Water in Fuel Light
#1
Water in Fuel Light
Ok, I'm pretty much a newbe in diesels and almost every fill I get (1) water in fuel light. This winter is really wet so maybe this is normal as I've tried to fill at different dealers. It usually occurs maybe 20-30 miles after fill up, going around corners in city traffic I notice the light blinks. Then the next ten miles or so it gets worse and comes on steady. When this happens I pull over and drain the canister for 5-7 seconds until I can smell fuel, after that I don't get the problem for that tank but never get much below 1/4 tank before switching tanks or refuling.
So .. the question's are:
Should I drain the entire canister when this happens .. ouch $$$$$
Took my sister up to medical center a couple weeks ago on freeway, 3 hour drive, and it started about 20 miles from exit .. no way to pull over in traffic. Not bad but just blinking on and off. Pulled off freeway and on steady but had no option but to just go with flow, another 3 miles.
Truck runs great and don't have a real issue with but just wanted to know how everyone deals with "Water In Fuel" light.
Thanks in advance, Jim
So .. the question's are:
Should I drain the entire canister when this happens .. ouch $$$$$
Took my sister up to medical center a couple weeks ago on freeway, 3 hour drive, and it started about 20 miles from exit .. no way to pull over in traffic. Not bad but just blinking on and off. Pulled off freeway and on steady but had no option but to just go with flow, another 3 miles.
Truck runs great and don't have a real issue with but just wanted to know how everyone deals with "Water In Fuel" light.
Thanks in advance, Jim
#2
It's just there to let you know it see's something funky. I would drain the bowl completely. But you should only need to do it once. I would take it home, drain the fuel bowl and make sure everything is clean inside the bowl. But if I understand you correctly, you we're draining the bowl "till you smelled fuel."? If there is actually that much water in your fuel every time you fill up, I would suspect a leak in the fuel tank or neck. Somewhere water is actually coming in. Just my thoughts.
#3
#4
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I would advise that anytime that light comes on to drain it ASAP. Water in the injectors could cause major problems. If enough water gets into the injector tip and get hot enough fast enough it will turn into steam and blow the injector tip apart. That would liely cause piston damage. thats worse case senario but water is not a lubricatant either so any amount thru the injector is bad.
Speaking of which I need to fix my water in fuel light!!! Yikes!!
Speaking of which I need to fix my water in fuel light!!! Yikes!!
#5
tj, that being said should I try to run tanks below 1/4. maybe almost empty. Is water heaver than diesel fuel so water laying in bottom of tank? Maybe aggetiation on fill up causes stir action. It's not that bad .. just wondering .. drives me nuts not knowing the rules. Solid truck, tight, no rust and no way water is entering the fuel system from outside enviroment.
Jim
Jim
#7
Trending Topics
#8
#9
Water is heaver than diesel and will settel to the bottom of the bowl and draining it till fuel comes ot should fix it unless you have water in the tank. If you have water in the tank the problem will come back every time you run the tank low enough to get water back in the bowl.Use a additve that will get rid of the water in the tank and see what happens.
#10
Ok, I think I can figure it out myself. I need to know, however, is water heaver than diesel fuel. Is it in the bottom of the fuel filter cansiter and in the bottom of the fuel tanks? I also understand why no one really wants to address this issue due to possible miss advise, possibly why I can't find other threads relating to this issue. I assure everyone I'm just wanted to know what to do if the "Water In Light" comes on and what time frame to to it. In my case just think will run tanks as close to empty as possible and watch for waring lights.
Jim
Jim
#12
#13
Originally Posted by Hussler
Ok, I think I can figure it out myself. I need to know, however, is water heaver than diesel fuel. Is it in the bottom of the fuel filter cansiter and in the bottom of the fuel tanks? I also understand why no one really wants to address this issue due to possible miss advise, possibly why I can't find other threads relating to this issue. I assure everyone I'm just wanted to know what to do if the "Water In Light" comes on and what time frame to to it. In my case just think will run tanks as close to empty as possible and watch for waring lights.
Jim
Jim
Yes, it will be in the bottom of the fuel canister and tank.....
We ARE addressing this...
If the light comes on, DRAIN IT.....THE WHOLE CANISTER.
There are several companys that make water dispersant for diesel, google it.
If a problem like this persists, you need to think about dropping the tanks and inspecting them. Also, only buy fuel where they sell alot of it. The light should rarely come on. But if you change your fuel filter regularly (I change mine every 10k) you should never see it. I would suspect fuel supply (station) or a leak allowing water in the system.
#14