Yet another dumb question - Water in Fuel notice

[Hippy43]

OK, filled up last Monday at the same place I've been buying my fuel for over a year. Drove to work, no problems. Got in it to head home and the Water in Fuel, please drain Filter(s) light kept turning on and off. Pulled over at the first safe spot I could find and drained off a water bottle worth of fuel from the rear filter. No more light. Looking at the drained fuel and it looks, well, like Diesel fuel. Nothing in it. Anyone know just how much water it takes to trip the water sensor? Got me owndering as I figured I would see something in the drained fuel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[leonandlisa]

From what I have read, you need to let it sit for awhile to let it separate. When you first put it in it will be mixed but the water will separate and be at the bottom of the bottle. I don't think it takes much to trip a sensor.

 

[Hippy43]

Agree and I did let it sit for a few. Expected to see something but didn't really see anything except for what was probably condensation off the empty bottle. If it takes that little to trip the water sensor, I'm impressed. Thanks!

 

[leonandlisa]

I am an internet expert, as in I know enough to be dangerous. Hopefully someone that has actual knowledge chimes in soon.

 

[JR]

The sensor in our cranes (QSL 8.3) are pretty sensitive. The mechanic said it takes roughly a thimbles worth sitting in the bottom of the filter to trip the WIF light. I've also seen where the sensor gets wet which trips the light.

 

[Wayne M.]

Spotting fuel contamination in a sample can be tricky.
Sometimes there is a definite boundary layer separating the fuel which would be on top, and water which would be below, or even small droplets in the floor of the sample.
What I fear for you, especially if the light comes on again repeatedly, is that you got a massive dose of watered fuel. When this happens, sometimes you can't see the boundary in a sample because you got a good swig of what is below the boundary in the stations tank.
If this is fact, then you have recourse with the station. The fuel MUST be removed from the tank.
This is also why, in Diesel 101, you learn about the do's and dont's in the trucking world.
Always get a receipt, write the odometer on it.
Always fuel at a location that's in a busy area
Always pick a popular spot in a popular area frequented by big trucks, that move lots of product.
Avoid a station that's receiving fuel at that time. The fuel delivery stirs up the tank, and that can be very big trouble.
Avoid no name places in remote areas.
I've been running Diesel since '97, and I've been very lucky, but I've been vigilant. In my line of work, I've seen lots of contaminated fuel systems. It happens a lot.

 

[jhenderson]

The other possibility is a fuel additive that emulsifies rather than demulsifies, introduced by either the fuel retailer or the OP. J

 

[Hippy43]

Spotting fuel contamination in a sample can be tricky.
Sometimes there is a definite boundary layer separating the fuel which would be on top, and water which would be below, or even small droplets in the floor of the sample.
What I fear for you, especially if the light comes on again repeatedly, is that you got a massive dose of watered fuel. When this happens, sometimes you can't see the boundary in a sample because you got a good swig of what is below the boundary in the stations tank.
If this is fact, then you have recourse with the station. The fuel MUST be removed from the tank.
This is also why, in Diesel 101, you learn about the do's and dont's in the trucking world.
Always get a receipt, write the odometer on it.
Always fuel at a location that's in a busy area
Always pick a popular spot in a popular area frequented by big trucks, that move lots of product.
Avoid a station that's receiving fuel at that time. The fuel delivery stirs up the tank, and that can be very big trouble.
Avoid no name places in remote areas.
I've been running Diesel since '97, and I've been very lucky, but I've been vigilant. In my line of work, I've seen lots of contaminated fuel systems. It happens a lot.

Very sound advice. I've been using the same station for 99.9% of my fuel purchases since I bought the truck. It's VERY high volume so I know it hasn't been sitting forever. I did make sure and call the station the next day and was assured they have water sensors (alarms) that would let them know if there was an issue and she even when to check "the gauge" while I was on the phone. Since draining off the bottle of fuel, I've had no issues and the light has remained off, as stated before.. Thanks again. Much appreciated advice.

 

[Hippy43]

The other possibility is a fuel additive that emulsifies rather than demulsifies, introduced by either the fuel retailer or the OP. J

Nope, have never used any fuel additives since I've had the truck. I've been told by several who work on heavy duties and bigger that where I'm at there is little to no need to add anything to my fuel.

 

[Newsa]

The water detector is the plastic cap that you screw off the rear water filter.

The 2 metal probes can be seen when it is removed. They are only approx 1/4 inch apart. I think it probably takes 1-3 mls of water to reduce the resistance and get a current to flow setting off the evic warning

 

[gsbrockman]

OK, filled up last Monday at the same place I've been buying my fuel for over a year. Drove to work, no problems. Got in it to head home and the Water in Fuel, please drain Filter(s) light kept turning on and off. Pulled over at the first safe spot I could find and drained off a water bottle worth of fuel from the rear filter. No more light. Looking at the drained fuel and it looks, well, like Diesel fuel. Nothing in it. Anyone know just how much water it takes to trip the water sensor? Got me owndering as I figured I would see something in the drained fuel.

Thanks in advance.

Any chance you were driving while raining or wet roads?