Water in Fuel

[jdavey5454]

Hello,
I have a 2001 f 350 super duty 7.3 When i went to start this morning my truck started and then my water in fuel light came on. i filled up two days ago and really topped off. i drove three days and my gauge still reads full. i open my valve 4 or 5 times and drained the seperator. i even ran it open. during this process my truck would start right up and then as soon as the light came on my truck starting banging i would shut right off. i the pulled the filter out a i coud tell it hasn't been changed in awhile. my question is a couple parts.
1. how could i drive for two days and no water in fuel light?
2. Is there a agency that makes fuel stops responsible ?
3. with what i described how much internal damge could i have done?

[jdavey5454]

Anyone?

[gbear]

depending on the amount of water in the fuel and the amount you drove could delay the water from migrating to the water seperator. Once it started then the conditions are right for even more to make its way there. You will have to drain the tank and seperate the fuel from the water. It's going to be a real pain to deal with. The lines will have some water in them and you will just have to keep purging it out with good fuel.

As far as who to tell about the problem. "Good Luck." I had this happen to a gas engine and all I got was the run-around. No luck at all from any state agency.

you probably have not hurt anything but I can't be sure. I would let the place you got fuel know about this. try to get them to be responsable for your expenses and inconvenience.

Jim

[mschn99]

you hit it right on the head man .....just drive and drain it when the light comes back on. you could try some Heat in the tank as long as the bottle you says specifically that its for diesels. i would also reccomend using a cetane booster till the light isnt coming back on, but there shouldnt be any damage. its more just a nusance.........Marc

[jdavey5454]

i couldn't even drive it. had to have it towed to the shop. Will let you know.

[mschn99]

Make sure if they have to dropp the tank to clean the water out you document everything and make sure the techs notes on the bill are as such. you definately have the fuel station in a corner if you had to take it in because it wouldnt run. i would push very hard, get pics, and maybe the fuel station owner down to look at the tank. also, have the tech tell the owner that with that quanity of water through the fuel system there is a chance of injector failure and if it happens soon they should be liable.......cover your tail here and make sure to dott your I's and cross your T's in case you need to take it to small claims........Marc

[jdavey5454]

I have a great shop that i worked wit. But i have an even better attorney!

[jdavey5454]

Now my shop is saying that I have maybe 2 bad injectorst hey also said it is missing and they found metal shavings in the bowl. If I do have to replace injectors is it better to change them all? should I go with oem or aftermarket that kick up my horsepower? What's up with metal shavings.

[mschn99]

the only thing i can think of that would leave metal shavings in the bowl would be either metal in your tank flaking off or some got in there with the fuel, or possibly the fraimrail mounted helper pump failing.....

as far as injectors, its tough to say. those other ones may go the life of the motor and may fail tomarrow........if you are ever planning on going with performance injectors, now would be the time, but if not, my opinion would be just to replace the two bad ones.........Marc

[jdavey5454]

thanks for the advice. i just can't see how a tank could go bad ater 5 years