I have a friend with a stock 2001 Ram that is wanting to upgrade his lift pump but not spend a fortune in the process and wants to avoid the draw straw and dropping the tank etc. He is looking at either the Raptor Pump or the Airtek Pump and relocation kit. The Raptor is 389.00 ready to go, the Airtek pump and relocation kit is 199.00. Is there enough of a difference betweent he two to justify the cost, longevity, fuel delivery, reliability etc. I told him I would post his question on here and forward the comments.

Thanks.

 

The Airtex kit is a stock replacement kit. It has a basic warranty and is really designed for guys that want a simple, basic pump at a great price.

The Raptor kit is still value priced if you take a look at the lifetime warranty. Of course it includes everything needed as well for the install.

We still use Draw Straws even with the basic fuel pumps all the way up to the biggest pumps. Reducing inlet restriction is one of the best investments you can make in any fuel system.

Dave

 

the draw straw isnt required for the raptor but is highly recommended

 

I have the Raptor 100 and the stock tank outlet gives me lots of fuel...never less than 10 psi even with the Adrenaline on 10.

 

This is true for many trucks. But some others are very restrictive. And there have been a few we have found that still make pressure, but it's all aerated fuel. So it may pay to check it out.

Dave

 

Not to start a argument..but the bigger dia of a tube, the more pwr it takes to draw threw..depending on viscosity's

 

I couldn't disagree more......

 

Wouldn't the bigger tube let the fuel flow more freely? Then harder the pump has to suck to pull through fuel would make it get hot and fail or atleast lead to premature failure I'm assuming. If you can take a 5/8 fuel hose and create a siphon with you mouth then I'm assuming a fuel pump should flow a bigger line no problem.

 

OK just for fun take a 1"inch hose 4' feet long or so place it vertical , suck water up to your lips.
Now repeat the deal with a 1/2 inch hose and report the results.
I do not make the rules, just relate them.

 

It is true a larger diameter water column equals more weight and thus more suction required on the vertical. However, we are usually siphoning more than drawing vertically as the pump inlet is at the bottom of below the bottom of the tank. (Depending on the specific install)

We do see a point of diminishing returns with regards to draw straw diameter. We have built custom units in the 3/4" and larger range and they work with varying results. 5/8" is about the practical maximum with really large pumps.

So, using the siphon as the general rule, it takes less suction to do the same job as gravity helps us draw the fuel by using the weight of the fuel. Yes, if the system was bone dry, it would force a longer draw, but that's not the typical case with these trucks.

The bottom line is the factory restrictive modules makes for far more work for the pump than does a larger inlet fuel line.

I am still not in favor of 1/2" lines on the pressure side of the pump as I am an old time drag racer and know the effects of acceleration on that larger fuel diameter, not to mention the fuel has to pass through the restrictive 12mm fuel filter and or VP inlet anyway.

But one thing is for certain, if you have a restrictive module and you are consuming enough fuel, you WILL make the pump work harder and it can and will create aeration/ cavitation in the fuel from the pressure drop. With regards to the non bypass setups, stock, Airtex, my 12V lift pump, Raptor, HPFP or whatever, inlet restrictions are a very real cause of this issue. And you can still have full fuel pressure while pumping mostly air. I have proven it in my own rig.

I am not telling you to buy a Draw Straw. I am telling you that you need to be sure you are fulfilling all the requirements of the complete fuel system. It starts in the filler neck and ends at the injector tip.

Dave

 

Thank you Fishin2Deep4u thats what I was getting at with the siphon theory. No fuel line will have to travel straight up the whole time when going from the tank to the pump.

 

And....if you take a piece of line 1" and 1/2" and put the same amount of pressure on them fuel will flow through them both. The only reason it takes the 1" line longer is because of volume, once the line is completely full you will flow more fuel with the same amount of pressure.

 

you guys have out done the laws of psyches.
I have the team of engineers working on this as we speak...we will see what they come up with

 

Hey now if your gettin paid to figure this out then thats just too much fun

 

if u increase diameter u increase volume and decrease pressure.