Water In Fuel Warning Light

[llotton]

I bought 15 gal. Fuel from a trusted source I have used many times in the past, last Thur. morning about 6:30 AM. I drove home then the next morning drove back to town. Once in town on a restart I got the WIF light. No performance problems at all other than slightly (perhaps) louder that usual engine noise. I drained the canister and still have the WIF. I have driven the truck about 90-100 miles now and still no performance problems. I run an additive from "Lubrication Engineers" and one of the things it is supposed to do is "disperse" any water in the fuel.
My questions are should I:
1. Have the tank dropped and emptied.
2. Continue to run thefuelout as long as no performance issues crop up. About 10 gal. left in tank
3. Fill tank to further dilute the water concentration.
Your responses will be appreciated. Larry

 

[p-Bar]

Bad sensor ? Dump the canister into a glass jar let it settle and see what you got. I wouldn't drive it as you can mess up The High pressure side .

 

[PWong]

Drain the canister and dry the sensor.
If the WIF light is ON, disconnect the connector from the sensor.
The WIF light would be OFF.
Measure the resistance of the sensor.
If the resistance is below 30 - 40 KOhm, replace the sensor.

 

[Ozymandias]

If you have drained the water from the Filter and the WIF stays on then you don't need to bother about it.
Mine did it also, drained it and after an Hour or so the WIF disappeared.
If you're not sure about it then drain again into a char as mentioned above and check the drained fuel.

Oh, and a enlighten WIF doesn't change anything on the Engine behavior, it is just an Information to the driver, not more.

 

[AH64ID]

Drain the filter and remove/clean/reinstall the wif sensor, which is part of the service anyhow. If it comes back on with clean fuel then get a new sensor. There isn't much too them to fail thou.

How does the additive disperse water? That is generally a big no-no in diesel fuel and dispersed water can make it the filter where it will damage your fuel system.

 

[llotton]

The WIF light only shows for about 3 sec. in the window next to the wait to start light and then it goes out. I collected the fuel in a drain pan and can see nothing there except it looks a little blue and has a slight haze to it. The fuel supplement is "DCI Plus" by "Lubrication Engineers" and it says on the container that among other things it "separates water from fuel". I will drain the fuel canister again and remove the filter and clean the WIF sensor with a clean lint free cloth, reassemble and see what happens.
Thanks for the responses and if there are others PLEASE chime in as I need all the ideas I can get.

 

[AH64ID]

The WIf will always show for 3 seconds as a bulb check and that is not the same as still illuminated.

 

[llotton]

Thanks to all that replied. AS AH64ID said what I am seeing is correct per the "Service Manual". What puzzled me is that this just started and I have owned the truck from new and watch for the "wait to start" light every time. Anyway the fuel is clean and looks good. Thanks again.

 

[Ozymandias]

I never wait this wait to start light except in Wintertime, all over freezing you can just turn the key an run like any Gaser.

 

[Scooby]

I have been searching for a new water in fuel sensor and seem to be having trouble locating one. There are some sources that suggest my 2006 is the same as a 2002 model part, and other that suggest this isn't the case. Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks!

 

[mwilson]

I'm on the phone with Fleetguard regarding this, he is having trouble with it as well.

 

[mwilson]

Well, no luck from Fleetguard. Technical even pulled the blueprints for me and even though there were a couple of part numbers shown they were from someone else. It arrives assembled.

The only hope now will be Dodge as I think that unit is made to their specs to mate with the wiring harness perhaps???

 

[mwilson]

Well, I just found it in Dodge.

Get ready for some lovin'.................

5093128AB Sensor Item # 19

List price is $274.00 :--):--)

 

[sag2]

It fits 2003-2009 so it might be worth trying to source somewhere else. Crazy part is back when the common rail was launched when you ordered the filter they had it superseded to the complete housing for the same price as the filter. That lasted for about a year.

 

[mwilson]

Cheapest one I have found......

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?catalog=903&partnum=5S7008