WIF sensor corroded again?
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From: Virginia beach, VA
WIF sensor corroded again?
About 1 month ago, I was driving along when the Water in Fuel message came up. I immediately pulled over and drained out a soda bottle full. Started truck back up, and a minute later light comes on again so I just clear it and that was the last I saw it for maybe 2 weeks.
Then my dad borrows my truck and told me he got the Water in Fuel message but it went away by itself. I've been driving it for 2 weeks since then and never got the message again until today. It came on twice, once on my way to school and then on the way back. The fact that I cleared it and it came back has me kind of worried. I also drove about 40 miles after getting the message.
Odds are the sensor is corroded but now I'm really paranoid that I could be doing damage. What do you guys think? I'd like to try spraying some brake cleaner in the HFCM drain plug hole, but I have a full tank so if I drain it now it will never stop flowing. So basically my question is, if I do in fact have water in my fuel how long can I drive before causing damage? Also worth noting the previous owner had this problem and had the HFCM replaced under warranty at 40 or 50k miles. It now has 77k. I don't see how it could corrode again so quickly. Sorry for such a long post.
Then my dad borrows my truck and told me he got the Water in Fuel message but it went away by itself. I've been driving it for 2 weeks since then and never got the message again until today. It came on twice, once on my way to school and then on the way back. The fact that I cleared it and it came back has me kind of worried. I also drove about 40 miles after getting the message.
Odds are the sensor is corroded but now I'm really paranoid that I could be doing damage. What do you guys think? I'd like to try spraying some brake cleaner in the HFCM drain plug hole, but I have a full tank so if I drain it now it will never stop flowing. So basically my question is, if I do in fact have water in my fuel how long can I drive before causing damage? Also worth noting the previous owner had this problem and had the HFCM replaced under warranty at 40 or 50k miles. It now has 77k. I don't see how it could corrode again so quickly. Sorry for such a long post.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
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What you are dealing with is why Ford added an o-ring to the primary filter. People that ran their truck with too much water in the fuel (or never drained the water out) would begin to experience high pressure drops across the filter and then the water would break through around the end. Now, it just causes low fuel pressure (unless the water content is grossly excessive).
Personally, I would want to take care of it as soon as possible.
Personally, I would want to take care of it as soon as possible.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
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It is always possible that the primary filter has deformed and that the water is travelling past the filter to the injectors. The "water holding capacity" of the HFCM is very small. It will only hold 0.2 pints (100 cc or 3,2 ounces) of water.
I know you have said that "If you removed the HFCM drain plug, it would never stop flowing since you have a full tank of fuel", but mine does not act that way. I regularly change my fuel filters with a full tank. Do you have the improved drain plug? If not, it is a great upgrade. IMO, it is worth the "diesel bath" (if you actually get one) to find out if it is actually full of water or not. Drain the HFCM into a clear (glass is preferable IMO) container and see if it is discolored or rusty. You can re-use any diesel that you get from the drain plug if it does not contain any water and if it is not full of rust or algae.
It may even be worth removing the primary filter and inspecting it (assuming the flow actually will stop - and you might try parking on an incline to see if that helps). If the primary filter looks good, it may then be worth removing the HFCM cover to get a visual inspection.
What is your fuel pressure (I assume you are measuring it at the secondary fuel port test plug)? Do you use biodiesel?
I know you have said that "If you removed the HFCM drain plug, it would never stop flowing since you have a full tank of fuel", but mine does not act that way. I regularly change my fuel filters with a full tank. Do you have the improved drain plug? If not, it is a great upgrade. IMO, it is worth the "diesel bath" (if you actually get one) to find out if it is actually full of water or not. Drain the HFCM into a clear (glass is preferable IMO) container and see if it is discolored or rusty. You can re-use any diesel that you get from the drain plug if it does not contain any water and if it is not full of rust or algae.
It may even be worth removing the primary filter and inspecting it (assuming the flow actually will stop - and you might try parking on an incline to see if that helps). If the primary filter looks good, it may then be worth removing the HFCM cover to get a visual inspection.
