Fuel Pump blues - Long

[txdutt]

Talk about frustrating

Long story short here were the symptoms: coming back from a 7 hour drive on the way home: got an extended crank when starting at a fuel stop after 5 hours driving/noticed a gradual loss of power over the next 100 miles/coach suddenly started barely running and wouldn't go over 35mph before we could pull off the interstate. Get it towed the shop, tell them the symptoms & that we have extended warranty. They finally get to troubleshoot & indicate the fuel pump is the issue (said they observed a pressure drop from 62 psi to 54 during the test). The warranty inspector gets there, observes the pressure tests and drives the coach. Pronounces it as not covered since the pump is putting out within spec (54 psi) and didn't act up when he drove it for 6 miles therefore it hadn't "failed". Shop disagreed saying that test had an pressure drop and that symptoms for gradual loss and them BAM until barely running indicate pump is bad. Pump gets hot after extended run and is failing to provide engine what it needs. SOOOO, shop is quoting me 2 hours labor diagnostic (I'm fine with that) but 7 hours labor to change pump (have to drop the tank to do it) and that the pump itself is $723!! Does Workhorse have some oddball pump? I looked up fuel pumps for a HD pickup with an 8.1 same year and I'm seeing them $3-400 at the most....Does the labor time sound right as well?? They also want to change the fuel filter at 1 hour labor & $85 parts cost. I changed the filter about 10 mos ago (wasn't a lot of fun!) so I'm a little suspect about that as well.....

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by txdutt Talk about frustrating.....

is this a price quote from a Workhorse service center??? I just had a pump done last year and it cost $700 and change for the whole job. Can you get a second opinion or a different service establishment?

Darn extended insurance companies do this stuff all the time .....

[txdutt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer is this a price quote from a Workhorse service center??? I just had a pump done last year and it cost $700 and change for the whole job. Can you get a second opinion or a different service establishment? Darn extended insurance companies do this stuff all the time .....

no it's an independant shop that's about 70 miles from home. I'm going to check with some local shops to see what they say. The nearest workhorse center is about 80 miles away.

[Topflite51]

Don't you just love extended warranty companies. With that being said.....

Maybe the guy that drove it is right this time, I do not know what the pressure is supposed to be on an 8.1. Could it be that in addition to getting the pump hot could you also have gotten some bad fuel? Just saying.... I personally would have the fuel filter replaced an drive it either to where you can have it replaced locally or to your nearest WH service center. Do it in am when it is cooler, less likely to have problem.

[oemtech]

Do not run it at 54 psi as sooner or later it will fall below that and you will probably lose an engine do to a lean fuel condition. The ECM can only adjust the fuel trims about 25%. As the pump pressure drops less fuel goes to the injectors and the fuel trims get increased to compensate. Once it goes lean you will burn/melt the edge of the piston and the top ring fail and you will have one failed engine.

OBTW - The fuel pressure regulator is on the pump unless you have a 2003 or earlier that has the regulator on the fuel rail.

[TAN]

I paid $1200.00 and change to have mine done.

[txdutt]

we're going to bite the bullet & have the pump & filter changed along with a fuel injection cleaning service after talking to another independant shop locally who said the costs were pretty much in line. I'm going to fight the warranty company for reimbursement-(can't hurt!) afterwards. Shop agreed to adjust their labor rate down and make some parts cost adjustments so it'll still sting but not quite as bad....This SUCKS!!

[pkmesser]

Just for information for the rest of us, how many miles on the motorhome?

[txdutt]

39K and change...

[jfran304]

I would check to see if they are going to do more than pour chemicals through the system to clean the fuel injectors. If that is all they are going to do I would do it myself.

Jon

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfran304 I would check to see if they are going to do more than pour chemicals through the system to clean the fuel injectors. If that is all they are going to do I would do it myself.

Jon, I just had this done on my rig and I think I was charged about $16.23 per kit (they used 3) plus about .5 Hrs labor. This is something that I am glad that I had done now having 93,000+ miles. The engine IS running smoother.

[scoutmstr]

You can do a search on fuel pumps. WH changed design to stop a type of vapor lock the older pumps had. I posted a fix sometime ago

[jfran304]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer Jon, I just had this done on my rig and I think I was charged about $16.23 per kit (they used 3) plus about .5 Hrs labor. This is something that I am glad that I had done now having 93,000+ miles. The engine IS running smoother.

Driver,

I agree it is worth doing. Just a lot of the mechanics will just pour fuel injector cleaner through the system which anybody can do.

[txdutt]

well finally got the coach back, got the old pump so now it's time to fight the warranty company for reimbursement--this should be fun!! Went ahead & changed the spark plugs this morning for cheap insurance in case the engine was leaned out by the old pump...