HPFP paranoia

[0l0id]

Hi guys,
What do you all think? are these metal shavings or not? and if so - are they large enough to be concerned about?
They're probably too hard to make out on the screen. Honestly they were so small I honestly couldn't tell if they're particles or bubbles. A couple of times I thought I saw a tiny speck on the rag glistening in the light. but couldn't pick it up with my fingers.

The top of the filter felt smooth as I rub my fingers over it....

IMG_0978.jpg

• 0l0id
• Mar 29, 2024

Old Fuel Filter - cleaning rag

IMG_0982.jpg

• 0l0id
• Mar 29, 2024

Old Fuel Filter - top

 

[Garrison]

Mmmm sparkles!

Run a magnet over it and see if they pickup to be sure?

 

[RTinSOlvang]

Well... Thats what they look for after HPFP failure. I'm about to lose my 2011 Golf due to a $8-$10K est for repair. Less than 100k miles, great condition, love the car (most of the time). But 3 months out of warranty I 'm looking to scrap it and get out of the VW ownership loop after 20yrs/5 VWs.

What happened... After 2.5 hrs of travel, Dash just lit up and car lost power on I-5 in the middle of nowhere. Closest and only Mechanic found debris in filter and visible pump damage.

I'd say you should look into replacing HPFP, hopefully not too late. You probably have realized when the part goes it can take out the whole fuel system - thus the $$$$ repair.

 

[0l0id]

shoot, I already tossed the old one, and the trash truck came by yesterday :/

anyway, looks like I best replace it, as soon as possible. I'd much rather shell out $1000 rather than $10000.

Now, in interests of keeping this car as long as I can, is it worth considering to replace the CP4 pump altogether, and retrofit a CP3? I've read that they are much more durable, but require an adapter kit:

https://www.idparts.com/20l-tdi-cp3-pump-retrofit-kit-tdicp3kit-p-14570.html

Another sidenote - Whitbread makes these kits for CJAA engines, which apparently can bypass the HFPF that's failing and catch the metal shavings before they go and roam around the fuel system. Is this worth trying as an interim solution?

https://whitbreadperformance.com/pr...ering-valve-bypass-kit?variant=44741025923231

 

[T1MMBOJONES]

Mmmm sparkles!

Run a magnet over it and see if they pickup to be sure?

i thought the cp4 was mostly made of aluminum, not sure on the lobes themselves. but if so a magnet wont help...

 

[thatwhitejsw]

I had a similar experience during a fuel filter change featuring the same size contaminants. I did fuel filter changes every 5k mi. to keep an eye on things until I decided to swap to the CP3 last month. Hadn't had any issues prior though.

 

[MrCypherr]

If you cant feel anything when you rub your finger over the top, then I would presume that it isnt shavings. You can also see in the bottom of the filter housing and if you remove the metering valve.

 

[0l0id]

Thanks all.
To air on the side of caution, is that Whitbread CP4 Bypass kit is worth installing, as a temporary failsafe?
That way when the CP4 grenades, I can swap it out for a CP3 without having to terraform the rest of the universe that is the entire fuel system.

...I mean going directly the CP3 route in advance makes more sense, but that requires a mechanic, as I'm neither equipped, nor skilled to perform this swap. Meanwhile the bypass kit is something I can do on the side of the road where the car is presently parked.

 

[jimmyfine]

A bypass kit would most likely save the fuel injectors unless the pumping element is the failing part (my 2010 was this way), so it will potentially save a good chunk of money and time, but CP3 is the best way forward if you are really worried about it. My fuel filter had much more glitter than that when it started noticeably running worse, but nothing on filters before it failed. That is the normal sign of the hpfp wearing out and may fail, but it could also be something pulled from the fuel tank, I had a lot of rust in the tank and a bit in the bottom of the filter that I found when cleaning the fuel system.

 

[0l0id]

understood.
Looks like the bypass kit it is! ...for now anyway.

Side note: do you know if these bypass kits have any side effects? Engine performance / emissions? I'm not so much worried about numbers fluctuating as I am about other parts failing prematurely.

 

[Ajlal24]

Looks like there's no side effects from install and is plug&play. From Whitbreads site:

"No tune is required for proper operation, also works with vehicles that have already been tuned. "

"This kit doesn’t prevent a failure from happening but it does isolate the CP4s lubrication supply from the injection fuel supply and prevents all the other components in the injection system from being damaged. Because of how the metering valve is isolated and given its own supply with this kit, now in the event of a failure only the CP4 and return filter will need to be replaced."

 

[Knapper91]

Looks like there's no side effects from install and is plug&play. From Whitbreads site:

"No tune is required for proper operation, also works with vehicles that have already been tuned. "

"This kit doesn’t prevent a failure from happening but it does isolate the CP4s lubrication supply from the injection fuel supply and prevents all the other components in the injection system from being damaged. Because of how the metering valve is isolated and given its own supply with this kit, now in the event of a failure only the CP4 and return filter will need to be replaced."

My apologies to Ajlal24 for my inability to read.

 

[AverageAndy]

Tuning is required after swapping to a cp3. The fueling percentages are different between a cp3 and cp4.

Correct. However, @Ajlal24 was talking about the CP4 disaster prevention (bypass) kit, which does not require any tuning.