc, exactely what are we pushing?



Bob Weis

 

[Jdonoghue]

Originally posted by rweis
As long as we are talking about VP's I need some education about them.

IS there a solonoid that has something to do with staying open longer to provide more fuel with a timing box that (the solenoid) overheats and is the primary failure point? Something like the fueling boxes hold the solenoid open longer and then the solenoid starts a process of going into overheat and failure?

Is the solenoid (if there is one) cooled by fuel?

I get the feeling that what is failing in the VP's is part of whatever regulates the amount of fuel that goes to each plunger that then goes to each injector. Based on speed, add on boxes, tapped pump wires (or untapped pump wires), maybe heat of the fuel?, maybe ???

I could be REALLY off base and tell me if I am.

When we push the VP's with boxes etc, exactely what are we pushing?

Bob Weis

It's quite simple, actually. The VP dies when it runs out of smoke.
Boxes and tapped pump wires just let the smoke out sooner...

 

[CumminsPuller]

My truck from day one had an EZ installed on it. VP44 went out at 230,000 miles. All towing miles, and stock transmission lasted until 198,000 miles.



Jason

 

[rashwor]

What about out with no box? I did not put the EZ on until the VP44 was having a hard time anyway; so I can't say the box had anything to do with it. Also, VP44 went out without setting any codes.

 

[Irontrader]

My vp44 died towards the end of a two week hard trip. The engine was stock except for the RV275 injectors. I didn't experience any problems until one evening after blasting across Nevada the engine started to have a loping idle. A couple days later it died.



I'm sure the failure was lift pump related, but at that time I didn't have a fuel pressure guage so don't really know how bad it had failed. I know that it still pumped as I loosened a fitting on the fuel filter to see if it was pumping and it squirted diesel out.



DC replaced both the lift pump and injection pump under warranty.



Later I added the Edge EZ box and added a fuel pressure guage.



Since that time I've replaced a couple lift pumps when fuel pressure started dropping or became erratic. I've use a fuel additive part of the time and thought my vp44 would last just fine.



Last fall I had a period of time where my truck went into limp mode for a couple blocks leaving work and took the EZ off. It ran fine all winter and a couple weeks ago started doing the limp mode thing when leaving work. No timing or fueling box and it runs fine the rest of the time.



A OBII reader will give me problem codes, but I've never been able to get anything to display on the odometer.



Sounds like I'm about to loose the second vp44 (on my own bucks this time) and have never pierced a wire.

 

[PKleine]

Mine has approx. 42k miles on it. It is about done with it's second lift pump No codes set yet, but the other day fuel pressure was dropping when ever I came to a stop. It would recover somewhat on acceleration. Sometimes it fell like it was running a little lean. Only time will tell...



PK