New to diesels and need help
 

I keep seeing things posted on all the diesel site I have been to relaying to the problem that I have. The problem that I have is I just bought an 01 diesel and on the test drive I didn't feel any problems well after I got it I drove it around and noticed that when I got into the gas more or floored it the truck started sputtering and missing like lack of fuel I changed my fuel filter and it was very dirty and I noticed a puddle of dirt/sand in the fuel bowl so I cleaned it out but that did not fix the problem, a guy at my work is a diesel mechanic and he informed me that my lift pump is not working so I just tested my wires and I am getting power to them when it needs to be there. He had told me that the lift pump would not be affecting it in any way if it is not working. So my questions is would lift pump be affecting my pressure when I hit the gas causing it to miss/sputter or am I looking at the wrong thing all the other post I have seen allot of the people have changed it and it seems to have fixed the problem and one of the guys had even said to drive it until you fix it because it could damage you injector pump, Is any of this true or am I seeing allot of just putting random advice out there. Any help would be much appreciated thanks and I look forward to posting more on here (all good about the truck I hope)

yes your lift pump can make that prob and youll burn up your injection pump if you keep runnin it with the lift pump shot

and installing an aftermarket lift pump and Feul pressure guage with save u in the future, if no aftermarket pump atleast a fuel pressure guage

there's a lift straw in your fuel tank....
it's possible that it could have a pin hole or a crack in it...
with a hole in your lift straw you could be sucking air and starving your engine.....
i've had this problem on my 04,
but i think it's rather uncommon, so check it only when all else fails....

i knew what my problem was because it only happened when the tank was between 1/4 and 1/2 full.
i could then fill my tank and fix the problem......

as stated above a fuel pres gauge is a must on a 98.5-02 vp44 equipped cummins. if the lift pump is starving the injection pump, the IP will not last and they are pricy. you need to be above 10 psi at idle and at wot driving, not just parked and reving the engine. put a fuel pres gauge on as close to the injection pump as possible and see what the pres is. also run some good diesel injector cleaner through it.

Thank you all for your info I just installed a new lift pump (aftermarket from Baxters) and I will put a pressure gague in soon... I was wondering how mush they cost, how hard is the install, and where do you mount it at? I forgot to say WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT MADE!!!!!! At work I was told the lift pump shut off after the motor was running so that pump didn't matter well I see it does matter and I was also woundering where you get the cummins fuel treatment?? and how mush is it. I really want my truck to last a long time I really like it I owned a 98 Dakota before so I have liked Mopar for a while now.. Thanks again for the help!!

i run power service at every fill up, it i has kept my fuel system clean and isnt too awful high in price when you consider the fact that you are saving your injector pump and your injectors...what kinda fuel pressure are you running where did you check your pressure at? if that pump goes south on you, i strongly recomend the FASS.

Good advice, it should be tops on the list, you gotta know where you stand.
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Sorry, I missed your last post.

Yes, a fuel pressure guage is critical on a 98.5-2002 Cummins.

You can do this very easily.....here is a guide that I wrote up: https://www.dieselbombers.com/dodge-diesel-tech-articles/1248-fuel-pressure-gauge-install.html

The lift pump DOES NOT shut off after the truck is started - who ever told you that doesnt know what they are talking about. The lift pump supplies the injector pump (the VP-44) with fuel. The VP-44 is lubed and cooled by the fuel. If the lift pump quits working, the VP-44 will still draw fuel, but not enough to lube and cool itself. So, in a short period of time, the VP-44 will overheat and die (well over a $1000 bill) .....if you have a fuel pressure guage you can monitor the health of the lift pump and you will KNOW that the VP-44 is getting and adequate amount of fuel.

You should look at a fuel system upgrade including a better lift pump. The stcok ones arent that good qualitywise.

At the very least, it would be a good idea to install a fuel pressure guage (in the cab), and get yourself a Vulcan Performance Big Line Kit. This eliminates the bottlenecks in your fuel system, increases the line size of the fuel lines, and moves the lift pump down by the tank where it should have been located. The net result is that you deoliver a whole lot more fuel to the VP-44:

http://www.vulcanperformance.com/ser...er-Pump/Detail


If you have any more questions, post them up.

Hey thanks again for the info and the Doc. but would any one have a how to on a big line kit. I work on school bus's and we have a bunch of that dot air brake like I think we have 1/8 up to 1" or maybe 3/8" but we have a lot of it and they don't mind if I take some, ha they just gave me 12ft for 4" pipe for my exhaust!! now I just need to get it bent... thanks again

Obviously these guys new what you were talking about, but for future refrence tell us what you have instead of 01 diesel. Maybe fill out your sig so there won't be any guessing as to what you drive.

Thanks :)