Water in Fuel Light
 

Ok, I'm pretty much a newbe in diesels and almost every fill I get (1) water in fuel light. This winter is really wet so maybe this is normal as I've tried to fill at different dealers. It usually occurs maybe 20-30 miles after fill up, going around corners in city traffic I notice the light blinks. Then the next ten miles or so it gets worse and comes on steady. When this happens I pull over and drain the canister for 5-7 seconds until I can smell fuel, after that I don't get the problem for that tank but never get much below 1/4 tank before switching tanks or refuling.

So .. the question's are:

Should I drain the entire canister when this happens .. ouch $$$$$

Took my sister up to medical center a couple weeks ago on freeway, 3 hour drive, and it started about 20 miles from exit .. no way to pull over in traffic. Not bad but just blinking on and off. Pulled off freeway and on steady but had no option but to just go with flow, another 3 miles.

Truck runs great and don't have a real issue with but just wanted to know how everyone deals with "Water In Fuel" light.

Thanks in advance, Jim

It's just there to let you know it see's something funky. I would drain the bowl completely. But you should only need to do it once. I would take it home, drain the fuel bowl and make sure everything is clean inside the bowl. But if I understand you correctly, you we're draining the bowl "till you smelled fuel."? If there is actually that much water in your fuel every time you fill up, I would suspect a leak in the fuel tank or neck. Somewhere water is actually coming in. Just my thoughts.

RD, I guess that was my question? If i'm on the freeway on it comes on "blinking" should I be concerned? I think not .. but just not smart enough yet. Or, if I'm going around a curve in city traffic should I be concerned.

Thanks, Jim

I would advise that anytime that light comes on to drain it ASAP. Water in the injectors could cause major problems. If enough water gets into the injector tip and get hot enough fast enough it will turn into steam and blow the injector tip apart. That would liely cause piston damage. thats worse case senario but water is not a lubricatant either so any amount thru the injector is bad.

Speaking of which I need to fix my water in fuel light!!! Yikes!!

tj, that being said should I try to run tanks below 1/4. maybe almost empty. Is water heaver than diesel fuel so water laying in bottom of tank? Maybe aggetiation on fill up causes stir action. It's not that bad .. just wondering .. drives me nuts not knowing the rules. Solid truck, tight, no rust and no way water is entering the fuel system from outside enviroment.

Jim

Aslo, if drain it does that mean the entire fuel canister?

The water in fule sensor in the bowl is about a about 2 inchs below from where the fule is drawn into the engin from the bowl. So if the light comes on and stays on your cutting it a littel close.

I had just about that same problem. All i did to fix it was drained the completely, changed the filter and put about 4 bottles(one in each tank before filling up and the repeat) of water deleting additve(cant recall which one). That fixed my problem. Havent had my light come on since.

Water is heaver than diesel and will settel to the bottom of the bowl and draining it till fuel comes ot should fix it unless you have water in the tank. If you have water in the tank the problem will come back every time you run the tank low enough to get water back in the bowl.Use a additve that will get rid of the water in the tank and see what happens.

Ok, I think I can figure it out myself. I need to know, however, is water heaver than diesel fuel. Is it in the bottom of the fuel filter cansiter and in the bottom of the fuel tanks? I also understand why no one really wants to address this issue due to possible miss advise, possibly why I can't find other threads relating to this issue. I assure everyone I'm just wanted to know what to do if the "Water In Light" comes on and what time frame to to it. In my case just think will run tanks as close to empty as possible and watch for waring lights.

Jim

Any suggestions on water deleting additive? Will stop after work tommorrow and pick some up.

thanks, Jim

Like I said, the sensor is about 2 inches below from where the fule is drawn into the motor so you have some time but not that much, a few miles should be ok but be careful and get the situation resolved because water in the injector could do major damage..........................

Water IS heavier than diesel....

Yes, it will be in the bottom of the fuel canister and tank.....

We ARE addressing this...

If the light comes on, DRAIN IT.....THE WHOLE CANISTER.

There are several companys that make water dispersant for diesel, google it.

