Water separator ??
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New User
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Elyria, Ohio
Water separator ??
I tried to move the lever to open my water separator and can not get it to move. When I do get it free is there anything I can do to keep this from happening again, I do live in the salty road north! 08 ps cc 250
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From: Frederick, MD
let it run till it is a steady stream, no breaks in the stream as it flows, look at it and if it looks good as it goes in the container then you should be fine. 30 second-1 minute at most and all should be out.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
I'm told they will drain more robustly if you open the fuel cap. I've never had that problem. In fact mine wouldn't stop running and I had to have it replaced.
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So after reading this thread it has occurred to me Ive never drain my water seperator. Simple reason my light has never came on. Is this normal? Ive got a 2010 with about 21k mi. I run a diesel clean in almost every tank and have had the all filters replaced on schedule. Im started doing the normal 10k mi changes but Im going to up it to the 5k mi plan due to reccomendations from other members. Please tell me this is normal!
STM
STM
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
So after reading this thread it has occurred to me Ive never drain my water seperator. Simple reason my light has never came on. Is this normal? Ive got a 2010 with about 21k mi. I run a diesel clean in almost every tank and have had the all filters replaced on schedule. Im started doing the normal 10k mi changes but Im going to up it to the 5k mi plan due to reccomendations from other members. Please tell me this is normal!
STM
STM
Still need to drain it monthly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
So after reading this thread it has occurred to me Ive never drain my water seperator. Simple reason my light has never came on. Is this normal? Ive got a 2010 with about 21k mi. I run a diesel clean in almost every tank and have had the all filters replaced on schedule. Im started doing the normal 10k mi changes but Im going to up it to the 5k mi plan due to reccomendations from other members. Please tell me this is normal!
STM
STM
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I had problems opening the valve right after I bought my (first diesel) truck at 26k. I read that someone broke off the lever, so I took it in to the dealer for the first oil/and fuel filter change just in case. Service guy said there was "lots" of water.
As soon as I got home I checked it myself and it was easier to get it open and I opened/closed it about a dozen times, that seemed to help loosen it a bit. Now I check it monthly and enter the checks into the Ford Owner web site along with all other maintenance. I use the same clear water bottle every time I drain the water separator. Since I wasn't sure what to look for the first time, I put a spot of water in with the diesel and it was pretty obvious. It separates to the bottom pretty quick.
I've checked it three times since then and haven't seen a drop of water. I use Motorcraft or Diesel Kleen Cetane additive every fill. I leave the valve open for about thirty seconds which is about 8 oz of diesel for me. I've read some threads where little to nothing comes out and it's usually been either something clogging the drain tube or gelled up goo inside the housing.
Hope this helps.
As soon as I got home I checked it myself and it was easier to get it open and I opened/closed it about a dozen times, that seemed to help loosen it a bit. Now I check it monthly and enter the checks into the Ford Owner web site along with all other maintenance. I use the same clear water bottle every time I drain the water separator. Since I wasn't sure what to look for the first time, I put a spot of water in with the diesel and it was pretty obvious. It separates to the bottom pretty quick.
I've checked it three times since then and haven't seen a drop of water. I use Motorcraft or Diesel Kleen Cetane additive every fill. I leave the valve open for about thirty seconds which is about 8 oz of diesel for me. I've read some threads where little to nothing comes out and it's usually been either something clogging the drain tube or gelled up goo inside the housing.
Hope this helps.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Having some concerns myself, I drained my water seperator about six weeks ago and two weeks later the messege came up, so I drained it again, two weeks later messege came up again, so I drained it again. This has become the norm for me. I am within a thousand miles of the 40k schedule service, should I wait and drain until then or should I bite it and take it in now? I really only want to take it in once. I've read other posts about this and some people had to replace the lower fuel filter before the messege stopped. Advise please.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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kjstanger:
Are you getting any water when you drain? From what I've picked up from these forums you might have a sensor going out, you might have fuel gelled up in the lower filter housing. I think the sensor is pretty easy to replace yourself. Not sure about gelled fuel in the housing. Probably the most important thing I've picked up is don't let it go too long. Water in the fuel can lead to huge $$$.
Are you getting any water when you drain? From what I've picked up from these forums you might have a sensor going out, you might have fuel gelled up in the lower filter housing. I think the sensor is pretty easy to replace yourself. Not sure about gelled fuel in the housing. Probably the most important thing I've picked up is don't let it go too long. Water in the fuel can lead to huge $$$.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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kjstanger:
Are you getting any water when you drain? From what I've picked up from these forums you might have a sensor going out, you might have fuel gelled up in the lower filter housing. I think the sensor is pretty easy to replace yourself. Not sure about gelled fuel in the housing. Probably the most important thing I've picked up is don't let it go too long. Water in the fuel can lead to huge $$$.
Are you getting any water when you drain? From what I've picked up from these forums you might have a sensor going out, you might have fuel gelled up in the lower filter housing. I think the sensor is pretty easy to replace yourself. Not sure about gelled fuel in the housing. Probably the most important thing I've picked up is don't let it go too long. Water in the fuel can lead to huge $$$.
I will drain again and let sit for a while to see. Will let you know the out come.