DFCM draining...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
For something that has to be checked monthly...What a Pain in the A$$
It's really pathetic to watch my 78 year old neighbor cursing while climbing out from under his 2014 truck (from which he was laying on card board over the snow), with diesel all over his hands.
He has the same issue I have on my 2012. There you are, holding your mason jar under the DFCM drain port as you slowly turn out your yellow ****, patiently waiting for diesel to enter your jar at which point you turn your yellow **** back in and never spill a drop...right? Wrong! the diesel flows from the yellow handle all over your hand before it flow from the spout it was designed for.
I have read that others don't have this problem because they don't turn the handle that far out. He nor I will not get any flow from the drain port until we open the valve to the point it leaks from the ****.
It's really pathetic to watch my 78 year old neighbor cursing while climbing out from under his 2014 truck (from which he was laying on card board over the snow), with diesel all over his hands.
He has the same issue I have on my 2012. There you are, holding your mason jar under the DFCM drain port as you slowly turn out your yellow ****, patiently waiting for diesel to enter your jar at which point you turn your yellow **** back in and never spill a drop...right? Wrong! the diesel flows from the yellow handle all over your hand before it flow from the spout it was designed for.
I have read that others don't have this problem because they don't turn the handle that far out. He nor I will not get any flow from the drain port until we open the valve to the point it leaks from the ****.
I wonder if there is an o-ring missing on the other end of that yellow ****?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
marchare011 - thanks for the intelligent response.
It could be something missing. When the truck hits its first service, I'll disassemble the unit and take a closer look. Sometimes things are missed during assembly and its not uncommon to be missed repeatedly if the assembly instructions are not corrected.
It could be something missing. When the truck hits its first service, I'll disassemble the unit and take a closer look. Sometimes things are missed during assembly and its not uncommon to be missed repeatedly if the assembly instructions are not corrected.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 1
From: Wasaga Beach, ON
For something that has to be checked monthly...What a Pain in the A$$
It's really pathetic to watch my 78 year old neighbor cursing while climbing out from under his 2014 truck (from which he was laying on card board over the snow), with diesel all over his hands.
He has the same issue I have on my 2012. There you are, holding your mason jar under the DFCM drain port as you slowly turn out your yellow ****, patiently waiting for diesel to enter your jar at which point you turn your yellow **** back in and never spill a drop...right? Wrong! the diesel flows from the yellow handle all over your hand before it flow from the spout it was designed for.
I have read that others don't have this problem because they don't turn the handle that far out. He nor I will not get any flow from the drain port until we open the valve to the point it leaks from the ****.
It's really pathetic to watch my 78 year old neighbor cursing while climbing out from under his 2014 truck (from which he was laying on card board over the snow), with diesel all over his hands.
He has the same issue I have on my 2012. There you are, holding your mason jar under the DFCM drain port as you slowly turn out your yellow ****, patiently waiting for diesel to enter your jar at which point you turn your yellow **** back in and never spill a drop...right? Wrong! the diesel flows from the yellow handle all over your hand before it flow from the spout it was designed for.
I have read that others don't have this problem because they don't turn the handle that far out. He nor I will not get any flow from the drain port until we open the valve to the point it leaks from the ****.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
marchare011 - thanks for the intelligent response.
It could be something missing. When the truck hits its first service, I'll disassemble the unit and take a closer look. Sometimes things are missed during assembly and its not uncommon to be missed repeatedly if the assembly instructions are not corrected.
It could be something missing. When the truck hits its first service, I'll disassemble the unit and take a closer look. Sometimes things are missed during assembly and its not uncommon to be missed repeatedly if the assembly instructions are not corrected.
I would also make sure the little hole in the drain isn't plugged. Maybe some debris or a casting flaw in the DFCM drain? I don't recall exactly how much I turn mine, but it isn't very much. Maybe a couple full revolutions.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
I dont worry about this daily but when I go into a fuel station im on my toes..Double and triple check I hit diesel button,right hole ect.Look at it for a few more seconds then pump.Kinda crazy! Thats my ocd kicking in.Never had this type of experience fueling before my 6.7.
New User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: New York
. I watched him turn it but nothing came out until it came out the yellow handle thingy.I was going to ask about it on this forum but I already feel akward being a girl with such a big truck. I really don't want to "bitch" and be told to go buy a Prius.
. So I'll consider it normal and move on...
My friend that tows horses with her 2002 Lariat recommended I join this forum. She said hers is somewhere by the engine but she never drained it. I told her she should so nothing bad happens.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
I asked my uncle to show me howto drain mine in case he's not around to do it for me. It went all over his hand too . I watched him turn it but nothing came out until it came out the yellow handle thingy.
I was going to ask about it on this forum but I already feel akward being a girl with such a big truck. I really don't want to "bitch" and be told to go buy a Prius. .
So I'll consider it normal and move on...
My friend that tows horses with her 2002 Lariat recommended I join this forum. She said hers is somewhere by the engine but she never drained it. I told her she should so nothing bad happens.
. I watched him turn it but nothing came out until it came out the yellow handle thingy.I was going to ask about it on this forum but I already feel akward being a girl with such a big truck. I really don't want to "bitch" and be told to go buy a Prius.
