really basic question....

[RBlair]

This is my first Diesel so this is going to be a really basic queston. I know I am supposed to "drain" the water from the fuel filter each fill up, but since it just goes out a tube do you just wait till you get home so that you can catch it? What if you are on the road in the middle of a long trip? Seems like someone would have come up with a way to catch it, but what do you do with it then?



I know it sounds stupid, I guess I think about these things too much... ...



Roy

 

[Joe G.]

I gave up on the drain the water business years ago. I never had any. Even when I change my fuel filter (long time between changes) I never have any water. As long as you get fuel at busy places like big rig stops I don't think you are going to have any water unless it's a lot at once. Then your WIF sensor light should come on. That has never happened to me in 223K miles.

 

[24V-DSL]

I agree with Joe....

73K and never any water or any crud in the canister. I change the filter every 10K, and they always look like new, which tells me I'm wasting money by replacing. Filter costs me $10. 06, so I rationalize.

 

[RustyJC]

I have a Westach dual combo fuel pressure gauge set up to read pre-filter and post-filter fuel pressures. Since I can spot a load of bad fuel by an increase in fuel filter differential pressure, I don't even mess with the water drain.



Rusty

 

[jtwcummins]

I drain the fuel filter/seperator every oil change, 4-7k miles depending on type of driving. Never had water come out at all.



I have had my truck since new 1/31/1997

 

[RBlair]

ok, seems the concensous is that it would be overkill to drain it evey tank full, I'll start off with a once a month (that would work out to about 5 tanks) at home and see how it goes



thanks all

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I never have drained mine (Only to purge the system afer instaling my PE pump). I keep my tank Full (Or close to it anyways) as a full tank has a much less chance of forming condensation on the inside (Especially when the weather cools)

Change the fuel filter every OTHEr oil change and that works for me.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

but since it just goes out a tube do you just wait till you get home so that you can catch it? What if you are on the road in the middle of a long trip? Seems like someone would have come up with a way to catch it, but what do you do with it then?



Drain it at the car wash



Jim