zouch
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2020
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it's hardly a "bad engine design"; even for people who don't have gasoline fed to their diesels, it seems most of the failures are related to the Bosch CP4 High Pressure Fuel Pump that provides the high fuel pressure that makes the power and efficiency these engines deliver possible.
what seems like a bad design might the result of the choice to use the CP4 in the US where the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel used in the US possibly doesn't provide the lubricity that the fuel used in the EU provides (where the VM Motori EcoDiesel was designed). the previous Gen CP3 pump seems to be enjoying a nice long lifespan, but was heavier and doesn't provide the same power/efficiency the CP4 does. however, it may be telling that several other applications using the EcoDiesel have kits available to substitute the CP3 for the CP4.
the part i personally feel is a bad design is the fact that the failure of the CP4 apparently contaminates so many other parts with metal fragments that need to replaced when it fails; there are several companies in the aftermarket now that are providing Catastrophe Failure kits that allegedly significantly reduce the consequences of the CP4 failure, and i feel that should be integrated into every EcoDiesel from the factory. (i've yet to find one for the J**p application; after having my EcoDiesel sit idle for weeks now waiting for back-ordered simple parts like fuel lines and in-tank pump/gauge modules, i'll definitely be keeping an eye open for one!)
in the meantime, there's no good excuse for my pump to have failed in just over 4K miles, and i have to consider that perhaps it might make sense for folks with the EcoDiesel to consider using an additive or fuel blend that provides more fuel lubricity in order to help the CP4 pump along. now that major fuel companies are providing fuel blends anywhere from 5-20% biomass to 100% Renewable diesel, it may prove that we have better options available than just throwing a bottle of something in with every tank of #2.
what seems like a bad design might the result of the choice to use the CP4 in the US where the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel used in the US possibly doesn't provide the lubricity that the fuel used in the EU provides (where the VM Motori EcoDiesel was designed). the previous Gen CP3 pump seems to be enjoying a nice long lifespan, but was heavier and doesn't provide the same power/efficiency the CP4 does. however, it may be telling that several other applications using the EcoDiesel have kits available to substitute the CP3 for the CP4.
the part i personally feel is a bad design is the fact that the failure of the CP4 apparently contaminates so many other parts with metal fragments that need to replaced when it fails; there are several companies in the aftermarket now that are providing Catastrophe Failure kits that allegedly significantly reduce the consequences of the CP4 failure, and i feel that should be integrated into every EcoDiesel from the factory. (i've yet to find one for the J**p application; after having my EcoDiesel sit idle for weeks now waiting for back-ordered simple parts like fuel lines and in-tank pump/gauge modules, i'll definitely be keeping an eye open for one!)
in the meantime, there's no good excuse for my pump to have failed in just over 4K miles, and i have to consider that perhaps it might make sense for folks with the EcoDiesel to consider using an additive or fuel blend that provides more fuel lubricity in order to help the CP4 pump along. now that major fuel companies are providing fuel blends anywhere from 5-20% biomass to 100% Renewable diesel, it may prove that we have better options available than just throwing a bottle of something in with every tank of #2.
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