WIF sensor corroded again?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
from what I can tell, that is water in the bottom, hard to tell how much, but there is water there. The algae grows preferentially in the areas of water pockets. Water will sink and form small pools like in your pics.
I agree with Bud - many fuel additives help prevent algae growth.
I agree with Bud - many fuel additives help prevent algae growth.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Virginia beach, VA
I'm thinking this is common with trucks such as mine, that sit more than they work, diesel sitting in a dark damp place for extended periods grows crap. This is how I know there is life on mars. If I can grow algae in a tank of diesel fuel. There is life on other planets. Lol
Anyways now the question is, are those few droplets of water enough to trigger the WIF sensor, or is it corroded and giving me a false warning?
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Posting Guru
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From: Virginia beach, VA
Update: Today I drained the separator again, this time with under a half tank and it stopped draining after it filled up a water bottle. Once again, no water. I went ahead and sprayed a bunch of brake cleaner in there and a some more rust/bacteria came out but not as much as I was expecting.
I then drove to and from school with no water in fuel message...then I filled up my tank, went to the gym and on my way home it came on again! This is driving me crazy now and I don't know what else to do aside from replacing a HFCM that probably isn't bad in the first place.
Do you guys think its possible that for some reason, straight diesel fuel is getting sent into the separator and triggering the warning that its full of water? That's all I can think of right now.
I then drove to and from school with no water in fuel message...then I filled up my tank, went to the gym and on my way home it came on again! This is driving me crazy now and I don't know what else to do aside from replacing a HFCM that probably isn't bad in the first place.
Do you guys think its possible that for some reason, straight diesel fuel is getting sent into the separator and triggering the warning that its full of water? That's all I can think of right now.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
I use diesel klean in every tank.
I used about 25% of a can of carb cleaner
with the straw tip. Got lots and lots of gold /brown goop off every side in the drain hole.
It's several months and no more wif lite.
I was getting it once in a while and only a few
drops of water in the clear jar.
Might be a corroded sensor?
I used about 25% of a can of carb cleaner
with the straw tip. Got lots and lots of gold /brown goop off every side in the drain hole.
It's several months and no more wif lite.
I was getting it once in a while and only a few
drops of water in the clear jar.
Might be a corroded sensor?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Actually, the sensor itself is probably bad now and must be replaced..... I don't know, but I THINK I remember that it can be. If you check in the READ FIRST section about the 6.0. that info is in there? Maybe use the SEARCH function.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
Likes: 549
From: Spanaway
I agree, how does the algae even find its way in there? Its like the man-made lake in my neighborhood that somehow has fish in it (no, the HOA did not pay for someone to put them in there).
Anyways now the question is, are those few droplets of water enough to trigger the WIF sensor, or is it corroded and giving me a false warning?
Anyways now the question is, are those few droplets of water enough to trigger the WIF sensor, or is it corroded and giving me a false warning?
in. They find a pool of water and feed on the diesel.
Sean
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 6
you might want to try and take the cover off and give it a good cleaning rather than just spraying through the drain hole. Probably need a new gasket on hand though.
Mark
Mark
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Virginia beach, VA
I plan to take the cover off, clean everything and replace the sensor one of these days. For now I just have to deal with the water in fuel message every time I drive the truck
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Update: Today I drained the separator again, this time with under a half tank and it stopped draining after it filled up a water bottle. Once again, no water. I went ahead and sprayed a bunch of brake cleaner in there and a some more rust/bacteria came out but not as much as I was expecting.
I then drove to and from school with no water in fuel message...then I filled up my tank, went to the gym and on my way home it came on again! This is driving me crazy now and I don't know what else to do aside from replacing a HFCM that probably isn't bad in the first place.
Do you guys think its possible that for some reason, straight diesel fuel is getting sent into the separator and triggering the warning that its full of water? That's all I can think of right now.
I then drove to and from school with no water in fuel message...then I filled up my tank, went to the gym and on my way home it came on again! This is driving me crazy now and I don't know what else to do aside from replacing a HFCM that probably isn't bad in the first place.
Do you guys think its possible that for some reason, straight diesel fuel is getting sent into the separator and triggering the warning that its full of water? That's all I can think of right now.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Virginia beach, VA
When I suggest to utilize the brake cleaner, you must remove the large fuel filter first, not just opening the drain plug and spraying it in there , you don't want the main fuel filter getting soaked with brake cleaner and possibly getting into the injectors. This way the HFCM is open in the front and then the drain plug is open.
I only sprayed it towards the front of the truck not towards the filter and I let it all drain out for 20-25 mins.
EDIT: also from this picture I found of an open HFCM, it doesn't appear that spraying it in the drain plug hole would allow it to get to the fuel filter
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
So did I screw up?
I only sprayed it towards the front of the truck not towards the filter and I let it all drain out for 20-25 mins.
EDIT: also from this picture I found of an open HFCM, it doesn't appear that spraying it in the drain plug hole would allow it to get to the fuel filter
I only sprayed it towards the front of the truck not towards the filter and I let it all drain out for 20-25 mins.
EDIT: also from this picture I found of an open HFCM, it doesn't appear that spraying it in the drain plug hole would allow it to get to the fuel filter
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
I too am having the same problem as Ian123 right now. Ian, does your truck go back to an idle every time the light come on? Mine does and it even shut off one time last night. I am going to try and get a new sensor and clean out the HFCM as much as possible this weekend. I am new to the diesel world and I am finding out that possibly the previous owner of my truck was too. 
Adam
Adam
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Posting Guru
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From: Virginia beach, VA
I too am having the same problem as Ian123 right now. Ian, does your truck go back to an idle every time the light come on? Mine does and it even shut off one time last night. I am going to try and get a new sensor and clean out the HFCM as much as possible this weekend. I am new to the diesel world and I am finding out that possibly the previous owner of my truck was too.
Adam
Adam
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