Guess I'm doing ok
 

Guess I'm doing ok

After lots of reading about my truck, I have decided I'm doing ok.

I change my oil every 3000 miles, and the fuel filter at the same interval.

I'm now running the two cycle oil in my fuel too.

So! with my new vp44 I think it should last a while longer then it did the first time.

My mileage was at 61,000 miles with the first failure. I'm thinking one of the reasons was because of the fact I have not been driving the truck much. In the last 6 years I usually only put around 400 miles a year on it.

Winter time it just sits in the yard, and I plug in the block heater.

I think I will be driving it more now to keep it exercised.

Opinions are appreciated.

what type of lift pump do you got

You could double your oil change interval with no problems.

If you have a fuel filter and lift pump you can change it every second oil change with no problems.

If you dont already have an upgraded lift pump or at least a fuel pressure guage - you should get one or the other (or better yet, both).

If you dont drive your truck in the winter - theres no need to plug in the block heater.

The lift pump is a alliant power it came with the vp44 from the dieselstore people

The factory replacement type of lift pumps fail because they are supposed to push the fuel , but instead are installed in a location that requires them to pull the fuel. When the lift pump goes bad (only a matter of time), your VP44 will starve for fuel and then go bad as well. I'd recommend relocating that lift pump to under the fuel tank inside the frame rails. That and some kind of fuel pressure guage or warning light to let you know if it isn't keeping up with your VP44.

The vendors on this forum will know what you are looking for if you ask them about the fuel pressure warning light or the pump relocation kit. Welcome to wonderfull world of diesel.:c:

I went to harbour freight got a fuel injector testor kit for $18 screwed it on the schrader valve. Shows 10 psi at idle and 5 psi under full load.

thats very much borderline. I personally dont like to see less than 7 psi at Wide open throttle (WOT)

When I bought my truck, I put on one of these
BD - LED LOW FUEL PRESSURE INDICATOR ('98.5 - '10)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories Geno? Garage
I had the instalation done in about an hour. It lets me know if something is not right, and it cost a lot less than a fuel pressure guage setup. It worked fine with the factory lift pump setup, and was easily adapted to the Air Dog lift pump when I installed that.

Also, how were you able to tell how much fuel pressure you had under load (full boost). Were you driving with that fuel pressure tester installed?

A light is fine WITH a guage. Unless you have the equipment and know how to verify the operation of the low pressure light - I would not rely solely on a light.

Let me answer a question!

As far as a full load the only thing i have is a pressure guage ( 0 to 30 psi )

I have a hose that connects to the banjo bolt and I screw it on the shrader valve.

I put the truck in drive hold the brake! and give it fuel and read the gauge under the hood.

With my newer gauge the reading is 12 psi at Idle. 14 psi with a starter bump and lift pump running with no engine running. 9 psi under my brake load test.

That was my full load test.