Well folks, the EMS Dodge just died again. Looks like it will be lift pump number four. Granted she idles a lot but this is rediculous for a truck with just over 65K on it. We are in the market for four more command trucks but I doubt they will be Dodges after this. So far my own truck has been great. I sure hope it stays that way.

Casey

 

Odd, gauges?

 

Something's very wrong here. The pumps are a vane-type impeller. Vanes are applied to impeller walls via centrifigal force. We just removed one from my son's '01 and did a post mortem...

Assuming the pump motor is ok (and it probably is), then it would appear that vane wear is a factor as would be anything that plugs the internal screen or inhibits vane movement. Our pump showed wear on the vane face and possibly some erosion of the pump wall itself.

If what we saw is true in general, then it would begin to look like the fuel we're using might be a problem. It may also be that the metals used to build the pump were engineered for older fuels and aren't as compatible with the new "cleaner" liquids. Either way the result is the same.

It might not hurt to add a bit of lubricant to the fuel on a regular basis. I'd expect that to help the pump somewhat. I also wonder if we won't eventually end up with a diaphragm-type unit somewhat like the 1st generation trucks, but powered by electric instead of a mechanical drive.

And from what I saw... Placing the present pump in the fuel tank probably isn't the answer over the long term. Ours didn't quit, it wore out. What happened to it would have happened whether the pump was mounted deep in the fuel cell or on top of the roof!

I'm beginning to think that a Flo-Jet type pump might be a possible answer. Actually a piston pump, but using a diaphragm to keep liquids on the pump side of things.

Sorry about your problems, but there really has to be a reason for these failures. One other thought... Canada seems to be a more common area for problems than the US. Is there a difference in fuel?

 

There was an informal poll done recently, maybe on this site, maybe on dieselram.com. The topic of the poll was lift pump failures in Canada vs in the US. If I remember right, the results showed that there are WAY more failures in Canada, leading some folks to wonder if Canadian fuel is partly to blame. I sorta think so. I would not hesitate to buy '05's, and just put some an additive in the fuel at least occasionally. Even in Canada, I've read of far fewer (if any) lift pump failures on the '04.5s and later. So, dodge may have fixed the problem on their own with the new lift pump.

 

Yeah, 4 pumps is ridiculous. There is something else going on here beside it being the engine/DC/Cummins' fault.

I can understand one, maybe 2 at the most, but come on.

I agree with Nord.

 

On 03 and 04 's they are failing about every 700 hours , i've put them on as early as 10000km. We were having lots of problems when the temp was colder(-10 to -35 celceus), our supply depot here in alberta was going through about 200 per week. Alberta is the highest demand for pumps in north america. Some dealers that couldnt keep up with demand were putting on carter inline pumps and bypassing the factory ones with a machined plate that bolts onto the factory mount, the pump mounts to the frame and you add fuel line and some wire. i've seen this setup and the owners of the trucks claim no problems after many hours....i recommend it or you can wait for the recall(if and when it comes). the 05's have not failed any pumps that i aware of.

 

Add lubricity additive to your fuel. Diesel fuel lubricity is low now and going to get lower everywhere due to severe hydrotreating to achieve ULSD spec.

Some of us have been on LSD and ULSD for sometime due to location. Test standards and methods for lubricity have not been agreed to and various companies are promoting their own test methods. No QC!!.

I know, it sounds like Timothy Leary daze!

 

which additive ? name brand ? why arent the 05's acting up ? The pump is not bolted to the engine(vibration) and its pushing insted of pulling. I think the fuel quality has a lot to do with it as well or alberta would not be the greatest consumer of pumps. Just a poor designed pump for what we are working with.

 

hoser,

Do you know were I can get this machined plate that replaces the factory pump.? This is just what I need when I install my airdog.


According to my service manager, it has always been the motor that had failed, on the pumps that he has taken apart. I have used a quality additive on every tank and I still had a pump failure at 29,000km.

The lift pump issue is quite the epidemic in Alberta. There is a lot of oilfield workers like my myself, that depend on our trucks to get to the jobsite when needed. A simple lift pump failure can result in thousands of dollars of lost income. This makes for alot of upset Dodge owners in Alberta. ( I not one of them - yet )

Carl

 

Carl , where do you live ?

 

Carl,
Scotty has a plate just for that.

MikeyB

 

brown's chrysler has them here in alberta....$50 ive been told

 

Saskatoon is home, but I work out of Nisku. Bought my truck in Edmonton.

Carl

 

stop in at westlock and see how much $$....you've prob drove past me once or twice if you drive hiway 13