Water in Fuel

[GBall]

Here we go got kinda a dumb ? but that lever on top od you fuel filter is for draining water right? How often do I need to drain the water if any and the big ? how much do I let out. I have been told to be very careful with this. So help me out folks don't want to screw this up and be stuck. Thanks

 

[Alan Reagan]

About every other fillup. Just make sure when you do the lever, you close it back all the way till it locks. I believe on the 98 12 V (your signature) the lever is on the bottom and moves or pulls toward the side of the truck. Just do a quick pull and close making sure to lock the tab back. If you have the lever on top (like with the newer 24 valve) the lever will pull up. It may not bleed like the 12V because the system is completely air tight. In that case, I lift the lever, turn the key on (DO NOT BUMP THE STARTER). It will blow out fuel for about 3 seconds. Make sure a containter is under the thing cause fuel will go everywhere if you don't. Then lower the lever, making sure the plunger it is attached to goes back to the "seal" position. Otherwise, you'll blow fuel when you crank up, and the truck will stall.

 

[Grey Wolf]

With the drain on the bottom of the fuel filter (like my truck) when you open it, if there is any water in it, the water will come out first. The water is almost always on the bottom of the filter and your fuel tank, so take a look at your catch container it will look like oil and vinegar! Another thing to remember, if the filling station supply tank has been contaminated the water will be pumped into your tank since it is almost always on the bottom, unless the tanker just dumped a load of fuel into the tank in which case it will be all mixed up! A good reason to find a station that sells alot of fuel, or one that has filters on the pumps.

 

[MikeR]

I've never had water in my fuel. I've never bothered draining any out at fillups for a long time. The only time I ever open the lever is when I change the filter.

 

[GBall]

Thanks folks for the advice. I was just concerned if we see that much of a issue in this area since this is my daily driver and I keep the tank topped off most of the time. Thanks again

 

[JJW_ND]

Ditto MikeR....No Water Yet!

Just as a point of reference. When my 1996 was new I check for water a few times. I quit as I changed my fuel filter back then every other oil or 12K and that was about every 2 months. I have never seen or had a water problem. Never noticed anything unusual with the old fuel filters when changing (I now change ever 20 - 30K).



Drive truck every day, I buy good fuel, but seem lots of temperature and humididty swings.



I never even think about water in fuel anymore. Truck is 63 months old with 199K on.



Maybe I am just lucky!



jjw

ND

 

[Grey Wolf]

I have had water in the fuel before, it was a black stinky mess full of microbes! It didn't shut me down though, I found it when I changed the filters, it was in another Diesel about twenty years ago! The thing that did shut me down was silt, it plugged up the filters big time. One time was on one of those mid west turnpikes were you fuel up in the center convenience areas, that was the last time I filled up on a turnpike! The second time I almost ran out of fuel and did something I hardly ever do... I filled up at a little mom & pop that didn't sell much fuel. That was the last time for that too!