Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) who has the Best VP44

[JohnBoy5]

Ok well we all know with the 24v engins that we have the vp44 is something that we will have to replace. Mine is starting to act up and i want to buy the BEST pump i can buy. I dont need one that has advanced timing or more hp. i have a programer and soon to be twin turbos and bigger injectors. I want the strongest most long lasting pump. I am not sure but seems like maybe blue chips might have the bet one. please do not let that prevent you from telling me others. if you do mention someone that has a great pump please tell me why its so great! thanks

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Might check out Blue Chip diesel Blue Chip Diesel Upgraded VP44

 

[monkeyman]

You want a shop that is Bosch certified as above, you can buy pumps cheap but you get what you pay for in this case. Just make sure you don't pump to much fuel to the VP as that destroys it also, they only need about six psi to work, not over 17 for sure

Rick

 

[JohnBoy5]

see i think that part of my problem its about 23 to 25 psi, i am trying to get a spring for my fass system to lower the pressure.

 

[monkeyman]

Don't wait, take the spring out and cut a piece off, you can get that spring at any well stocked Ace Hardware. I blew my first VP with 25 psi for six months, now I run 17
Rick

 

[Sticks]

... Just make sure you don't pump to much fuel to the VP as that destroys it also, they only need about six psi to work, not over 17 for sure

Rick

From the mouth of Bosch... "The VP44 requires a minimum of 10 psi for reliable operation and longevity"



Worked for a Bosch warranty and rebuild shop for several years. We were also the supplier for several DC dealers and other distributors. Central Motive Power, Denver CO. 1 year warranty, no mileage. All new internal components and computer board, 75% of the time a new housing.



If 6 psi was acceptable, then we (my personal experience included) would not have seen so many VP failures from the carter pump dropping to half output... 7psi, let alone the DC in tank pump fix that was "Flow" not pressure and would often drop to 0 psi within 10 minuets.



Maximum pressure... that one I can not remember, but I have done dozens of combination in tank transfer pump and OEM block mounted pumps that put out 22-25psi and those trucks never had any issues.

 

[JohnBoy5]

From the mouth of Bosch... "The VP44 requires a minimum of 10 psi for reliable operation and longevity"



Worked for a Bosch warranty and rebuild shop for several years. We were also the supplier for several DC dealers and other distributors. Central Motive Power, Denver CO. 1 year warranty, no mileage. All new internal components and computer board, 75% of the time a new housing.



If 6 psi was acceptable, then we (my personal experience included) would not have seen so many VP failures from the carter pump dropping to half output... 7psi, let alone the DC in tank pump fix that was "Flow" not pressure and would often drop to 0 psi within 10 minuets.



Maximum pressure... that one I can not remember, but I have done dozens of combination in tank transfer pump and OEM block mounted pumps that put out 22-25psi and those trucks never had any issues.

Not trying to sound stupid or anything but what does "DC" mean?

 

[Sticks]

Not trying to sound stupid or anything but what does "DC" mean?

Daimler Chrysler.



When they finally got around to admitting that the 2nd gen 24v engines had a design flaw with the block mounted transfer pump, and came up with the in tank pump, they also issued a policy of a testing procedure that was flow based (xx ccm per minuet) not pressure based on OEM fuel lines and design.



I personally tested several trucks based on their verification according to flow, and the VP still threw a P0216 code and had rough running issues. Upgraded the fuel supply and the code went away and the trucks ran fine.

 

[JohnBoy5]

o ok. well i have had the higher pressure from my fass system for about 5yrs and never noticed too many hard start problems but once and a while i would. it seems to becoming more and more though. The pressure also seems to have worked its way up about 1 or 2 psi over time for some reason. i played with the spring in the fass system last night a got it lower but i dont like what i did to the spring so i will be replacing it. i changed it to about 15 psi and its starting like a champ now. i have NEVER had low fuel pressure on this pump to date. the injection pump is also about 5 or 6 yrs old with about 75k on it. the truck still runs very strong just hard starting issues sometimes. the hard starting has been going on for a little over a year now but would only happen after the truck was hot and now it does not seem to matter. I am sure that i will be replacing the vp 44 soon but i am getting every last coin out of this thing then going to put the best one in and i want to make sure that i have the best setup for it when it goes in!

