Warning: Bypassing the factory lift pump saved my 7.3 in a pinch

I know everyone says never to mess with the stock fuel system setup on a 7.3 Powerstroke, especially the lift pump. But last spring my factory pump started dying while I was hauling a trailer near Flagstaff. Cost for a new OEM pump was $450 plus labor. I was stuck, so I wired in a cheap $80 AirDog knockoff from Amazon and rerouted the fuel lines myself. Ran that setup for 8 months now without a single hiccup. Cold starts are even better than before. Has anyone else tried a workaround like this instead of going with the recommended replacement?

2 comments

2 Comments

markl759d ago

Used to be one of those guys who said never touch the factory setup. Then my lift pump died on I-40 near the Petrified Forest. Limped into a Napa parking lot and did the same thing with a cheap inline pump and some hose clamps. Been running it 14 months now no issues. Cold mornings it starts better than it ever did with that factory unit, and I dont have to worry about that stupid pump down on the frame rail anymore. Kinda makes me wonder how much of the "you gotta do it OEM" advice is just people repeating what they heard.

kim.stella9d ago

That's how it goes with a lot of stuff, like how everyone swears by the expensive mattress but you really just need a good firm one.