Gettin ready to buy a fuel pressure gauge and I'm being told that I need to run an isolator with the gauge. I'm not too sure what the purpose of an isolator is. Can anyone give me a purpose, what is does and whether or not I need one. Thanks

 

It isolates the fuel so if there was a problem you don't get fuel in your vehicle. It's more inportant in gas vehicles because gas is much more flammable and explosive. Basically there's a rubber membrane inside that seperates the 2 sides but still transfers the pressure. You run a line from the fuel source to the isolator and a line from the isolator to your gauge filled with antifreeze air etc to your gauge. Some people don't worry about isolating it because they're not worried about diesel in their vehicle. I used one for my gauge.

 

MedicShawn-has the right answer! Its like running an oil pressure gauge in your cab and it breaks for some reason-you end up with oil squirting all over the place-its the same with the diesel fuel! And boy howdy do they get a bunch for those isolators! Will put in pressure gauge minus the isolator-hope I don't end up with a mess!

 

Skip the isolator, they tend to fail.
What good is a gauge setup that breaks more than the system it monitors?

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to be runnin the Autometer gauge and its suppose to come as a kit.

 

make sure you get the 0-30 psi guage and not the 0-15 psi guage....

 

Thanks Dr. Evil. I checked the Autometer and its only 0-15psi, no 0-30psi. Does any one know about the DIPRICOL gauges. Appearantly this is the same company that makes the Banks Gauges???

 

yah di procol has a 0-30 guage and run a isolator Diesel all over the inside of truck is a pretty stinky mess to try to clean up. I never try to sell fuel pressure guage's without Isolator always recommended and I've never had one fail either or any complaints

 

Buckshott,

Isspro makes guages in the correct ranges....assuming you use quality parts and you are not an idiot - you dont need an isolator. WAY too many people worry about fuel in the cab. i personally dont like autometer guages on a diesel - AM"s are for gassers.

Install a needle valve and use braided S.S. line if you are worried about diesel in the cab. Rod at Wildcat diesel has installed hundreds of FP guages and never had a leak. Use quality parts and install it properly and you'll never have a leak (or the problems associated with an isolator).

 

If you do it correctly with a needle valve turned almost closed fuel is not going to "squirt all over the place" but will just be a slow drip in the unlikely event of a leak.
Part of the reason that you get conflicting information from gauge sellers about using isolators is that some states require all fuel pressure gauges be sold with an isolator. Try a vendor in another state if they insist that an isolator is required.

 

BUCKSHOTMCKEE,

We have the Auto Meter fuel pressure gauges in 0-30 PSI, they come with all the hardware to unstall them. We also stock all the DiPricol's too and have the isolator that you need for that installation, we always reccomend an isolator as there is always a potential fire hazard not to mention the smell and such associated with diesel in the passenger compartment etc. We also have all the mounts and the new facory built gauge installation wiring harness.

The old style tube isolators tended to have a lot of problems, we changed a couple of years ago to the square style and haven't had a probelm ever since. Give us a call and we will be glad to help you with any questions you might have.

Mark @ DPPI

 

Why didnt they offer isolators with the mechanical oil pressure gauges????? Isolators are a problem to begin with. I have been using the small boost line type of line with a needle valve on all my customers trucks. No problems with the lift pump pulsation killing the gauge and NO leaks..

Rick