While the inherent problems of HEUI in Power Strokes may never be fixed, there are ways to increase efficiency, fuel flow, and allow you to make that next step in adding power…

A story in the April, ’09 issue will delve into the details, but a broad overview can be articulated as of right now.

Problem: “Dead-Head” Fuel Rails
In the factory 7.3L fuel system, fuel goes through the frame-mounted fuel pump, to the fuel bowl, is filtered, then exits the reservoir and enters the fuel rail at the front of the cylinder head on each side. From there, fuel flows to each injector (toward the rear of the engine), and eventually dead-ends with nowhere else to go at the rear of the cylinder head. This causes fuel to pool, creates heat, and is inefficient.

One Fix: return regulator kit
ITP offers a return regulator kit to help solve this inherent problem. It consists of a separate fuel pressure regulator being mounted near the rear of the engine, before the turbo pedestal, and requires you to utilitze the existing fuel-rail plugs found at the rear of each cylinder head (not utilized from the factory). This allows fuel to not come to a “dead end” in the cylinder heads, and instead gives it a path out to the regulator, which then sends the returning fuel back to the factory fuel pressure regulator (which you block off), which serves as a mounting point where you tap into the factory fuel return line, and allow fuel to return back to the tank. The result is a more efficient HEUI system, and pro-longed pump life, not to mention less fuel resistance.

Get all that? It may read rough now, but we’ll have an in-depth story out on this in April.