Fuel water separator draining
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
You will see water bubbles at the bottom of the container once you leave it settle for about 5 minutes. It's very easy to see water in fuel since it is heavier than the fuel and sits on the bottom. If you have a lot of it, you will see a clear cut line between the fuel and water. Hope this helps.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Basically if the light comes on, it is too late. I found with my 6.0 that draining it at every oil change was adequate for me, but I fuel from a single fuel source that is checked regularly for water and I refuse to fuel up in the rain. I don't drain the 6.7 every month, but it does get drained several times per oil change especially since the interval on this motor is about double what I did on the 6.0.
I have never gotten more than a drop or two of water at the most on any of my trucks. Toward the end of the 6.0's career with me, I found a rust stain on the drain plug that looked to indicate where the water level had been, but even then no water drained out of the separator. That truck got fuel additive regularly and that is the scary thing about fuel additives to me. Even without the presence of alcohol in the additive, it makes me think that the fuel additive is carrying the small amounts of water past the water separator. At any rate, I never had any injector issues in the past so maybe there just never was any water to worry about.
I have never gotten more than a drop or two of water at the most on any of my trucks. Toward the end of the 6.0's career with me, I found a rust stain on the drain plug that looked to indicate where the water level had been, but even then no water drained out of the separator. That truck got fuel additive regularly and that is the scary thing about fuel additives to me. Even without the presence of alcohol in the additive, it makes me think that the fuel additive is carrying the small amounts of water past the water separator. At any rate, I never had any injector issues in the past so maybe there just never was any water to worry about.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
I've never drained mine in over 140,000 miles of driving diesels. The warning has never come on either. I think that if one got bad fuel at a station that it would quickly send the warning. Draining such a small amount wouldn't make much difference.
Of course I live in a big city and my truck is driven regularly. I have heard that even "good" diesel has water in it that will form when left to sit. Whether in the stations tank, or the trucks tank, makes no difference.
Of course I live in a big city and my truck is driven regularly. I have heard that even "good" diesel has water in it that will form when left to sit. Whether in the stations tank, or the trucks tank, makes no difference.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
I've never drained mine in over 140,000 miles of driving diesels. The warning has never come on either. I think that if one got bad fuel at a station that it would quickly send the warning. Draining such a small amount wouldn't make much difference.
Of course I live in a big city and my truck is driven regularly. I have heard that even "good" diesel has water in it that will form when left to sit. Whether in the stations tank, or the trucks tank, makes no difference.
Of course I live in a big city and my truck is driven regularly. I have heard that even "good" diesel has water in it that will form when left to sit. Whether in the stations tank, or the trucks tank, makes no difference.
It's better than not at all.
I just use the extra diesel to burn brush piles.
(Ignore the sludge in this example.)
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 0
On my 6.0 the light would come on from time to time and I would get it it drained, other than that it would get drained on oil changes. Does this one need the unusual size allen wrench the 6,0 did? The 7,3 was on top of the motor, that was better. Used Howes in the winter. Is this engine so finiky you cant use that stuff?
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 726
Likes: 80
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../1160l6d5e.pdf
easy enough to do........did as it says starting on page 38 for 25 secs....first time in 7 mos and 7K miles........didn't see any water.
easy enough to do........did as it says starting on page 38 for 25 secs....first time in 7 mos and 7K miles........didn't see any water.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 0
Basically if the light comes on, it is too late. I found with my 6.0 that draining it at every oil change was adequate for me, but I fuel from a single fuel source that is checked regularly for water and I refuse to fuel up in the rain. I don't drain the 6.7 every month, but it does get drained several times per oil change especially since the interval on this motor is about double what I did on the 6.0.
I have never gotten more than a drop or two of water at the most on any of my trucks. Toward the end of the 6.0's career with me, I found a rust stain on the drain plug that looked to indicate where the water level had been, but even then no water drained out of the separator. That truck got fuel additive regularly and that is the scary thing about fuel additives to me. Even without the presence of alcohol in the additive, it makes me think that the fuel additive is carrying the small amounts of water past the water separator. At any rate, I never had any injector issues in the past so maybe there just never was any water to worry about.
I have never gotten more than a drop or two of water at the most on any of my trucks. Toward the end of the 6.0's career with me, I found a rust stain on the drain plug that looked to indicate where the water level had been, but even then no water drained out of the separator. That truck got fuel additive regularly and that is the scary thing about fuel additives to me. Even without the presence of alcohol in the additive, it makes me think that the fuel additive is carrying the small amounts of water past the water separator. At any rate, I never had any injector issues in the past so maybe there just never was any water to worry about.
Id sure like to know who tests their fuel. Around here its all conveniance stops with fuel and by a power of 100 , the worst fuel I ever had was a truck stop, requiring tank drop, filter changes and a new seperator. In my 6.0 the drainig required a rare alen wrench. Does the new truck? It should be done with fingers. I greatly preferred the 7.3 under the hood. Also is this truck more sensative to water? What about Howes addative that claims removes water and does not void warentee?
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
We are a construction company with about 40 trucks fueling up out of the 10,000 gallon above ground tank. We get on average a tanker load of diesel every 4 to 5 days and the tank is tested with water sensitive paste once a week. In 16,000 miles this truck has only ever seen the first tank of fuel from the dealer and one other fill-up from a source other than the tank at our shop.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Ooops I missed that in the diesel supplement.
I haven't drained mine in 20k miles and I'm not compelled to start now.
I will get on their lazy incompetent azzes to do so the next time I get my oil changed though (every 5k)
I haven't drained mine in 20k miles and I'm not compelled to start now.
I will get on their lazy incompetent azzes to do so the next time I get my oil changed though (every 5k)
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
We are a construction company with about 40 trucks fueling up out of the 10,000 gallon above ground tank. We get on average a tanker load of diesel every 4 to 5 days and the tank is tested with water sensitive paste once a week. In 16,000 miles this truck has only ever seen the first tank of fuel from the dealer and one other fill-up from a source other than the tank at our shop.
I think my homeowners association frowns upon tankers in the back yard.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Trust me, heavy construction is no luxury these days! All this water separator talk in this thread and of course with Rick's fiasco going on got me a little concerned. I just went out and wasted about 16 oz of fuel draining mine. No water present so either there is none or she is drinking it!
