Autotech HPFP failure

[KRL]

You cannot change the seal AFAIK, it certainly isn't listed by VAG, maybe you could source it 3rd party or from Hitachi but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

APR do change the seal.

Bummer if the seals are hard to come by :(

I know APR change the seal but I was wondering they upgrade it somehow or if the just replace it with another OEM one.

[muckipup]

Sorry to hear about this problem muckipup.

I would like to understand two things:

1.  This link from JKM you posted (http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/Misc/Misc_Performance_pictures/APR%20Pump/tech/pumpimages/Visio3_big.jpg) seems to imply that stepped pistons will put more pressure on the the fuel pump seals than a non stepped piston.  Is this correct?

2.  I would like some more information on how often the seals have been failing and weather APR does upgrade the seal or use the OEM one.  I would like to know if I should change my seal after x number of miles?

Those are very fair questions KRL. There are a few more links to HPFPs, I only picked one to highlight a hypothesis. It is only a hypothesis which kinda makes sense to me in a non-expert way. I can't speak for JKM and I don't think they will speak for themselves (in fairness, I think they voted with their feet as this is a sensitive issue as you know)

Again, I don't know of the failure rate of OEM seals, the back/return pressure of after-market internals running higher rail pressures and I can't speak for APRs engineering methods. I reckon it would need some kind of formal study rather than a forum to be accurate on that one. All I can do is report my experience in a non-judgemental way and say 'sniff the dipstick' again and again

[muckipup]

Jeeeziz, just read my own post back and was knocked sideways about what a non-commital pussy I was  I'll get another large gin and be gone. Peace be with you 

[KRL]

Did you do any logs of your car while the problem was active?  Just wondering if this can be spotted through logging - for example maybe the rail pressure would not be able to meet requested if fuel is leaking through the seal.

[vRS Carl]

No the only way to see the problem is if fuel gets in the oil.

The problem is when the piston is on the return stroke. So it won't show a drop in rail pressure.

[yin]

Don't know if this is true but have been told Pump seal failure is what killed the engine on Revo's  K1

[Janner_Sy]

i wasnt aware of a failure on REVOs K1 demo car????

In all fairness they would always blame a hardware fault and not software

[vRS Carl]

There is NEVER a fault with the software. Its always a boost leak

[Janner_Sy]

I wander how this was kept out of the forums for so long.  Are they running the K1 with a new engine now or have they handed it off to some one else

[RobH]

I have herd of a couple of these now, Revo's K1 been one of them and an S3 apperently so an APR pump might be on the cards, also headgaskets seem to have gone on a couple of cars all needing new engines

Talking to INA the headgasket is above industry standards and its the bolts which look a bit weak so maybe ARP bolts might not be a bad idea for longevity. I think there around 200 USD shipped to anywhere in the UK.

Maybe stage 2+ is starting to catch up on a couple of engines.

Off to go smell the dipstick now.

[Janner_Sy]

in all fairness, Al (DJhorice) has been saying this for a while and also knows of a few engines going t!ts up

[djhorace]

Yep, I have, and one of the reasons my new car is still standard for now.

I am taking my fuel pump with KMD internals to Texas in the near future to be APR upgraded though as may well be tempted to up power a little this year once I have got past any teething issues on the car. I would also be looking to check strength of head gasket and bolts too if I go back to S2+.

[KRL]

I think I will start doing some oil analysis every other oil change to catch problems like this.  A quick google found this company:
http://www.theoillab.co.uk/

A report costs £26.95.  Think this could be well worth it in the long run if you weigh it up against the costs of potential failure.

[Janner_Sy]

thats a good idea.

[vRStu]

I think I will start doing some oil analysis every other oil change to catch problems like this.  A quick google found this company:
http://www.theoillab.co.uk/

A report costs £26.95.  Think this could be well worth it in the long run if you weigh it up against the costs of potential failure.

We use a similar thing at work - Spectrographic oil analysis