I have had the MEGA filter for 35,000 miles. I just replaced the element for the first time a few days ago. Now, after about 150 miles, I started my truck and it fired right up. Then a few seconds later it died. I primed it about 15-20 pumps and drove off, no problems..........

Am I in for it now with periodic priming and stalling? I ignored all of the lift pump talk because I had no issues. Any help? John Kennedy, how far from Milwaukee to Loyal? Any time to install a lift pump? Headed for texas with a camper, two kids and a wife who thinks I spend too much time on a truck! It needs to be reliable! Trip is in 2 weeks! SPICER :help:

I have had the MEGA filter for 35,000 miles. I just replaced the element for the first time a few days ago. Now, after about 150 miles, I started my truck and it fired right up. Then a few seconds later it died. I primed it about 15-20 pumps and drove off, no problems..........

Am I in for it now with periodic priming and stalling? I ignored all of the lift pump talk because I had no issues. Any help? John Kennedy, how far from Milwaukee to Loyal? Any time to install a lift pump? Headed for texas with a camper, two kids and a wife who thinks I spend too much time on a truck! It needs to be reliable! Trip is in 2 weeks! SPICER :help:Congratulations Arlen, Apparently the threads between the nipple and the head are sealed this time around. The good news is you are no longer channeling fuel to the clean side via the nipple threads. The bad news is that without this channeling you are now trapping vapors instead of letting them through. Kennedy has a nipple orifice that will take care of this but IMO the lift pump would be your best route as all fuel would have to pass through the element media. If you do decide to go the lift pump route you will wonder why you waited so long after you see the many benefits.:)

Good luck,
Tommy

Hey Spicer..........nice of you to join the "extra filter no start club"......
I had the same problem after installing the MEGA several years ago. Now that my current lift pump decided to leave me, I have to worry about stalling again. Fortunately my truck seems to be ok in colder temps.........but if it gets too warm, it's prime the system about every 200 miles.......and I don't think my hand pump works anymore.
John..............hurry up!

Something obviously changed when you had the system open. The quick and easy answer is the bleed orifice. The best solution is a lift pump. You will have to make the call as to what you do. I do not have everything ready to do it right at the moment, but could likely set you up and update when parts become available...

Something obviously changed when you had the system open. The quick and easy answer is the bleed orifice. The best solution is a lift pump. You will have to make the call as to what you do. I do not have everything ready to do it right at the moment, but could likely set you up and update when parts become available...

Whatever it takes, John. You hold the keys. I wonder if NOT having the threads sealed makes a difference. At original install I DID seal the threads with pipe thread sealant. When I changed the filter the nipple came out. I was at the firehouse and had no thread sealant (or o-ring being pre-production). So it was installed dry. I NEVER stalled before in 35k miles with the MEGA. My conclusion...Set me up, whatever it takes. SPICER

Arlen, the bleed valve is the cheapest solution, works well. As above, I advise for a L/P too, thats a big element to fill and you can bet its not full with the suction system

I believe in the lift pump also, takes full advantage of the filter element media, unlike the "half empty" filters we run without a lift pump. Explain the bleed valve concept. If the lift pump is not ready yet I will be seeking the next best thing. SPICER

I'm sure John will give you the details later but just for a quick heads up it is installed in the filter nipple just above the filter internal seal and allows only a small amount of fuel and trapped air to escape from the dirty side to the clean side outlet a very small amount at a time. This is to provide a constant bleed and not send an overwelming gulp of accumulated air shortly after starting the engine which then kills the eng. You may be able to install one to get you out of a bind then plug it off after the lift pump is ready.

Good luck,
Tommy

I talked to John this morning. We decided the lift pump is the way to go. I don't like the idea of modifying the nipple. John assured me this is an inconvenience thing that won't leave me stranded. I will await John's new lift pump, make the drive and pay him for his product, time and expertise. Well worth it in my mind, and from the sounds of his design it will be well worth the wait also.

I know I have been a thorn in John's side with my air filter research, but I must say his help has proven to me that he is a man of integrity. Thanks for all of your help, John. As soon as your lift pump is ready, consider one sold. SPICER

I talked to John this morning. We decided the lift pump is the way to go. I don't like the idea of modifying the nipple. John assured me this is an inconvenience thing that won't leave me stranded. I will await John's new lift pump, make the drive and pay him for his product, time and expertise. Well worth it in my mind, and from the sounds of his design it will be well worth the wait also.

I know I have been a thorn in John's side with my air filter research, but I must say his help has proven to me that he is a man of integrity. Thanks for all of your help, John. As soon as your lift pump is ready, consider one sold. SPICER
You might want to check what's in your air box when you leave...):h

Just a thought. When I originally installed my MEGA 2 years ago, I purged the entire system by using a compressor to "pressurize" the fuel tank. This time I simply used the primer pump. Any chance using the primer does a "lesser job" purging the filters causing my problem? SPICER

I am sure those in the know have seen this before... www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/94-6R.pdf. This is an issue with our OE and add on filters. I think the stalling comes from a loss of prime from a small air leak which is probably impossible to find. Have all add on filters/kits had stall issues or is there a reason some do and some don't? SPICER

What is the service life of these lift pumps?

I am sure those in the know have seen this before... www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/94-6R.pdf (http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/94-6R.pdf). This is an issue with our OE and add on filters. I think the stalling comes from a loss of prime from a small air leak which is probably impossible to find. Have all add on filters/kits had stall issues or is there a reason some do and some don't? SPICER
You are correct when you say small leaks are probably impossible to find. When I installed my Racor secondary everything seemed fine for about a week, then I started having start/stall problems. Checked all connections, removed and reinstalled filter, but with no luck. I removed the unit for about a month until I decided to go with a lift pump. Thats when I discovered the problem, mind you not a fault of the unit, but rather my own fault. I discovered a small leak and I mean very small in the filter head where the extra ports are plugged off by hex plugs. When I pressurised the system with the lift pump a drop of fuel would appear at one of the ports, roughly an eyedropper drop every 45 seconds or so. (This was done with the engine off) Removed the plug sealed again with permatex and pressure tested, and haven't had a problem since. I tested it without the lift pump afterwards for about 3 weeks and no problems. It doesn't take much for a small leak to cause a big problem for you.

What is the service life of these lift pumps?
Depends on the lift pump. Some have a lifespan measured in months.

The one John Kennedy is working on should last the life of the truck, plus the life of the next two trucks you buy.

What is the service life of these lift pumps?
40K hours

So these have actually undergone field testing to show 40K and the lifespan of two truck longevity? Or is this just and guesstimate? I'd like to get one but don't want to have to change them out every other time I change out the filter. Or, get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Been running one for about 27K.
John's been running one on a test stand since last june which would equal about 231K miles based on an average truck MPH of 40. Similar pumps are rated for 10K hours while pumping water but with diesel fuel being a lubricant I would think they should easily go to the projected 40K. Even 10K would equal about 400K miles. As far as field testing to 40K hours I'm not sure but the pump would have to run for 4.5 years to tell for sure. That would be a long time to wait.

Sounds great. Plus having a switch to pump/prime replacement filters sure would beat hand priming these big secondary filters.