. So I'll consider it normal and move on...
My friend that tows horses with her 2002 Lariat recommended I join this forum. She said hers is somewhere by the engine but she never drained it. I told her she should so nothing bad happens.
Only dumb question is the one not asked..gender neutral of course
New User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: New York
Thanks so much Scott! I feel like such a tom boy, I like reading the forum posts. I've learned a lot from your posts! thanks!
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,637
Likes: 0
From: Roll Tide, Roll
You wont see me at a Prius Dealer. Im not the one pissing and moaning about a normal simple task. end of discussion.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
"Pissing and moaning" ... Relative to the person reading the post
Misinterpreting who the "see you at the Prius dealer" was intended for...Relative to the person reading the post
You definitely could use some humility. Thousands of posts...many of them very helpful, many of them not. I read some of yours that portray some "pissing and moaning"
"end of discussion" what are you 12 years old?
--------------------------------------------------------------
For those interested, I spoke with my dealer and he said it's a common problem and they have had success by changing the O-rings. They will change them out when they do my first service.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 83
Post up if the o-ring is the fix. Is it the o-ring on the yellow ****?
If it's as simple as that, it'll be a nice fix.
Mine has always been able to drain without dripping as long as the truck is level.
Even the slightest incline will mess it up.
Although...the manual does say to turn it until the o-ring is visible but that's what makes it leak.
It seems to drain fine stopping just before that.
I know I'm questioning the engineers from my arm chair but if you can do this cleanly, I think forcing it to leak is silly.
If it's as simple as that, it'll be a nice fix.
Mine has always been able to drain without dripping as long as the truck is level.
Even the slightest incline will mess it up.
Although...the manual does say to turn it until the o-ring is visible but that's what makes it leak.
It seems to drain fine stopping just before that.
I know I'm questioning the engineers from my arm chair but if you can do this cleanly, I think forcing it to leak is silly.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,301
Likes: 8,031
From: North Central Washington
For the guys that check for water more frequently than monthly...I'm assuming the reason is obvious (easy check to avoid a disaster) however isn't the WIF sensor located in the DFCM? If the sensor is working properly wouldn't it "sense" any small amount of water? Or does it take more to trip it? Of course if the sensor fails you'd find out the hard way. A redundant sensor would make sense.
I guess I'm wondering if the sensor is designed to tell you to drain the DFCM or is it to tell you "your in trouble". I never want to see my WIF light come on because then the PCM will always remember it. Imagine 30K miles later you have a HP pump fail and the dealer plugs in the diagnostics and says "ah ha!" you had a WIF sensor come on two years ago which means you in fact had water in the fuel which means you're warranty is denied
I guess I'm wondering if the sensor is designed to tell you to drain the DFCM or is it to tell you "your in trouble". I never want to see my WIF light come on because then the PCM will always remember it. Imagine 30K miles later you have a HP pump fail and the dealer plugs in the diagnostics and says "ah ha!" you had a WIF sensor come on two years ago which means you in fact had water in the fuel which means you're warranty is denied
X2
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 121
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, TX
I'm not doubting the sense in it, just wasn't aware. In the manual it says this should be drained upon getting the warning light that indicates 150ml water. (about 2/3 cup?)
I'm curious to see how much is there. It sounds like the system is designed to contain water up to the warning and not to exceed. Draining every week "just in case" seems a bit extreme, or am I missing something?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 53
Check your diesel supplement manual for maintenance. I'd say most of us follow the "severe service" intervals = fuel filters every 15k, oil changes every 5k.
If you can, when you do get your fuel filters changed - either done yourself or dealer - grab a couple pictures of the DFCM filter and watch it come out of the truck. If you see any red/brown globs that look like grease or thick jello it is algae build-up, which in a way is good because the filter is doing its job, but not so good because you shouldn't have much, if any. One of my filter changes thus far had a few blobs of algae, but that's all I've seen so far.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
Right, I've had this truck 2 years and never drained the DFCM. I've only put 10k miles on it, so it hasn't needed fuel filters either. This is the first I've heard of weekly/monthly fuel maintenance.
I'm not doubting the sense in it, just wasn't aware. In the manual it says this should be drained upon getting the warning light that indicates 150ml water. (about 2/3 cup?)
I'm curious to see how much is there. It sounds like the system is designed to contain water up to the warning and not to exceed. Draining every week "just in case" seems a bit extreme, or am I missing something?
I'm not doubting the sense in it, just wasn't aware. In the manual it says this should be drained upon getting the warning light that indicates 150ml water. (about 2/3 cup?)
I'm curious to see how much is there. It sounds like the system is designed to contain water up to the warning and not to exceed. Draining every week "just in case" seems a bit extreme, or am I missing something?
If you flip to page 74 towards the bottom of the page you'll see the "Check every month" section. There it says "Fuel filter/separator, drain if necessary (or if indicated by the message center)".
I'm not sure what "if necessary" means.
My guess for the reason guys are checking more often is for piece of mind and one more level of protection to avoid costly damage. Too costly to depend on one sensor.