I'm a newbie to the forum and Cummins.

I just installed a Westach elctronic FP guage today on a truck I purchased in April. Just my luck the numbers are low. Its reading 9 PSI at idle and 4 PSI at WOT. Searching the forum it appears I need a new lift pump. It looks as though my truck has already been converted to an Dodge in tank pump (LP should be just above starter correct?).

What replacement options do I have since this truck has already been converted? Can I switch to the Airtex pump (or similar) in the stock location without removing the in tank pump?

Should I try the fuel filter first?

Thanks is advance!

 

Patriot,

If your only reading a high of 9psi you're more than likely killing your VP. You have a lot of options a FASS or similar would do the trick for you. You can check your filter and hope that is it because those fuel pressures are very low. Hope this helps.

 

In fruther searching it appears 9psi is pretty normal for the in tank replacements. It never reaches zero. And dodge measures flow and not pressure with these in tank pumps?

I'm hoping to not drop the tank to install a draw straw II and a FASS system is too expensive for me.

Is an auxillary pump like the BD kit the way to go? Is there something more cost effective?

 

Research holley blue or red as pusher pump.

 

THE SKY IS FALLING!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!

 

Run a volume test.

 

Thanks for the help! With some additional searching of the forum (newbie mistake!) I think I'll go with a Summit 14psi 140 GPH pump in series as a pusher with a painless fuel pump relay. The pump looks comparable to a Holley black. Should come in just under $150. That should do just as well as the BD auxillary kit and more than support the mods I want to do. In the mean time I'll just stay off the go pedal and try to keep the PSI above 5.

 

ANY pressure is better than NO pressure if your gauge is correct. If your lp is bad and the vp is doing the work, then you will have 0 pressure and that leads to other problems.. 9 Psi is just fine....

 

You are wasting money in my opinion. Did you try the volume test?

 

If you run this in series with the intank pump your fuel pressure will be up around 25psi or so. At least that's where mine was when I added the old Carter inline with the intank pump.

Glacier has an adjustable bypass that was an easy install and brought the pressure down under 15psi. Pressure's been there for a few years and won't hardly budge even when you get on it.

The intank pump while not very good on it's own makes a great little pusher.
Mike

 

That sounds about like normal numbers for the in tank pump to me. Heck thats what I got with a brand spanking new block mounted LP. Just to be sure, have you changed your filter? Sometimes it doesn't take them long to go bad and they can cause a pretty drastic drop in pressure. While I was working in Nebraska last year, with the quality of fuel that I was getting, I was replacing my filter every Sunday due to pressure drop...

 

It makes sense that as long as the PSI is not zero then it should not be a problem. I have also read that the intank pumps tend to have lower PSIs. I plan to add a Quadzilla XZT+ in the near future and my concern is I might hit 0 psi then.

Nitrousn, I am reluctant to spend time/money on a volume test when I could put an auxillary pump on for a little more and fix the potential problem for good. Otherwise I'd be paying for a volume test every year or so.

Mhenon, great information. I am concerned about too much pressure and was considering a 15 psi regulator. I think I'll order one based on your experiences when/if I install.

Tray, I plan to change the filter this weekend. We'll see if it helps.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

The volume test is a simple 5 minute test you can easily perform yourself.

 

How do you run a volume test?

Searching the forum I find lots of guys talking about dodge's volume test but no instructions on how or what's normal. I guess I assumed it was something I had to have the dealer do.

 

http://www.dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/14-002-03.htm