Boosting Performance: How AirDog® Enhances Fuel Pumps for Class 8 Heavy Duty Diesel Engines
Fuel pumps play a critical role in the operation of Class 8 diesel engines. These heavy duty fuel pumps take fuel from the fuel tank and bring it to the fuel injectors and on into the engine. Without a fuel pump, diesel engine fuel systems can’t operate.
AirDog® diesel fuel filtration systems include a positive pressure fuel pump that operates in addition to the gear-driven fuel pump on your Class 8 diesel engine. Our pump helps improve gear pump efficiency by providing constant positive pressure so the factory fuel pump doesn’t have to work so hard.
Having our system’s fuel pump supporting the factory pump is a great way to minimize truck fuel pump and injector maintenance. It’s also an integral part of the AirDog® system, helping to improve engine performance, fuel economy, and more.
The Role of Gear Pumps in Class 8 Diesel Engines
If you have a Class 8 diesel engine, you have a gear pump that keeps the fuel flowing to your engine. Let’s look at how these pumps work and some of the challenges that are common with this type of pump.
Gear Pump Fundamentals
Gear-driven transfer pumps pull fuel from the fuel tank using suction. Several different types of pumps fall into this category but they all essentially do the same thing. They pull fuel from the tank and bring it onward to the high-pressure fuel injection pump and into the engine.
Common Diesel Fuel System Challenges
The standard gear-driven fuel pump works as intended. It keeps the engine running and is fundamental to the operation of the fuel system. However, it does not create the ideal conditions for optimal engine performance.
Because these pumps operate under suction, periodically, that suction creates cavitation, pulling air into the system. The pump has an efficiency range where it works well through a certain RPM band, but it will often run outside of that efficiency curve as engine RPM varies, pulling entrained air in with the fuel.
Pulling air in with fuel causes a range of issues, including loss of efficiency, damage to fuel injectors, and drops in performance.
How AirDog® Assists the Class 8 Diesel Truck’s Fuel Pump
AirDog® includes an integrated fuel pump in its system to solve the problems created by the standard gear-driven fuel pump.
Integration with Existing Systems
AirDog®’s pump is installed between the fuel tank and the gear pump. It’s not a replacement for the gear pump. Instead, it’s an addition that supports the existing pump and smooths out the flow of fuel throughout the system.
Operational Improvements
Standard fuel pumps on Class 8 diesel engines have to work hard to do their job. All of that pulling the fuel from the tank and the cavitation that results is tough on the pump and the system. That hard work means the fuel pump can and will fail over time, leading to expensive maintenance and replacement of the pump.
AirDog®’s fuel pump seeks to reduce the workload of the gear-driven fuel pump by providing constant positive pressure throughout the system. This positive pressure helps prevent cavitation and air from entering the fuel. It also makes it so the gear pump doesn’t have to work so hard, reducing wear and tear and the need for maintenance and replacement.
The positive pressure provided by AirDog® ensures optimal efficiency across the engine’s full RPM range—no more efficiency drops when the engine moves out of the standard curve.
Benefits of Using AirDog® for Class 8 Diesel Engines
AirDog® provides a range of benefits for Class 8 diesel engines, including extending the life of parts and improving engine performance.
Enhances Fuel Pump Longevity
Every time the gear pump experiences cavitation, it runs dry for a moment. It’s not getting the lubrication that the diesel fuel provides. That metal-on-metal contact causes wear that eventually leads to malfunction and failure.
AirDog®’s pump keeps cavitation from occurring, so the gear pump never runs dry and is therefore always lubricated. It doesn’t completely eliminate wear and tear, but it does significantly reduce it. That means the gear pump will last longer and perform better over time. AirDog users should experience a reduction in premature failures and maintenance issues related to cavitation.
Improved Engine Performance
Consistent fuel delivery ensures that the gear pump is never starved for fuel. Not only is the gear pump never starved for fuel, but neither are the fuel injectors or the engine. This positive pressure creates an ideal environment for the engine to operate at full efficiency.
The positive pressure AirDog® creates keeps the engine running at its best and minimizes damage to parts and components. The engine performs better and is more reliable because of this—and you can expect to spend less on maintenance for fuel system components over the long haul.
Real-World Applications
Class 8 truck owners across the continent have spoken up about the benefits they get from AirDog® on social media and in online reviews. Here are some of the glowing testimonials we have received:
Way Better Fuel Mileage
2005 Cat C15
I heard about your product through Tony Justice. After installing the AirDog®, the engine idles smoother, acceleration is better, and fuel mileage is way better.
Peter F.
Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada
Works Flawlessly
2002 Itasca Horizon RV with Cat 3126B Engine
All is great with the fuel system. I have not heard of many people installing the AirDog® system on the diesel pusher RV units. However, I think it works flawlessly. I have not put an enormous amount of miles on my unit after installation, but a few thousand miles I have. So far so good. I also installed a programmer for the Cat 3126B engine…. which is conjunction with the AirDog® system has given me more power and ease of mind. I like the combination a lot.
Bengt Blomberg
Houston, TX
Tips for Maintaining Your AirDog® System
Like every mechanical system, AirDog® requires proper maintenance to perform as intended.
Regular Monitoring and Maintenance
We encourage truck owners to keep up with regular maintenance intervals, including routine checks and regular filter changes. In general, we recommend changing your AirDog® fuel filters every 35,000 to 40,000 miles, depending upon fuel quality. Always keep a spare set of filters in the truck in the event that you run into a poor fuel quality issue.
Keep an eye on your indicator light on the dashboard. It will turn on if the pressure in your system drops below 5 PSI, indicating that the filter is clogged and needs replacement.
It’s also important to watch how your truck performs over time. Engine stalls, rough idling, failure to start, and other performance issues can be a sign that something is wrong with the fuel system.
Proper Installation Practices
For AirDog® to work right it needs to be installed correctly. There are some differences in the systems we offer for different trucks, so it’s most helpful to find the installation instructions specifically for your product.
We offer a helpful set of videos that can guide you through the installation of several of our systems on our website. More coming soon!
The most common installation mistakes we see involve customers failing to read instructions and follow along with our videos. So, if you are going to install an AirDog® system, please make sure to read the accompanying instructions and check out any related videos for your product.
Professional Support
If you are having any trouble installing your AirDog® product, we encourage you to reach out to our team here at AirDog® or to one of our authorized service centers.
You can reach us here at AirDog® at 1-877-463-4373 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM CST.
Conclusion
AirDog® is an ideal companion to your existing gear-drive fuel pump on your Class 8 heavy-duty diesel engine. It can improve the existing system to ensure optimal performance, clean fuel, and improved longevity for your valuable investment.
If you have any questions about our products or are interested in installing AirDog® on your truck, please get in touch. Our team is standing by to assist you!
