Water in Fuel Filter Update + Delo 400

[JDeMont]

I asked in a thread below how often y'all "burp" the fuel filter for possible water. The answers ranged from every other fuel fill to almost never.



The information below is "true" as far as I know. The caveat is it came from an authorized dealer:



1. I went to Lithia in Medford for my lifetime every 3 month oil change and asked them to drain the fuel filter. Don't know if they did, but they said there was no water. The truck was delivered in March of 04 and had never been drained. Diesel has been purchased at freeway side stations, mostly Shell.



2, Re: Oil, the service writer offered up Delo 400 at no additional cost vs. Quaker State (that many were grousing about).



I sat in the waiting room and they use bulk oil, so who knows what went in the hole. I'm hopeful however and the receipt does say Delo.



Jim D. 2004. 5 White Quad Cab 6 spd 2wd Dually. Pac-Brake. No Gauges - I already have enough to worry about!

 

[ndennis]

JDeMont:

Since 1983 I have owned the following vehicles: '83 Dodge D-50 Turbodiesel, '87 F-250 6. 9; '95 F-250 Powerstroke; '99. 5 VW Golf TDI; '00 Ram 2500 CTD; and a '04. 5 Ram 3500 325/600. Collectively, I have put 520,000+ miles on them and pumped more diesel fuel into their tanks than I care to think about. All of these vehicles were Kalifornia vehicles running mostly on Kalifornia fuel and I have never, ever found any moisture or evidence of moisture in the fuel, in the injectors, or in the water separator/fuel filter. I always shop for price, followed by whether the fuel station pumps allow topping off. Do not lose sleep over the possibility of water in fuel unless you siphon some fuel from something other than a fueling station's tank. By all means if that light that says "water" comes on, do immediately pull over. . shut down. . and drain the fuel/water separator.

N Dennis

 

[PJ]

I asked in a thread below how often y'all "burp" the fuel filter for possible water. The answers ranged from every other fuel fill to almost never.



The information below is "true" as far as I know. The caveat is it came from an authorized dealer:



1. I went to Lithia in Medford for my lifetime every 3 month oil change and asked them to drain the fuel filter. Don't know if they did, but they said there was no water. The truck was delivered in March of 04 and had never been drained. Diesel has been purchased at freeway side stations, mostly Shell.



2, Re: Oil, the service writer offered up Delo 400 at no additional cost vs. Quaker State (that many were grousing about).



I sat in the waiting room and they use bulk oil, so who knows what went in the hole. I'm hopeful however and the receipt does say Delo.



Jim D. 2004. 5 White Quad Cab 6 spd 2wd Dually. Pac-Brake. No Gauges - I already have enough to worry about!

Lithia in Grants Pass uses Quaker State now for the past few months. I asked on my last oil change as they didnt mention that they changed brands. I only found out when I looked at the windshield sticker. i was a bit ******. I was told that for an extra $4 next time they would go back to Delo. If you got it from the bulk tank, you got Quaker State. They only carry Delo in the gallons now. At the Grants Pass Lithia, the lube rack is in sight from the service drive so you CAN see what goes into your rig. It may be worth the 30 mile drive north to get your service done up here. You have the lifetime service and they honor it at all Lithias. Just my 3. 5 cents worth.

 

[BTighe]

i looked it up in my hanes manual and they recomended every week or 250 miles. soundes a little much to me. i do it about evey oil change.





97' 2500 CC LB 4x4 5spd. 4" catback-cat,k&n



medford local and new member.

 

[PJ]

I checked mine today for the first time. Not a drop of water with 4800 miles. Im also 23 miles to empty with the low fuel light on so I know Im scraping bottom, where the water may be. This is my 5th or 6th diesel truck and Ive only had a bad tank of fuel about 10 years ago, in Simi Valley Calif at a 76 Union Station :--)

 

[JBlock]

I asked in a thread below how often y'all "burp" the fuel filter for possible water. The answers ranged from every other fuel fill to almost never.



The information below is "true" as far as I know. The caveat is it came from an authorized dealer:



1. I went to Lithia in Medford for my lifetime every 3 month oil change and asked them to drain the fuel filter. Don't know if they did, but they said there was no water. The truck was delivered in March of 04 and had never been drained. Diesel has been purchased at freeway side stations, mostly Shell.



2, Re: Oil, the service writer offered up Delo 400 at no additional cost vs. Quaker State (that many were grousing about).



I sat in the waiting room and they use bulk oil, so who knows what went in the hole. I'm hopeful however and the receipt does say Delo.



Jim D. 2004. 5 White Quad Cab 6 spd 2wd Dually. Pac-Brake. No Gauges - I already have enough to worry about!

MOST DELO 400 APPLICATION AT QUICK STOPS ARE FROM THE QUART OR GALLONS, NOT THE MAIN PUMP SYSTEM, BEWARE?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I put 120,000 miles on my '91, and have 33,000+ on the '02 - and have NEVER seen the slightest evidence of water in the fuel or filter - and those miles included a fair number of cross-country runs towing our 5th wheel...



But then, I *do* religiously use PS diesel fuel additive - so maybe that made a difference...

 

[EEdmondson]

Are these dealers using the same oil they use in gas engines? All the more reason to do it yourself using the correct oil.

 

[PJ]

Are these dealers using the same oil they use in gas engines? All the more reason to do it yourself using the correct oil.

Not the same as gas engine oil. I did check that one out. Quaker State has a Diesel grade oil. Im just not willing to have it in my truck. When I can pay an extra $4 and get Delo 400, Ill do it. The Lithia boys said that it was a corporate deal that got all Lithia's to switch to Q/S. In other words, Q/S gave them a better deal and they save a few bucks at the expense of the customer. Actually, I can tell by the smell of the truck if it has Delo or not in it. The Q/S didn't gag me after the oil change. That is what made me look into what actually went into my truck. The Delo has a "smell" to it that no other oil has and I can tell the diff. With my oil changes costing $40. , Another $4 isn't a real big deal. Wal-Mart will do a Delo change for $29. 00 but they also use a Frahm filter. Not worth it in my book. Its kinda like the saying for dirt bike riders, If you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet!". I have a $40k+ truck. Im not willing to use a bad choice in oil and a $2 filter.

 

[BillGotthelf]

I have been staring at a water in fuel light for the past two weeks. I have drained off water dozens of times. Light goes out and when braking or accelerating it goes back on and stays on. Finally took apart bowl assembly and cleaned contacts on sender with brake cleaner and compressed air. Reinstalled and no more light.

 

[EErmert]

Water...

Oil is cheap on the list of "let's chang the oil cost", how about the Mopar oil, what type is this? For me, i try and use the Shell 15-40... and also, no water in fuel... yet!

'03 6spd HO, 3:73, SWB, SLT, SRW, 4x4, limited slip, stock, except towing mirrors