 

[JMetzger]

When I have to replace mine I am going with a Blue Chip Pump. You can call Chip any time with a question & he will help you out, A little higher priced but I think it is worth it. You get what you pay for.

 

[THoltz]

Ok well we all know with the 24v engins that we have the vp44 is something that we will have to replace. Mine is starting to act up and i want to buy the BEST pump i can buy. I dont need one that has advanced timing or more hp. i have a programer and soon to be tin turbos and bigger injectors. I want the strongest most long lasting pump. Iam not sure but seems like maybe blue chips might have the bet one. please do not let that prevent you from telling me other. if you do mention someone that has a great pump please tell me wh its so great! thanks

I am guilty of not reading all the existing replies to this post prior to my reply, BUT, if someone doesn't know what causes VP-44 failure, then learn and take steps to prevent it, before you BOMB your truck. No one makes a pump that will last without adequate lubrication.

 

[JohnBoy5]

i have had a fass 150 series pump on 5 yrs before any mods. at the first of this year i have started the bombing mods. so i feel my pump has been very well taken care of. But any rate i am wanting to put the best replacement in when i need to. i have lowered my fass pressure to 15 idle and 10 wot and its starting just like it should. so i am not sure that i do have a vp44 problem at this point. i have no codes and i have not had any yet.

 

[THoltz]

Yes, I would say you started out right with a more than adequate lift pump.

 

[Hammer]

Best VP44 replacement comes from Chip at Blue Chip Diesel.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

As for preserving the VP44 if what Chip says is true about heat soak at shutdown crystalizing the solder on the pump brain then I think putting a heat sink and mini box fan on it would help sigificantly. Set it up like a cooldown timer where it runs for 5 minutes after you switch the ignition off.

It would be interesting to do a survey to find out if those who religiously cool their turbos down to 300-350F before shutting down have a lower incidence of VP44 failure.

 

[RAJohnson]

Been cooling mine down to 250-300 all the time and it has lasted untill 131K. But now its going south. I guess it last longer than I figured,seeing how i have read about many going anywhere from 40-80K

 

[JMetzger]

Vaughn, I think Gary KLG something or other & one other member tried this & I don't remember how it worked out for them. I wish they would chime in. Maybe you can remember. It was a year or so ago.

 

[JohnBoy5]

how are yall cooling it down? i talked to chip and it does not sound like there is a way to cool it yet. he is working on a method for doing this but not finished. i got on the list for beta testing on the new produce he is making.

 

[NIsaacs]

There is not much you can do to cool the pump once you shut the engine off. The heat sink off the engine could last an hour or two. Cooling the pump for a few minutes after shut down would just be wasted effort.



I have found that keeping the fuel tank at half or above seems to help. This is only good for a short, quick shut down like fueling up. A long shut down on a hot day it will still take several turns to start. Still gets good mileage and runs good so I will keep running it. I have 175,000 miles on it so it's gonna die one day.



Nick

 

[mhenon]

When you look at the placement of the poor VP44 it's a wonder they don't burn up before they do. They're all tucked in between the engine block on one side, the TPS housing above, vacuum pump below and timing cover to the front. Might as well have put it in an oven.

On my wifes Jetta, which has a Bosch distributor type pump similar to the VP, the IP is mounted in front of and away from the engine somewhat. It receives cooling air from the fan before that air ever gets to the engine. These pumps almost never fail and they don't even have a LP feeding them.

There was a nice write up a few years back on cooling the VP. I think what we came up with is cool, clean fuel at a decent pressure (13. 5psi comes to mind) and some sort of air cooling to the VP.

Here... I just found it:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...emperature-input-vp44-80-100-your-inputs.html