I spent the day re-doing my fuel lines, installing a Vulcan draw straw, and removing my lift pump yesterday. Before I put the pump back in and the bed back down I wanted to get a little input from you all.

I found the harness for the fuel heater melted and I'm assuming the heater is shot. I was all set to replace it but after reading some posts here I see that many of you have removed it all together. Where I live it rarely gets down into the single digits, its usually in the mid to low 20's at night during the coldest months. Will I be able to get away with not installing the heater again? My plan is to remove the heater element and simply screw the lower bowl with the screen in it onto the upper bracket portion as is described in this thread:

Heater Removal

I want to leave the screen in place because of the installation of the draw straw.

That brings me to my next "concern". The instructions for the draw straw left a lot to be desired. I basically removed everything from the inside of the fuel sender housing, left the one tube in place that was not connected to the original fuel pickup, and left the screen on the very bottom. As per the instructions I opened up the hole in the very bottom of the sender housing and made two more 3/8" holes, one on either side of it but still facing the bottom. I'm pretty sure all of that was 100% right but then it said to drill 4 holes about 3 inches up from the bottom. I drilled four 3/8" holes around the circumference of the sender, about 3 inches up from the very bottom of the screen that snaps onto the bottom of the housing. The instructions said you could re-install one screen or both or none. I put the one on the very bottom back in place but left the one that sat inside the housing completely out. The instructions seemed to want you to cut away the screen and re-install the plastic but mine was solid plastic on the top and screen on the bottom making it impossible to just cut out the screen section. I also left out the other plastic piece inside there. I'm hoping that the prefilter screen will be sufficient in stopping debris from getting into the lift pump. My concern is that I'm getting the impression that the sender housing acts as a baffle or a "surge tank" that keeps fuel on the pickup when you are cornering hard, on a steep slope, or maybe just really on the gas. Will the missing internal screen and extra holes cause fuel starvation problems under these conditions? I don't usually run the truck to empty, I usually fill it before the light comes on or as soon as it does.

Anyone have some input for me?

Thanks.

John

 

I didn't like the way the draw straw was supposed to be installed in the fuel pickup assembly so I modified my original pickup piece to have a larger ID to fit with the draw straw setup. I totally removed the hose on the draw straw and used a clear flexible poly piece in place of it. There are a few pics of how I modified mine in this album
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n...post%20photos/

I have zero problems when running the tank to very empty, no hiccups or nothing. I've had it down to less than 2 gallons before. IMO the draw straw solves one problem but can create another one when installed as instructed. I really think retaining the antisiphon/check valve function is worth the effort, but anyone else who has installed their draw straw per instructions might comment on this too.

Vaughn

 

Interesting. I guess what goes on in there isn't quite as critical as it was made out to be. I'm going to head over to NAPA and pick up a fuel filter, that's all that I need to fire it up again. Thanks for the input.

John

 

I like the insurance of my fuel heater here in Montana but most of the country can get by without one.
Just don't trust that you're getting winterized diesel at the pump, always add anti-gel additive during the cold times.

 

I have a 12v and I bypassed my heater with no issues. What I do have problems with is my draw straw setup. Id really like to remove them and install a draw straw I into the pickup assembly itself. Doesnt look like theres a whole lot of room inside and the existing nylon hoses that run down to the bottom are very small.
Is it possible to mod a 12v pickup assy to run a 1/2" pickup to the bottom of the stock fuel sender?
I tried to pry the plug with the stock fittings on it, but its really on there tight.

 

I have a Draw Straw 1 in mine. I just ordered the one for a 24V truck, they are the same. Mine is a 3/8" one but I see no reason why a 1/2" tube wouldn't make it down the stock sender. You just have to open the hole in the base of the sender to allow the 1/2" line through. I had to do it to fit my 3/8" in and there is plenty of room to go bigger.

Thanks for the reply infidel, I always get a straight and accurate answer from you. I do treat the fuel every fill up so it shouldn't be a problem then. I picked up a filter (man do the parts stores rape you - $27), after lunch I'm going to put the starter back in and fire her up. Wish me luck.

John

 

Well its all back together. I didn't really pick up any fuel pressure after I was done so I popped the OFV out and stretched the spring a little. I don't think I should have had to do this already since the OFV was replaced less than 10,000 miles ago but I don't think the aftermarket ones are of the same quality as the original ones. Anyway, I'm around 20psi at idle and 25 cruising. It doesn't seem to drop off at all when I'm WOT now. I used to see around 15 cruising and it would fall off if I pulled a long hill.

John