Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) VP44 what gives, what to do?

[wrichards]

After 14 years of being in our trucks what is the opinion on how to deal with this issue. My 2001 pleasure truck has 50k with fass pump and guage. after reading thread about vp44's failing even with lubricity, ddrp pump, babying etc they are still giving out. in your opinion what is the ultimate solution and what would it cost? I would buy a 12 valve but obviously they are hard to come by with low mileage, 5spd and good conditon.

 

[PVanderlugt]

Well, the amount of post about vp44 has really slowed down. It is my opinion that the factory VP from 98. 5 till 2002 had a high failure rate due to the various well known issues.
It seems to me that they figured out the problems with the actual VP, because the failure rate on the ones that have been rebuild by a factory Authorized Service center with all the latest and greatest updates seems to be very very low. The 2002's had a specific problem with the VP that made them croak around 50-60k miles, but I am pretty sure that was a 2002 problem. Since you have a gauge and a FASS, I would say don't worry about it, drive it until it dies. If you truly worried about getting stuck somewhere inconvenient, swap the VP out now with a quality rebuild and your chances of that one quitting are pretty slim to none.
Actually what i meant to say was, there is no hope for your truck, sell it immediately to me for a low ball price just to get rid of it and buy yourself a new 2012
Pete

 

[NIsaacs]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 200,000 plus on my '01, so far so good.



Nick

 

[cerberusiam]

The ultimate solution is remove the electronics from the pump and relocate it. The electronics on the pump is the last failure point that there is no good solution for. Heat and viration utlimately take its toll. The cost of a absolute fix is beyond what most people would pay and too expensive to R&D without solid returns.



Drive it till it dies then replace the pump or truck, its your choice.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Blue Chip Diesel has some good info on VP44 weaknesses and failures

VP44 Diagnostic
About Lift Pumps

 

[JVojir]

Outstanding recommendation. THANKS! Just the information I was looking for. Joe

 

[KrisKringle]

VP44 HO and standard? What is the differnence?^

OK, stupid question... What is the difference between a VP44 for an HO application, and standard Cummins? For that matter, what are the differences between the HO motor and the standard one (except the obvious power difference)?



To put it another way, what makes one an HO, and the other not? Cam, pump, ECM?



Is there an advantage to installing and HO pump on a 'standard' motor? Or does it involve changing the ECM also... not a cheap prospect... I tried searching the forum, but did not find anything under 'VP44 HO' or 'HO differences'



Thanks...

 

[BDaugherty]

The VP44 HO has different compression, timing, injectors, and electronics. The VP itself is different as well. It's much easier to just add a programmer or fuel box than to swap over "HO" parts. My opinion is that the most important part of the HO truck was the NV5600.



VP44s have gotten much better over the years. Sure, they don't hold up like P7100s but they are now able to last as long as CR injectors. If it had been a true 4 door, I would still have my '01 VP44 truck.

 

[FourBarR]

my 98. 5 has 577,000 kms. (358,530k)on original vp-44,also injectors ,trans,and diff.

 

[KrisKringle]

Ok

The VP44 HO has different compression, timing, injectors, and electronics. The VP itself is different as well. It's much easier to just add a programmer or fuel box than to swap over "HO" parts. My opinion is that the most important part of the HO truck was the NV5600.



VP44s have gotten much better over the years. Sure, they don't hold up like P7100s but they are now able to last as long as CR injectors. If it had been a true 4 door, I would still have my '01 VP44 truck.

Thanks... good to know. I do not think a six-speed swap is in the future, and I do not plan on bombing the truck... just was wondering... JK