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restwzeasy · 02-23-2012, 10:20 PM

Has anyone installed a fuel pressure gauge on the dash? I'd like to monitor the fuel pressure while under load on our 40ft RV and am wondering if there is a remote sending unit approach?

spike45 · 02-24-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by restwzeasy

Has anyone installed a fuel pressure gauge on the dash? I'd like to monitor the fuel pressure while under load on our 40ft RV and am wondering if there is a remote sending unit approach?

You ARE going to monitor the pressure on the suction side, right? Reading pressure side of the transfer pump does not give as good a picture of the level of plugging on a Cummins fuel filter. The suction side filters plug faster than any engine with pressure side filtration. Suction side filters only have atmospheric pressure to 'push' the fuel through the element. Some MHs have a low pressure electric pump but I believe they only push at about 3 - 5 psi. There is a device you can install from Engineered Products. It is similar to an air filter gauge in that it measures pressure drop across the suction fuel filter as compared to atmospheric. It will give you a much better determination of state of filter plugging. It will signal before you feel the lost power from reduced fuel delivery.

Filter Minder Fuel Filter Monitors

restwzeasy · 02-24-2012, 05:16 PM

Thanks spike45. That is a good link and I'm thinking about my approach. Indicator in the engine area is also a good point as the fuel pressure would likely not drop in matter of minutes/hours. Any suggestions on monitoring fuel pressure via dash gauge? I know that some trucks and RVs have them. My purpose for wanting one was due to recent spell of fuel problems which ended up clogging the lift pump twice in 6 months with rubber fuel hoses falling apart from inside. The hoses have been replaced and thus this problem remedied. Our RV has only 1 filter (between lift pump and HP pump) and I feel that monitoring the system would give me little bit visibility into similar problems and act before we are stuck on side of the road.

restwzeasy · 02-28-2012, 07:32 PM

I spoke to a Freightliner shop mechanic over the weekend and he suggested a vacuum gauge instead of fuel pressure gauge. I should be able to mount it on the fuel filter housing which has the port for that. This should give me what I'm looking for. Still searching for the gauge itself.

Fastcar · 02-29-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by restwzeasy

I spoke to a Freightliner shop mechanic over the weekend and he suggested a vacuum gauge instead of fuel pressure gauge. I should be able to mount it on the fuel filter housing which has the port for that. This should give me what I'm looking for. Still searching for the gauge itself.

Autometer and Dipricol all make fuel pressure gauages that can be fitted.

I'm of the belief that the sending unit should be between the lift pump and the inj pump. The filter port should do just fine imo.

jlfbatonrg · 02-29-2012, 09:24 AM

Several owners including me, have purchased Dodge Cummins fuel pressure sensors, then installed a red LED in the dash to monitor fuel pressure. On the older Cummins with the VP44 injector pump, Cummins says the minimum pressure is 5 psi. On the newer common rail systems, the minimum pressure is ~1 pound. This seems to work really well in that it alerts you to clogging filters and/or failing lift pumps.

Jim

spike45 · 02-29-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by restwzeasy

I spoke to a Freightliner shop mechanic over the weekend and he suggested a vacuum gauge instead of fuel pressure gauge. I should be able to mount it on the fuel filter housing which has the port for that. This should give me what I'm looking for. Still searching for the gauge itself.

I guess you must love gauges! Vacuum gauges only work when the vacuum reaches it peak and falls to "zero" when the engine is off. The Filter Minder has a lock up feature so you can see maximum restriction even with the engine off. You will have to get out and walk back to see it. The short walk will do you good!

The same can be said for air filter gauges. Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks put air restriction gauges in the cab but they do not show and hold on the maximum restriction. The driver must observe that point. When the engine is shut down, the gauges return to the lowest restriction point......Nice to look at but totally worthless. Not completely worthless, they do fill a hole in the dash.

restwzeasy · 02-29-2012, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the feedback all. Spike45, I know what you mean and I did consider the restriction gauge as was suggested by another user. I asked the mechanic about it and he said he doesn't trust them. To be fair to him, he said he would put on a liquid filled vacuum gauge in order to avoid the indicator hand flapping all over the place as in electric models. I'm new to all of this and am looking for a gauge out of desire to keep the engine running after experiencing clogged lift pump strainer twice in 6 months. I believe the cause of that problem is remedied - fuel line from tank to lift pump completely replaced, but in future I rather know of a problem before I'm stuck on side of a road.

Are the fuel restriction gauges filled with fuel or air?

jroethke · 04-05-2012, 06:51 PM

I installed a guage as well and it has worked well to monitor the lift pressure. PS I installed a upgrade pump as well. JR

**CountryFit** · 08-22-2013, 07:24 PM

This is a rather old post, don't mind i'm revitalizing it... Has anyone found out a fuel restriction gauge?

stumpnc · 08-24-2013, 06:52 AM

Either one of these guy's will have what you want:

Truck Gauges - Teltek U.S.A INC.

ISSPRO.com - Quality Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers and more!

**CountryFit** · 08-24-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpnc

Either one of these guy's will have what you want:

Truck Gauges - Teltek U.S.A INC.

ISSPRO.com - Quality Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers and more!

Thanks. teltek looks good

restwzeasy · 08-27-2013, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryFit

This is a rather old post, don't mind i'm revitalizing it... Has anyone found out a fuel restriction gauge?

I put in a fuel filter indicator (with T) after the new primary filter and seems to work. I've had it there for over a year now and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't go into the red. I still change the fuel filter yearly and have never seen it get even close to red, but it gives me the piece of mind I was looking for. The model I have looks like the T version in this link

Filter Minder Fuel Filter Monitors

I believe that I purchased mine from a local freightliner parts dealer.

Paul