water seperator

mcompound · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 2:03 pm

Hello, can somebody explain to me how to drain the water seperator. I have a CRD with 2100 miles on it and am trying to figure out how to do this. Just did my first oil change to Rotella 5w-40 last night.

Thanks

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 3:05 pm

mcompound wrote:

Hello, can somebody explain to me how to drain the water seperator. I have a CRD with 2100 miles on it and am trying to figure out how to do this. Just did my first oil change to Rotella 5w-40 last night.

Thanks

Did you buy some bad fuel???? If not don't mess with drining the filter. The drain is on the bottom and has to have the water sensor removed first, but I haven't looked at the instructions in some time so it might not have to be disconnected. I will check and get back to you.

mcompound · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 3:09 pm

thank you, this is my first diesel. I was under the impression that the seperator was supposed to be drained every few fill ups. I beleive the owners manual shows to replace the filter every third oil change or something. The owner's manual does not show any proceedure for periodic draining.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 8:13 am

mcompound wrote:

thank you, this is my first diesel. I was under the impression that the seperator was supposed to be drained every few fill ups. I beleive the owners manual shows to replace the filter every third oil change or something. The owner's manual does not show any proceedure for periodic draining.

I see you are in NM, I may transplant myself there next year. My arthritis and allegries treats me much better when I am there for vacation. It kind of depends on whether I buy a motor home or house.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 8:40 am

mcompound wrote:

thank you, this is my first diesel. I was under the impression that the seperator was supposed to be drained every few fill ups. I beleive the owners manual shows to replace the filter every third oil change or something. The owner's manual does not show any proceedure for periodic draining.

That filer should go 30K+ miles as long as you get clean fuel. If you do your own service it is a good idea to keep a fresh filter on the shelf. My experience is to leave diesels filters alone unless you get a tank of bad fuel. The whole ritual of draining this filter is essentially a waste of time (unless you own the Jeep dealership and are collection $92/hr for shop labor). There in a strange irony to water sensors in fuel filters. If you get enough water in the filter to trip the sensor, draining may help the immediate crisis and get you home but the filter is already trash. Replace it ASAP. If you live in a cold climate, changing the filter in the Fall will help with ice/gelling in extreme cold.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 8:56 am

RFCRD wrote:

mcompound wrote:

thank you, this is my first diesel. I was under the impression that the seperator was supposed to be drained every few fill ups. I beleive the owners manual shows to replace the filter every third oil change or something. The owner's manual does not show any proceedure for periodic draining.

That filer should go 30K+ miles as long as you get clean fuel. If you do your own service it is a good idea to keep a fresh filter on the shelf. My experience is to leave diesels filters alone unless you get a tank of bad fuel. The whole ritual of draining this filter is essentially a waste of time (unless you own the Jeep dealership and are collection $92/hr for shop labor). There in a strange irony to water sensors in fuel filters. If you get enough water in the filter to trip the sensor, draining may help the immediate crisis and get you home but the filter is already trash. Replace it ASAP. If you live in a cold climate, changing the filter in the Fall will help with ice/gelling in extreme cold.

Again very good words of advice. I took a road trip to MI this last weekend and took a spare fuel filter and everything I needed chqange the filter I thought. Then I got home and discovered I had not taken the strap wrench to loosen the filter with. :roll:

Felt like a dummy. :oops:

mcompound · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 10:01 am

Thank you for the responses. That is one less thing to worry about. I beleive I am getting decent fuel. My buddy works at the Giant refinary here locally and told me last night to expect a price increase on 6/6/06 because that is when they are switching to the ULS.

I purchased the CRD because I live in NM but commute to Durango for work, and need a 4WD to get into the oilfield on some days. I love this thing so far. Can't wait for the tires to get worn out so I can lift it a little.

