My F450 with 26000 miles had to have entire fuel system replaced by dealer. They claimed water in fuel damaged the system and warranty coverage was denied. Truck had been running normal and no warning light that indicated by water separator was needing to be drained. Fuel filter and oil changed by dealer 2 days prior to check engine light coming on. Dealer tech. claims water in fuel was not removed by the fuel filter or water separator. Anyone else had this problem?

 

Unfortunately yes you're not the first.

 

I understand you had the same problem? Did your warranty cover it? I think that some water is in every fill up with diesel. It seems water separator should get the water out?

 

Is this the 2008 F-450 you're showing in your profile?

 

The only problem I've heard about water in fuel was with the new 6.7 diesel. Haven't heard of it on the 6.4.

 

Yup, ford doesn't honor their warranties any more, its in the fine print when you buy the truck.

 

If there is you need to switch stations, we have our own bulk diesel and have no water issues.

 

Do you by any chances have GEIGO insurance? GEIGO insurance sometimes include something called Mechanical breakdown insurance.

Some other insurance company will also cover it. I would check to see if your insurance company will cover it.

Did you buy fuel since the truck had the filters changed?

 

Yes the warranty seems to have all kinds of fine print to be able to deny whatever they want. I have filed a claim with State Farm and they are going to pay everything but the deductible. I came out okay but it just seems that Ford should be responsible. To answer the other question I had not filled up after the fuel filter change. I have talked to several good diesel mechanics not associated with Ford and they all said that this was a fault in the Ford system somewhere. A GM dealer friend told me that their trucks will shut down before any damage would be done to the system when there is water in the fuel. He could not imagine how some water in the system would have caused this amount of damage to the fuel system.

 

HPFP is lubricated by the fuel...so if you are passing water vs fuel then there is no lubrication.

MY 2008 and up is susceptible to this.

buy your fuel from high volume places and change filters often.

 

Thats my concern. I have always bought from stations that I thought sold lots of diesel fuel. Are there any diesel fuel additives that are helpful in reducing the possible damage by water in the fuel? They tell me that almost all diesel will have some water in it. I don't know how to avoid this situation again.

 

Couldn't a water separator be installed before the HPFP?

 

there already is one there. It does a pretty good job. You could put another one there but how that would effect the fuel pressure from the low pressure pump I do not know.

 

They do make fuel water seperators for your 6.4.

I thought the 6.4 had a better water filter then the 6.7. Rancor Makes the filter for 6.4 and the 6.0 and I hear soo much less trouble with water in fuel then I do in the 6.7.

 

This is exactly why I'm afraid to own anything newer than a 6.0. I've gotten the water in fuel message like 3 times in the past 2 years, just drain it and go on my way. With a 6.4 or 6.7 I'd probably be in a lot of trouble by now. I ALWAYS fill up at big name stations and change filters every 10k. The fuel around here just sucks I guess. Glad to hear your insurance covered it