Fuel Filter Drain

[Bagger]

I know what the book says about draining water off the fuel filter, but what I want to know is, why does the book say to drain the filter when there is a WIF idiot light in the instrument cluster? Further, I'd like to get some input as to how often most of you do actually drain your fuel filter. Thanks

 

[JCleary]

Perhaps the idiot light is activated only when there's a LOT of water in the filter?



I drained mine at 10k miles (on filter) only to find no water. I think it depends on when/where you get fuel. Some stations will be more contaminated than others.

 

[rbattelle]

I periodically open my drain (maybe once every quarter) just for amusement. Never drained any water from it. I now have a second water separator with a clear sight bowl, and that one never has any water either.



-Ryan

 

[DBond]

I was wondering this too. The owners manual says to drain at every fuel fill in one place. This doesn't seem to be easy enough to be doing that often.

 

[rbattelle]

I was wondering this too. The owners manual says to drain at every fuel fill in one place. This doesn't seem to be easy enough to be doing that often.

What's hard about it? The procedure Bagger had to follow was an exception rather than the rule. His should flow freely now and can be opened with the truck just sitting there off and it will drain the canister...



Maybe you're thinking you have to do what I told Bagger to do every time?



-Ryan

 

[DBond]

What's hard about it?



-Ryan

I shouldn't have said hard, just a nuisance to be doing at every fuel stop, getting under to position a catch bottle, then climbing up and in to reach the valve, then back down to remove the catch bottle



Easy to work in at every oil and filter change, and if nobody thinks it needs to be done more often that is what I plan to do.



dave

 

[DPKetchum]

I open mine most every fill up. Catch what with what? I do mine right as truck is filling. Just a few ounces. Most places you fill with diesel are already nasty.

 

[rbattelle]

I open mine most every fill up. Catch what with what? I do mine right as truck is filling. Just a few ounces. Most places you fill with diesel are already nasty.

Me too. Shame on us.



-Ryan

 

[DPKetchum]

I kinda look at asphalt and diesel fuel being first cousins.

 

[67guzzler]

I kinda look at asphalt and diesel fuel being first cousins.

HA HA HA HA HA. #ad

 

[DPKetchum]

Well they are!

 

[BigGunZ]

Draining at every fillup is extreme overkill IMO. I never drained my F250s bowl except 3 times in 13 years/173k miles to change the filter.

 

[mberry]

Draining at every fillup is extreme overkill IMO. I never drained my F250s bowl except 3 times in 13 years/173k miles to change the filter.

Are you saying you only changed your fuel filter 3 times in 13 years/173K miles?

 

[BigGunZ]

Are you saying you only changed your fuel filter 3 times in 13 years/173K miles?

That's exactly what I'm saying and yes, it could be said that I was lucky. As you well know, when your "toy" gets older, you have a tendency to neglect it more. I kept up with oil changes but pretty much ignored the fuel filter.

Keep in mind that this was a 92 with a mechanical pump... they were far more dirt/water tolerant than these modern diesels.

 

[JWHays]

I never found any water in my '99...



... John

 

[DPKetchum]

Well by goodness I had trucks come in with WIF on and they REALLY had water in it! I've also serviced muy last Dodge diesel and left for Nebraska towing with a NEW filter and had the WIF come on and it REALLY had water in it. I service my New Holland tractor regularly and it has a clear bowl. Its ALWAYS had little black specks appear in the bottom/in the filter and a LIQUID in the bottom of it! I thinks its WATER! I think the manual states to DRAIN on a regular basis. So I do. Not much and maybe not ever tank if in a hurry or what not but very often. The DRAIN was made into the housing for MORE then lowering the fuel level to swap out the filter.

 

[67guzzler]

Ok -- the concrete / diesel fuel cousin relationship thing motivated me to go dump some diesel out into a cup by moving the yellow thingie. After 4200 miles it's pure diesel. No water at all. 3 or 4 black specs and that's it. This includes running various ratios of biodiesel over the last 1500 miles... .



My clear tube is way too short. 50% of the fuel dumped on the front differential. That sucked. I'm going to Home Depot and get me some clear vinyl tubing and extend that sucker.

 

[Island Dodge]

I understand my "95" shouldn't be run "till you feel a little hesitation on a heavy pull" which is what i have done with my MBs. The injector pump doesn't like that?? . . and I should not do this to my truck? Or is that only with 3erd gens. I'm not lax about lub oil & filter changes but ... fuel filters, maybe a little slack

 

[rbattelle]

Don't be slack with fuel filter changes on 3rd gen engines. Change them every 300 hours or 10k miles.



My secondary polishing filter has a clear water collection bowl on it. It's not had any water in it (yet). Nor has my stock filter canister. I used to drain it every other fillup... now I do it only about once per quarter.



-Ryan

 

[DPKetchum]

ASPHALT not CONCRETE. Concrete is not related to DIESEL FUEL. some of the water thing may have to do with how often vehicles kept FULL. My New Holland tractor manual states to try to keep full to cut down on moisture in the tank. Tractors at times set extended periods. My truck does also. Been a good 7 to 10 days since I've started mine and its parked out and trailer is hooked to it. Been driving my 1998 1500 Slt.