If a problem like this persists, you need to think about dropping the tanks and inspecting them. Also, only buy fuel where they sell alot of it. The light should rarely come on. But if you change your fuel filter regularly (I change mine every 10k) you should never see it. I would suspect fuel supply (station) or a leak allowing water in the system.

Ok, i'm backing off on this one. Seems I probably have some water in bottom of fuel tanks. I'll take care of the issue myself .. why should I google it to find the additive, what is the membership for.

Easy easy!! nobody has meant any harm!! i think cody said to Google it since he doesn't have any experience with them nor do I. Not sure what is out there and what works.

:-X07 :-X16 :rolleyes: :-X15 :-X13 :-roll :-X02 :-X01 :-whud :-banghead :-innocent x( :mad:

Iam lovin it. Latter...................:-wink

I have heard advice against using the water delete additive. If you don't use it, the water will be separated and dumped at the fuel filter. If you use the additive, it will dissolve the water, reducing the lubricity of the fuel.

High volume stations can bite you too. It's all a matter of how well they keep their tanks, risers and lids watertight, coupled with regular water checks. How low the tank is on fuel doesn't matter - the water is heavier so it will be at the bottom of the tank where the pickup is. When acceleration pushes the water by the pickup, it will get carried to the fuel filter.

Whenever I get water from a station it usually takes two tanks to go away. The worst I ever had was from the T/A at Biggs, OR. 25 miles later I had the light on, and I stopped about 5 times on that one tank.

Hussler:
Just a thought to possibly keep you from needlessly removing your fuel tanks.
Get a small tube of "Litmus Paste". The paste will turn bright red if it comes in contact with water.

You can probably use a length of hose and paint it with the paste at least 6" from the end and check your tank (s). If you have duel tanks and you find water in one you have to wipe the hose clean and reapply before checking the other tank.

I'm pretty sure that you are going to find water. The paste should be sold at auto parts stores if not try a fuel distributer they use it all of the time to check underground tanks for water.

Good luck.
Rog

The membership makes it easier to find information, and less clutter on the pages you are viewing.

But it does not entitle you to a personal mechanic or personal search engines.

I gave the answers I did because you kept asking the same questions, and they had already been answered.

You kept saying "I'll handle it myself". To me, that says "Okay, if you won't do it for me, I'll do it."

Maybe I'm off base, but without being able to actually hear you, that's how I interpret it. I'm not trying to start crap, I'm just telling you how I saw your responses.

where is the seperator
 

where is the fuel water seperator, kind of new with the PSD, just wanted to know so I can be ahead of the game if the light comes on.

Welcome to FTE:-X25

It's on top the engine, front, center, connected to the fuel filter canister. Yellow lever...can't miss it. You may need to remove the decorative cover?

thanks a bunch, I thought it was there but wasnt sure!

Thanks to all for the advice. I was/am having the same issue. My WIF light will only come on during a right - hand corner. I have been puzzled, but thought little of it becuase it is intermittent. I finally remembered to get on here to ask everybody.

I drained my bowl tonight. We'll see what happens tomorrow. :\

My 96 PSD wont start today, here in michigan we had a wild cold front come in and dropped the temps like 30 degrees, I tried to drain the fuel bowl but I dont think Im doing it right because nothing is coming out. do you push do on the yellow lever or do you turn it?

Turn it. Where you at in MI? try pluggin in the block heater

it is plugged in, I live in grand rapids ( western side of the state) I've been told two possibilitys what is wrong with it, Glow plug relay, and weak batteries

I'm in Muskegon just 30 minutes from you.

Plugging in the block will help both of those though it will help the GP's more than the batteries. Does it seem to crank slower than normal?

yeah it seems to, I had the batts tested about 2 wks ago and one tested 450 cca and the other one was 700, now to find some batteries that arent so damn expensive!

put 2 new batts in and still wont fire up any one have any idea's?

Next test...GPR .........

yeap probably your glow plug relay. have a helper turn the key on and with a test light or voltmeter test for battery voltage on both larger terminals. Did you try plugging in the block heater yet?

yes it was plugged in, but it did start finally last night! I had the fuel tank switched to the rear and wouldnt start, switched to front it started. now it will run on the rear tank so I guess the batteries were bad and not cranking it over fast enough. oh well at least it runs now! Thanks for all the advice!