I installed my new AirDog on Friday, 2/27. Then I spent the rest of the weekend trying to find out why I was only getting 6 PSI at idle. I spoke with Mr. Ekstam for about an hour on the following Monday, and was given the in-depth background on the company history and details on how the AirDog works. To make a long story short, I found that the pick-up tube was hitting the bottom of the filter -- all the fuel was going through the return instead of to the engine. It turns out that their vendor for the 5 micron filter produced them with the inside depth being 1/4 inch shorter than their other filters. They instructed me to cut 1/4 " off the tube. Now I have 18 PSI at idle, and 17.5 at WOT. If anyone else has the AirDog with 5 micron filter, check the lenght of your pick-up tube vs. the inside depth of the filter to make sure you don't have a restriction.

It was frustrating getting this resolved, but all I can say now is "WOW"! The stock lift pump was "sounding" like it was cavitating once in a while. I'm suprised the LP actually lasted 113K miles. The truck always felt sluggish when I stepped down on the foot-feed (I've put about 1k miles on it since purchasing it). I always thought it was just me needing to get use to the auto, after driving a stick for 6 years. I honestly believe the truck is running a lot better with the AirDog. I fell the power increase and can hear the turbo sucking air -- no more hesitation when I step into it. I never had this kind of performance increase after putting the FASS in my '99. I'm not trying to start any any arguements or get flamed -- I'm only giving my own personal experience. Getting the air out of the fuel, and keeping a constant pressure at the VP, is definitely worth the effort and cost for the performance gain.

 

if your stock lift pump made inconsistent sounds, it was probably dead already, and the performance increase is due to actually getting the fuel you needed. I've had several people come in for fuel filter changes or wanting a fuel pressure test, only to find out that there lift pump was toast and wouldn't even prime up the system! Did you check fuel pressure on your stock pump before you pulled it? I'm sure you're glad to not have to worry about pump problems

 

I had checked the stock pump's FP shortly after buying the truck -- 14 PSI at idle and 10 at WOT taken from the schrader valve on the VP banjo. However, I never performed the volume test. I've decided to become proactive with this truck and fix everything that could cause expensive breakdowns.

After going through 3 LPs and 1 VP on my '99, I didn't want to take any chances. The second LP only lasted about 20k miles, and was cavitating really bad in the end. Every time I took it into the shop, they claimed the pressure was "acceptable". They never performed the volume test, and the VP went out with the LP.

Shortly after the new VP/LP were installed on the '99, I found that the pick-up tube in the fuel tank had a hole wore in it from the sending unit screws. Whenever the fuel level dropped below 3/4, I was sucking a lot of air. My '00 came with a 3" body lift. I'm planning on replacing the fuel line pick-up tube (with 1/2" hose) next weekend while removing the lifts -- have to pull the box off to remove spacers that were welded onto the frame. Once this is done, I'll have 1/2" fuel lines from tank to VP.
Thanks,
Franklin