WIF light?

[brods]

60k never wif light, not seen any water during filter changes. Usually fuel up at the same 3 stations, others if it is a long trip. Last winter there was a squeal or whine under the hood when I first started the truck. Could not tell what was causing it, but thought it might have been the CP3, so I shut it down. I drained some fuel from the filter and re-started the truck and the noise was gone. No clue if draining some fuel had anything to do with the noise stopping.



You may want to consider if your aux tank lends itself to condensation. I know of a biodiesel plant that is going to change the 30K gallon tank vents from being open to atmosphere to a nitrogen blanket system because they were picking up moisture from the air.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Makes you wonder how I can see all this water, yet no one else does...

steved

Thanks for the new thread idea.

 

[nickleinonen]

i've never had more than a drop of water in mine. . and i get fuel from many different stations [only check it ±2 times a year]

 

[CumminsPower98]

In 325k miles my light has never come on (392K total on truck). I hardly ever drain the filter and at filter changes I rarely see any water and if there is any it's only few drops. 265k of these miles were OTR fueling almost exclusively at Flying J's all over the US and some Canada. I once had fuel separation and filter plugging when I headed north into colder air on southern fuel. I ran an aux. tank for about 200k of those miles.

 

[steved]

See my theory is that all of you are seeing the same amount of water that I am... however, the OE system is barely adequate to catch it.



I just drained another tablespoon out this evening... and that was from one tank to this one... it has gotten colder, and we are having temp swings from below freezing to above freezing.



steved

 

[rbattelle]

See my theory is that all of you are seeing the same amount of water that I am... however, the OE system is barely adequate to catch it.

Maybe, but I have 2 complete water separators each with a WIF sensor: the stock one, and a Stanadyne. The Stanadyne also has a clear water collection bowl, so I can visually inspect for water.



Never seen either WIF light come on (other than the bulb test).



Ryan

 

[brods]

See my theory is that all of you are seeing the same amount of water that I am... however, the OE system is barely adequate to catch it. ... ...



steved

That would be interesting to find out. If you are correct and we are all getting the same volume of water as you, then it must be passing through the fuel systems without causing harm. You may want to poll the guys, like Ryan, with aftermarket water separators to see if they drain substantially more water then when they were stock.



I have to wonder if all the extra surface area from your aux tank can condense a lot more moisture from the atmosphere than with just the stock tank. I also wonder if the metal aux tank condenses moisture more readily than a plastic one. It may also depend on the venting system you have and if it allows air to flow through the tank, like while driving, potentially allowing more moisture in as compared to a vent that just lets air in as the fuel level drops.

 

[Crash&Burn]

Never seen the light!

Drain some fuel into a plastic bottle at each oil change and let it settle overnight.

Have NEVER seen a drop of water.

 

[steved]

... then it must be passing through the fuel systems without causing harm...



I have to wonder if all the extra surface area from your aux tank can condense a lot more moisture from the atmosphere than with just the stock tank. I also wonder if the metal aux tank condenses moisture more readily than a plastic one. It may also depend on the venting system you have and if it allows air to flow through the tank, like while driving, potentially allowing more moisture in as compared to a vent that just lets air in as the fuel level drops.

Without causing harm can be interpreted one of two ways... acute or chronic. While it might not affect the fuel system in the short term, we don't know what it might do for the longer term...



And again, my auxiliary tank is plastic. Same stuff the OE tank is comprised of, and only 22-gallon to boot (not to mention, enclosed inside a toolbox). I have a vent in the top that is a one way check valve, it only allows air to flow into the tank, but not to circulate.



And besides, I was seeing this water for over a year without the aux tank, with just the FASS installed... with no mods to the fuel system (not even the roll-over valves fixed). I have not fuel differently (as in station to station) since owning the truck... it was driving to New Mexico with only 500 miles on it. Since installing the FASS, I have been seeing water... that was three years ago.



And to add, this truck sees the same driving, same miles, same fuel stops as my 99 did... never saw a light in that truck. But I have probably drained over 5 gallons of water (cumulative) from the FASS, not including that batch I got from the Flying J.



steved

 

[LowFly]

Running stock... i never saw it... . but when i got my FASS installed back in 04..... i took out the stock filter head..... and every time it rained or i would wash the truck... . the open plug would get wet and the light would come on..... SO i guess that dont count... so i voted "Never Seen".

 

[brods]

Steved, sorry my bad, I missed where you said the tank was plastic. Did I also miss if you said that you fill up at the same stations or do you vary your sources of fuel? Five gallons of water sounds like a lot, how many gallons of diesel over that time? Did you have any fuel system problems with the 99?



I certainly hope your water volume is the exception and not the rule, though you seem to have accounted for most of the possible water sources. The only way to be totally sure would be to sample the fuel right out of the pump and check it for water content. Then check it after it was in your tank for the normal amount of residence time.



I wonder if there are large regional differences in the quality of fuel based on how conscientious the regional distributor is about storage and transporting. I witnessed a biodiesel plant turning away a tanker truck because there was crud in the "empty" tank. Maybe the main distributer that services your regional area is not that conscientious?



Interestingly, there is plenty of info on diesel water emulsions as a fuel to reduce emissions, some having 20% water! http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/renewables/PuriNoxl.pdf

Makes me wonder if using an additive that helps emulsify water is a good option rather than fretting about the water or installing a high performance separator.

 

[steved]

Steved, sorry my bad, I missed where you said the tank was plastic. Did I also miss if you said that you fill up at the same stations or do you vary your sources of fuel? Five gallons of water sounds like a lot, how many gallons of diesel over that time? Did you have any fuel system problems with the 99?



I certainly hope your water volume is the exception and not the rule, though you seem to have accounted for most of the possible water sources. The only way to be totally sure would be to sample the fuel right out of the pump and check it for water content. Then check it after it was in your tank for the normal amount of residence time.



I wonder if there are large regional differences in the quality of fuel based on how conscientious the regional distributor is about storage and transporting. I witnessed a biodiesel plant turning away a tanker truck because there was crud in the "empty" tank. Maybe the main distributer that services your regional area is not that conscientious?



Interestingly, there is plenty of info on diesel water emulsions as a fuel to reduce emissions, some having 20% water! http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/renewables/PuriNoxl.pdf

Makes me wonder if using an additive that helps emulsify water is a good option rather than fretting about the water or installing a high performance separator.

Hmmm, gallons used... let's figure 80k miles (time I've had the FASS, and started seeing water) divided by an average of 17mpg = 4700 gallons of fuel... I could get my book and get the exact gallons, but this gets the point.



And just to add to the 5-gallons, I drain anywhere from a teaspoon to a cup of water from my separator(s) each time I fuel... I catch more water in the winter months (hmmm, condensation as you eluded to?? But from where?). Catching it at the pump, I would wonder what would be a representative sample size that would actually show a bead of water?



I never had any problems with the 99 (other than three Carter lift pumps)... wish I would have kept that truck.



My fuel sources are all over the US... about 75% here at home, while the remaining 25% are all over the US... I do tend to stick with larger truck stops. Therefore, the fuel quality I'm sure varies.



That's an interesting read... makes me wonder if water is necessarily a bad thing. Let's just assume everyone HAS seen the same amount of water I have... where'd it go? Did it hurt anything?? Mustn't be that bad...



steved