What is your fuel pressure (I assume you are measuring it at the secondary fuel port test plug)? Do you use biodiesel?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
While doing the procedure as Mark stated also remove your fuel tank cap to relieve any pressure build up in the tank. I'm with Mark, I also can change filters with a full tank and at most get app. 1/2 pint of fuel to drain.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Florida
When u say you drained a soda bottle full. Was it all water? Why do you suspect the sensor and not the fact that you may have water in your fuel. Rule out the fuel contaminants first. At the very least I would remove the primary fuel filter and inspect it, while it is out you can utilize some brake cleaner to spray in there and note if any chunks of algae or dirt comes out. It is best to remove both the filter cap as well as the drain plug completely. Then after the brake cleaner has removed most of the junk, use compressed air to blast out any remaining fluid and or debris, once you are satisfied the brake cleaner has evaporated reinstall everything and cycle the key a minimum of three times while waiting for the fuel pump to prime everything again, if the light was on at the time it may take some miles to go out
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2010
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Maybe Algae or debris tripping the sensor.
see the attached thread which shows some detail of the HFCM
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...eing-hfcm.html
Again the filter will only drain what is in it when the drain plug is opened not the whole tank.
Mark
see the attached thread which shows some detail of the HFCM
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...eing-hfcm.html
Again the filter will only drain what is in it when the drain plug is opened not the whole tank.
Mark
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From: Virginia beach, VA
When u say you drained a soda bottle full. Was it all water? Why do you suspect the sensor and not the fact that you may have water in your fuel. Rule out the fuel contaminants first. At the very least I would remove the primary fuel filter and inspect it, while it is out you can utilize some brake cleaner to spray in there and note if any chunks of algae or dirt comes out. It is best to remove both the filter cap as well as the drain plug completely. Then after the brake cleaner has removed most of the junk, use compressed air to blast out any remaining fluid and or debris, once you are satisfied the brake cleaner has evaporated reinstall everything and cycle the key a minimum of three times while waiting for the fuel pump to prime everything again, if the light was on at the time it may take some miles to go out
My plan is to pull the drain plug today just to see if there is in fact any water. Then I will drive the truck all week to get it below a half tank and pull the plug again and spray the brake cleaner in there. Depending on what I find, from there I may or may not remove the filter.
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From: Virginia beach, VA
This is an interesting topic which I don't quite understand. I've read online about several other people like me, who get the non-stop flow of diesel. Then there is others, like everyone in this thread, who don't have that problem. The ones who is does happen to (myself included) have come to the conclusion that it only occurs with more than half a tank of fuel. I'm not sure why this matters but it does.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
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From: Florida
Looks like algae that I find growing in mine. We had a 4.5 lcf that was tripping the light often, it is easier to work on than ours due to the dump bed, uses same HFCM as ours, when I cleaned it, there were very large and small chunks of the algae in there and was causing the false alarm of the light. It took 2 full cans of brake cleaner and combination of compressed air to clean it to the point where I could not see anything sitting in the back of the HFCM housing, we put it all back together and the light has not come back on since. Do you use any additives?
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This is an interesting topic which I don't quite understand. I've read online about several other people like me, who get the non-stop flow of diesel. Then there is others, like everyone in this thread, who don't have that problem. The ones who is does happen to (myself included) have come to the conclusion that it only occurs with more than half a tank of fuel. I'm not sure why this matters but it does.
If the tank is under half and the truck is parked nose up you just get a bath from whatever is in the lower bowl.
Josh
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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.
As to the continual draining (IMO) - your flow should not drain continuously - even with a full tank. If it does, there is a check valve or something somewhere not working properly. No big deal to put up with I suppose.
I agree with Bud - many fuel additives help prevent algae growth.
As to the continual draining (IMO) - your flow should not drain continuously - even with a full tank. If it does, there is a check valve or something somewhere not working properly. No big deal to put up with I suppose.