This was my understanding too. Beisdes, with the million and a half or so failures, there are plenty of cores to go around. No need to machine new cases, etc., right?

 

I find this all bizzare, it's the same old story, you read about other peoples problems and it seems as though they don't effect you. Since I have had zero VP problems or lift pump problems.

 

My experience with a VP-44 is far from the norm. I bought a FASS and was set to install it in April, 2004. I ran my truck really hard and felt it stumble right before I installed the FASS and stupidly didn't check my codes before I put it on. That night, my brother(diesel mechanic for a constrution company) and I put my FASS on, got the truck primed and running and then I shut it down. I remembered the key trick and wanted to show him since he drives a 2002 H.O. like mine. Got the infamous P0216. I knew what it meant but the truck ran fine.... I drove the truck for a few months with a P0216, installed an EZ...had some random dead pedal symptoms in the fall of 2004, then installed the DD3's in March '05. Symptoms came back later in the spring of 2005... pump finally died 13 months later, May 2005. I don't know of anyone who has had a P0216 w/symptoms as long as I and I attribute my pump lasting as long as it did because of the increased fuel flow on the FASS.

Electronics fail, and usually they fail because of heat. Why do you think computers have fans and heatsinks?? These engines create a lot of heat; look at your EGT gauge and you know what I'm talking about. You can blame a VP-44 failure on electronics but I still believe the root problem is heat. The reason I say that is explained above. My VP-44 symptoms were non-existent in the winter months here in Kansas. They first started showing up(again) when the ambient air temps started rising and the symptoms were much worse as the summer months approached. Right before my pump died, temps were well into the 90's and my truck would stumble just by letting out the clutch from a stop.

I'm no expert on these engines but I am an engineer(KSU class of 2001). Fluids are a great heatsink, that's why the earth is covered in oceans. I firmly believe that increasing(or monitoring) the fuel flow to the VP-44 will keep it and it's attached electronics cool and 'healthy'. I believe I have read that Cummins tried to fix the fuel delivery problem in other 5.9L applications(school buses) because they thought the stock(on the block) location was 'killing' injection pumps. If you still have a 24 valve, you know they have an in-tank fuel pump replacement now.

I have zero proof that my LP is dead, I do know that I had a P0216 before my truck had driven 0 miles with my FASS and it lasted another 18,000 miles and 13 months with it installed.

Again I stress this is just my (uneducated on Cummins) opinion.....

 

It has been my expeience to buy from all the parts you can from Cummins. You may pay a little more but in this case, Cummins would provide the labor to replace your pump. I also wonder about these companies claiming to have a High Performance VP44. I wonder if they are just blowing smoke up our butts & charging us 3 or 400 more dollars like these companies previously mentioned here. I have been driving my truck around for about 2 years now & the 216 comes up & I just clear it out & keep trucking. I think it is a fluke sometime. With the new pump, is your truck still running & you are only showing the code or has the pump died? Don't let your buddies do you any favors anymore. The Mexican remanned pumps are junk. The CzechRepublic pumps are pretty good & the German ones. If you want a new one go buy a new one from Cummins. I think they are about 2600 bucks, maybe more or less. Contact me if I can help you. Dan

 

309k on my original vp44 but then again i have used homemade biodiesel for the half of its miles

 

I've got one of the above mentioned vp-44 and I would like some assurance that infact they have upgraded electronics or is it an across the board deal for all new rebuilds??? Any Suggestions? I was told they had 0 Failures @ the time of my purchase.

 

Just rolled past 85,000 miles and have only replaced the lift pump at 60,000 becasuse I was going cross country and didn't want to tempt fate. I ALWAYS use Powerservice and biodiesel in every tank, so maybe there is something to the idea of better lube in the fuel and clean fuel. just my 2cents worth

 

I've used Power Service since I've owned the Truck, 1 Bottle per tank and have still gone thru 2 VP-$$'s. I do see better fuel milage with the Summer Formula, but I'm not sure it's helped in the longevity of my pumps. JMO. I do purchase my Diesel from a quality source.

 

If the funds are available or if you have the tools and ability - P-Pump it.

 

You guys should all do a P Pump conversion!!

 

if vp 44's keep going out on your truck more then once then its not the vp44 its something starving it...........lots of people have had there intank system being clogged which would kill the lift pump and then the vp44 and then there is the folks with just crappy lift pumps.... i went to a FASS as soon as possable and never regreted it

 

I went to a FASS too. It works great, it pumps a lot of fuel. The stock pump doesnt do 1/4 what the FASS does. It is the best as far as I or anyone else is concerned and thats why I bought it. It came highly recommended from everyone I know that is involved with our trucks.

 

P-Pump conversion???


I'm going to eventually go w/ the FASS, but I want everything working properly first...

I told another dealership about my situation and they said it could be a bad LP (has to do a volume test) which he said they would give me the new in tank kit to install since my LP is only 600 mile old too...Oh yea MEXICO IP!!!

I just want to make a note that I ran an entire bottle of lucas injector cleaner/lubricant for diesel/gas motors, and I tell you what, the truck came to life. The bottle said for 100gal but I ran the whole bottle on a full tank, big difference it even seemed to stop the dead pedal by about 80%....

 

G-Note.
I think you would definitely benefit from a big fuel line kit. The only think I don't like about the intank kit, is that if it goes out, it will be harder to replace than a relocated LP. I think I would wait to see the longevity of the intank kit. that is, unless they are doing it under warranty.

 

When you say Big line kit, do you mean the kit that replaced the underhood Lift Pump or an aftermarket kit???

If it is an aftermarket kit where would I get one...

Is it better than the one the dealer is trying to get me???