water/fuel separator won't drain?

[jrusko]

am I doing something wrong here? I've had my truck a little over a month, it has about 2400 miles on it, and I haven't drained the water/fuel separator yet. I tried today, flipped the lever, and nothing came out. I thought it was possibly because I was parked on an inclined driveway so I moved it onto the street, and still nothing comes out. All I should have to do is flip the lever on the bottom of the fuel filter canister and the water should drain out of the long hose that goes down under the truck right? Nothing seems to want to come out for me... am I just stupid?



BTW it's a 2002 HO cummins, if it makes a difference.

 

[WCrovo]

Mine is the same way. My 99 would dump out all over. When I did my filter change the other day I drained it with out the filter in it and it drained, but it was a MF to restart. Tomarrow I will put a gauge on it and ck the transfer pump.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Did you bump the starter to get the pump running before you flipped the lever?



Doc

 

[Whitmore]

Me too

My truck does the same thing and I found that if you shut it off and then turn it back on it will work good... ... ... Kevin

 

[jrusko]

no, I didn't bump the starter... so the pump has to be running to drain it? I'll try that later, if it works, thanks.

 

[BigDaddy]

jrusko,



You’re not stupid but the designer of that drain might be



You should not have to bump the starter to get it to drain when checking for water.



I have found (as Kevin did) that if you work the drain Open to Closed a couple times in a row it will flow with no problem. I have also found, at times, if you just leave it open for about 15 seconds it will drain.

 

[illflem]

I've run into the problem a couple of times that if the separator has water in it and has sat overnight in freezing weather the water freezes and nothing comes out. If the truck has been running for awhile it thaws and flows right out.

 

[WCrovo]

My 99 FF was diff than my 01. I had my FF cartridge out and pulled the lever and watch the level in the cannister go down. I probably should have cycled the ignition to prime the resivour. I have drained my filter with the engine running. I crack the lever till I see something come out then shut it. I will try your method BigDaddy, sounds good. I have felt it was stupid to have to have the engine running to drain the thing. The lever was much diff on 99 and it would dump in no time.

 

[Bigsaint]

Vacuum

Do the 02's still have the pre-filter schrader valve ??? Look at the filter from the top, at the back of the canister (facing firewall)should be a black plastic cap, near the top of the fuel filter. Remove the cap and push in the valve while the lever is up for fuel drainage, it should flow right out then. If you bump the starter with that lever up, you will be in for a big surprise and possibly a diesel shower, depending on how close you are



Scott W.

 

[illflem]

Scott, if you push in the schrader and open the drain doesn't the filter suck in air and need to be bled? I can see how it would be faster though.

 

[Bigsaint]

illflem, if he's only draining a bit to check for water in the fuel, don't see how there would be a problem. I did it that way many times and never had a bit of a stumble. Since I've done away with the banjo bolts and Schrader's, I have not checked for water in fuel as that lever in the up just doesn't flow unless I crack open the top to the filter housing.



Scott W.

 

[ROCK KRIES]

Mine is the same way. Must turn key on and off to get any fuel out of drain, been like this since new. I also extended the drain line so now it is no problem to catch the fuel.

 

[zimman20]

I think BigSaint has your answer, basically without cracking the top of the filter housing open a notch the fluid will be 'caught' in the housing and will not drain, when you change the filter and open that valve you'll see it pour right out, indicating that there needs to be a downward pressure (lack of vacuum?) in order for the valve to flow the water/fuel junk.



Ever change your oil and notice that when you take out the drain plug and remove the oil/filler cap later that the oil drains more freely? Same theory, you're getting a 'thru pressure' when you remove the other end. Clear? (as mud?)

 

[FMcClaren]

The only way mine will drain is to pull handle up

and hold pressure on it. You don,t need to drain much

out. Hanging on the fender holding the handle up with

with one hand and a bottle in the other.

Sounds like the good old days.



ENJOY

Frank