The owner's manual says to drain the fuel / water separator at least monthly. From what I've read here, as well as an uncle who owns a 2011 6.7L, many people do it at oil changes, at fuel filter changes, yearly, or never.

Since I don't have thousands to replace the fuel system if something went wrong with it and Ford denied warranty because of a stored WIF event, I decided to be prudent. I am at the one month mark.

I put a coffee can under the drain, and opened the yellow valve. I was expecting water and fuel to come out of just the drain, but it comes out both the valve and the drain - messy. It seemed to me the water came out first, just briefly, and mostly from the yellow valve. After that, a steady stream of what appeared to be pure fuel. The book says drain for 25 seconds; but after about 10 seconds everything was just fuel, so I shut it down.

I had less than 1/4 tank of fuel, so I didn't unscrew the whole bowl or anything.

Looking in the shiny coffee can, it appeared to mostly be yellowy diesel. There was indeed a small amount of water, it seemed, if you sloshed it. So far, this truck has only been fueled at a brand-new station with fairly high volume. I do add the PM22a.

So, what do you guys think? How much water can the system hold? Is it prudent to keep doing this monthly?

 

Since a person can not see the fuel in the bowl, I figure the prudent thing to do is to drain it monthly. And I drain into a glass pint jar, fill jar about half way and leave it set for a little while, then look at what is in the jar. And I am surprised that you have found water..........I would be changing fuel stations, or at least showing the management of the station where you are buying the fuel a sample also.

Also, if finding ANY water, I would drain it weekly for a while!

 

I drain mine monthly. It's takes a couple of minutes to complete and is not a big deal. I wouldn't recommend a coffee can. I'd recommend a clear glass container. If I drain into a coffee can and then put a drop of water in it, I can't see it. If I put it into a glass mason jar, I can see it right away. It reflects the light differently and you can see the separation easier.

I never had any water in the separator, but it's not like it's going to hold a lot of water anyway. It's just there to get the condensation and possibly warn you of a bad load of fuel (but I question that as well). Because I feel it can only hold a minimal amount of water to begin with, I drain it monthly. Plus given the known havoc water can do to modern diesel engines, I'd want it out of there ASAP if any entered the system anyway.

 

Wow. That is surprising. In the 5 years I've had my 2011, I have never seen water yet, and I am a monthly guy for the most part too. I use a clear glass jar as that is easier to see whats at the bottom...

 

I carry a peanut butter jar and small funnel in my truck.
When buying fuel at a corner gas station, I always take a sample from the pump and look at it in the jar.
Water will not mix with diesel or any other oil, it will immediately go to the bottom.
If the sample is not clear or if I see any water droplets in the bottom of the jar, I will not put that fuel in my truck but will show the manager of the station what I have found and suggest he close the diesel pumps until that problem is addressed.
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I use the same jar for draining off the fuel filter... So far I have not found any water. Then again, I have been really careful what I Put in the tank.
I use no additives.

 

I carry a peanut butter jar and small funnel in my truck.
When buying fuel at a corner gas station, I always take a sample from the pump and look at it in the jar.
Water will not mix with diesel or any other oil, it will immediately go to the bottom.
If the sample is not clear or if I see any water droplets in the bottom of the jar, I will not put that fuel in my truck but will show the manager of the station what I have found and suggest he close the diesel pumps until that problem is addressed.
--
I use the same jar for draining off the fuel filter... So far I have not found any water. Then again, I have been really careful what I Put in the tank.
I use no additives.

 

Agreed on the glass jar - I wanted to do it last night and all I could come up with was shiny tin can. Next time, a glass wheat germ jar or Mason jar will make examination easier.

There wasn't much water, but it was water. Maybe for 2 seconds water came out, then fuel. As it came out I could see the difference.

I'd hate to change fuel stations - I get 10 cents off every gallon I buy, gas or diesel. I'll monitor it. This is a good size station - I think 5 pumping islands or 10 pumps - but they only have two pumps for diesel. There are two other stations in town that probably sell a lot more diesel and have separate pump areas for big rigs and off road. Then again, this station has a second location of similar size in another part of town, and also built only a few months ago. I'd get the same discount there, so maybe I'll try that one.

Speaking to the employees in these stations is like talking to a fence post, sorry.

 

Since you mention the fact that this is a brand new station, it just could be possible that their fuel tank still has just a bit of condensation in it! You mentioned in your first post that you didnt feel that you could afford to replace the fuel system in these trucks, so with that being said, I would think that with water showing up in the fuel, 10 cents per gallon extra would be pretty cheap to KNOW that you are getting quality fuel!

 

Yeah, you're probably right. First I'll try the other sister station; if still water, then I'll switch to the most popular diesel station in town.

Thanks

 

I use a tall Tropicana orange juice container and a piece of vinyl hose inside that is just as tall. To drain, I pull up the hose and push it on the fitting. No mess and I have a clear container to check for water. After I am certain that the fuel is good, I pour it into the home heating fuel tank. I keep the container capped till next time so that it stays clean. Haven't seen any water yet and I have used all types of stations in my travels.

 

Nothing came out the yellow valve? I didn't open it so far to where it came out, just to the o-ring as specified in the manual.

I thought about dumping mine into my furnace oil barrel, but instead put it into the waste oil container to eventually bring in for recycling.

 

I have never turned the yellow valve to drain and not had mine leak. So don't think there is something wrong with your valve if yours does as well. Mine always sealed leak free when I tightened it.

 

Mine does not leak. Just comes out at the proper location.


I have drain daily sometimes if I felt I needed to. Always at least monthly. More when on the road.


I do fuel filters at 15K.


cheap insurance for an expensive fuel system.

 

I have been looking for water since 2007. I have never found water in fuel. Because of the expense of a fuel system replacement I would STOP buying fuel from that station. What is the name of the station you are buy fuel from? I would tell the station owner about water in fuel, not the clerk.

In your place I would be temped to drain the fuel replace the fuel filter and fill with fresh diesel.

If you find water in your fuel you want to keep fuel pulled with the water as a sample and date it.

 

Its a Cumberland Farms (Gulf) station (primarily New England / Mass. chain). I have never had problems with their gasoline; perhaps as someone said there was a condensate issue with the new tank. My understanding was that there is some level of water in "all" diesel fuel. I would think condensation would form inside the truck's fuel tank anyway during warm / cold weather changes, or high humidity conditions regardless of how "dry" the fuel you bought was. There seems to be a reason why there is a water separator on these trucks.