Sorry this is so long, but it is very important. 24 valve owners - read.

I thought I would post this since I am sure many have done what I did in regards to installing an aftermarket liftpump. I like many removed all factory fuel parts not needed ie feed line, lift pump and BRACKET, and fuel filter housing.

The bracket for the lift pump must be left on the engine as well as all 4 mounting bolts. You WILL leak oil and you possibly destroy your engine if you do not retain this. There is a gasket that sits behind this bracket that seals something that is used on a 12 valve engine. I thought it was just the block and just a mounting point for the pump, but it serves dual purposes.

I completed my Airdog install 1 week ago and have put over 100 miles on it with no sign of leakage or any trouble even though I did not have the bracket (just the gasket) which I thought was the block surface. I had put 2 bolts on to hold the wiring harness in place otherwise my gasket might have blown out completely.

I discovered this b/c I was installing a breather setup and had run an extension on the hose. While I was installing the tank, I tucked the hose up inside the bumper bracket and folded it in half to hold it out of the way while I was working (kinked restriction). My brother called and needed me to come over to his house on short notice, so I stopped my install and drove over there. I forgot that I had the hose kinked like that. This caused pressure to build up and it went out the easiest path (normally the dipstick) but in my case the gasket that happened to barely be sealing the hole where the lift pump bracket was.

When I got home, I noticed oil pouring from all under the truck. I look underneath and there was oil completely covering the whole underside of the truck. It looked like someone had poured oil out on everything - I mean it was everywhere. I still had plenty of oil in the engine, but after cleaning I discovered where it was coming from - where the lift pump was. Someone on CD mentioned there was a gasket there covering a hole that was not used on our trucks. I cleaned everything off with brake clean and installed the plate back on and put some silicone on the bolts and it was fixed. Added a little oil and cleaned up the under carriage.

This could have been a disaster had I driven further, not noticed the oil, etc. Especially if someone has a burned out oil pressure bulb or bad gauge.

So, please learn from this and check into it. It could save you a costly engine. Don't take a chance with the only reason we all own a Dodge - the Cummins engine.

 

Yep, it serves as the fuel pump block off plate.

Of course, I have a pump mounted there, but that's another story.

I have cut a few block off plates for use in the shop so we can remove all the factory stuff.

Dave

 

Lil confused, is this for a 12ver or 24 ver? I have removed all my filter housing, and lines and have had no problems with mine? 24v here?

Capn

 

This is for the 24 Valve engines. The OEM lift pump bracket on the side of the block also serves as a block off plate. With the 12 valves, the mechanical pump mounted in the same position, but ran into the block. For the 24 valves, they left that hole in the block there. Except since our pumps are electric, they used the mounting bracket (and gasket) as a plate to seal off that hole.

 

Well ****... my truck leaks like hell from somewhere under there. I need to check that out. Thanks

 

Most likely haven't had a restriction on your breather setup like I did yet.

 

I left my pump and everything there, just disconnected the pump. I knew there was a reason I left it on...

 

You talking about the bracket that holds the stock cummins lift pump? The 24V use an electric lift pump and the 12v mechanical fuel pump is run by the camshaft lobe. Taking off that braacket, you'll get oil coming out of the camshaft, as the camshaft is now exposed. I've taken off my filter for years now, but that lift pump bracket is still on the truck. 24V stock camshafts don't have the fuel pump lobe, but you can get an aftermarket camshaft to use the 12v lift pump.

 

;you had me going, because i removed the pump a long time ago, I am camping and ran out to check what I did in the past, all is ok. It finally came to me that I had read about the bracket being used on the 12v and I had left it in place, but had forgotten about it since. thanks for the heads up ED

 

Even though the stock lift pump is long gone, I never even thought about taking off the lift pump mounting bracket. Glad I didn't.

If you removed your stock fuel filter and mounting bracket, you've probably also blown out your intake plenum gasket.

 

i remove the stock fuel filter and mill an aluminum spacer so I could seal the intake and still use the same bolts that are with the filter. ED

 

Well I did replace those bolts, just had no idea there was a gasket behind the bracket.