I just spoke to Autometer about their guage #ATM-4360. This is a 0-30psi ultralight fuel press guage w/ electric sender. Autometer says this guage is NOT recommended for our CumminsTurboDiesel. This is due to a fuel pressure spike on start up that ruins the sender and/or guage. They could not explain why, but said they've had nothing but problems with Dodges' w/Cummins.
Anyone here experience this? I for one, cannot see how there is a pressure spike when the lift pump is as weak as it is. If there is some type of spike, maybe it has something to do with the injector pump causing a backflow of very high pressure pulsing back to the lift pump at start up. Maybe we have a reason why these lift pumps crap out so soon. Just a thought... Any others care to give their opinions???

 

I have heard the same about the reliability of the electric sending unit as well. I am on the fence right now as to whether or not to get the isspro's or the autometer. I have heard this is the advantage of the isspro mechanical fuel pressure gauge with isolator...but I like the ease of install with the electric.

 

I don't think it's a reliability issue with Autometers product. I've used that guage in the past with no problems on other vehicles. I've never had any issues with Autometer and have been using their products since the 80's.
I think the issue is that either the sender is too sensitive to our application or our application is too darn hard on the sender. Either way, they say not to use it on Dodge w/Cummins only. Something is strange.

 

The only thing I've heard is that the sending unit doesn't like vibration. They have been seeing failure rates on the filter replacement lids with the sending unit being directly threaded into it. You need to use a rubber hose to isolate the sending unit from vibration. That's all I've heard about. I do know a few on here that are running the Autometer electric gauge and have not had any problems.

 

When I bought my Z-series a year ago I specifically asked them about Diesel application and there techline told me that the 0-30 gauge was designed with Diesels in mind. I've been running mine for a year with no issues. I have the sender plumbed into the test port on the Vp. The fluxation/pulsation I 1st noticed in mine was because of a dying lift pump and dead Vp. I've been running the FASS II with 20+psi to the sender for about 9 months with no issues.

 

I agree that Autometer gauges themselves are excellent quality...I have used them exclusively in my race cars for years. The reliability issue is more on the issue of the electric sending unit for the diesel application and failure rates.

 

I have had mine on for 6mo. now with no problems. I am like you I dont see how 5-11psi is going to hurt the sender. I also never notice a spike.

 

My Autometer Ultra-Lite elecetric fuel pressure gauge model # 4360 was installed with my FASS about 15,000 miles ago. I have not had any problems that I am aware of. I do not see a spike on startup either. My FASS fuel pressure is 18psi idle, 16-17psi cruising and sustained WOT will drop to 13-14psi for a few seconds then back up to 15-16psi.

 

i spoke to autometer today- they told me the opposite. they said the gauge would work fine if you use a pressure snubber. they said this has proven to be very effective in reliablity of the gauge and the sender unit in the cummins application.

 

what exactly is a pressure snubber?

 

From what we know its the vibration that get to it. Mount it somewhere other than on the engine and you will be fine. Although we have sold many none of our customers have ever called us with this problem.

Mount it where it dont shake rattle and roll and you will be fine.

 

This is the responce that i got last yr when i email autometer about a fuel psi gauge,
( However, at this time we do not recommend using
> any
> > Auto Meter fuel
> > pressure gauge on any 1994 and new Dodge Trucks
> > (Cummins Diesel).
> > Reason being, we are finding 12,000 PSI spikes at
> > initial start-up that
> > are damaging the sending unit. We are very close
> to a remedy)Then got this one a couple of months later,
(After testing we have found that we can stop the spike from hitting the
sender via a combination of braided hose and a snubber fitting)
they sent me a snubber for free.

 

it is an adapter piece [like 1/8"npt male one end, 1/8"npt female other end] but inside, there is only a very tiny hole for the pressure to act on... [hole size from about 100micron/0.004" to 300micron/0.015" depending on model]

snubbers @ mcmaster-carr

 

I've seen people also use a grease gun rubber hose ~18" to dampen vibration. It's how my kit came also.

 

I thought about what was said about that Autometer saying it had to do with a fuel PSI spike to 12000 PSI that was killing their sensors. I don't think that's possible. Wouldn't it blow the filter housing apart? If the filter housing should have no less than 26 PSI then 12000 might be a little too much. That's just me thinking though.

In any case, I'm going directly to the filter lid port pre filter because of ease. That location will definitely not see any pressure spike. In order to have 12000 PSI it would have to come from the CP3 backwards through the supply line and it would blow the filter housing assembly apart before it would hurt my sensor.

I guess I'll keep up with regular maintenance so my fuel filters are changed on a regular basis. No need to let the fuel pressure drop post filter to tell you when you need a new one.