GreggD · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:47 am

According to the "Ye Olde Owners Manual", the fuel/water separator filter is supposed to be changed at 25k. I went ahead & changed mine at 23,900 since I was already doing some under the hood work on my Liberty any way. The filter looked kinda crappy inside. Better to be safe than sorry. I wish I could find a filter other than DC's. I paid $40 for the one I bought 3 weeks ago, plus for some reason they didn't have any in stock.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:21 am

GreggD wrote:

According to the "Ye Olde Owners Manual", the fuel/water separator filter is supposed to be changed at 25k. I went ahead & changed mine at 23,900 since I was already doing some under the hood work on my Liberty any way. The filter looked kinda crappy inside. Better to be safe than sorry. I wish I could find a filter other than DC's. I paid $40 for the one I bought 3 weeks ago, plus for some reason they didn't have any in stock.

I need to check back with the NAPA store where I got my last oil filter. They list the fuel filter but show it as a restricted part. The NAPA warehouse guys know the part and were checking why it's restricted and when they would have it. That filter is likely a common WIX or Hastings filter. That $40 fuel filter fits right in with the $100 oil change and the $17 Mopar oil filter.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:01 am

RFCRD wrote:

GreggD wrote:

According to the "Ye Olde Owners Manual", the fuel/water separator filter is supposed to be changed at 25k. I went ahead & changed mine at 23,900 since I was already doing some under the hood work on my Liberty any way. The filter looked kinda crappy inside. Better to be safe than sorry. I wish I could find a filter other than DC's. I paid $40 for the one I bought 3 weeks ago, plus for some reason they didn't have any in stock.

I need to check back with the NAPA store where I got my last oil filter. They list the fuel filter but show it as a restricted part. The NAPA warehouse guys know the part and were checking why it's restricted and when they would have it. That filter is likely a common WIX or Hastings filter. That $40 fuel filter fits right in with the $100 oil change and the $17 Mopar oil filter.

Wow!!! :shock:

My dealer charged me $21.xx with tax for the fuel filter and $9.xx with tax for oil filter.

I hope you at least got kissed after you paid. :wink:

GreggD · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:02 pm

LOL!!! I was told "No kiss for you!! Too ugly!!!! by the Parts Nazi. You must be "in good" with your dealership, oldnavy.

Wix has been showing a fuel/water filter #33647 for the last year, but that part number is still not available. Nobody else seems to have a number that will cross reference. NAPA , Auto Zone, Advance Auto, O'Riellys & a couple of independent auto parts stores in my area were no help either.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:30 pm

GreggD wrote:

LOL!!! I was told "No kiss for you!! Too ugly!!!! by the Parts Nazi. You must be "in good" with your dealership, oldnavy.

Wix has been showing a fuel/water filter #33647 for the last year, but that part number is still not available. Nobody else seems to have a number that will cross reference. NAPA , Auto Zone, Advance Auto, O'Riellys & a couple of independent auto parts stores in my area were no help either.

I'm not sure who is making the fuel filter for the Jeep, it may be made by Mann or Bosch. The same probably applies to the oil filter as it has made in Italy on the thing if I remember correctly.

Generally speaking I am in good with the Parts Nazi, but every once in awhile he/they will tag me. :roll:

RFCRD · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:14 pm

oldnavy wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

GreggD wrote:

According to the "Ye Olde Owners Manual", the fuel/water separator filter is supposed to be changed at 25k. I went ahead & changed mine at 23,900 since I was already doing some under the hood work on my Liberty any way. The filter looked kinda crappy inside. Better to be safe than sorry. I wish I could find a filter other than DC's. I paid $40 for the one I bought 3 weeks ago, plus for some reason they didn't have any in stock.

I need to check back with the NAPA store where I got my last oil filter. They list the fuel filter but show it as a restricted part. The NAPA warehouse guys know the part and were checking why it's restricted and when they would have it. That filter is likely a common WIX or Hastings filter. That $40 fuel filter fits right in with the $100 oil change and the $17 Mopar oil filter.

Wow!!! :shock:

My dealer charged me $21.xx with tax for the fuel filter and $9.xx with tax for oil filter.

I hope you at least got kissed after you paid. :wink:

Nope, absolutely no kissing. I walked out after their $100 oil change quote along with the $17 oil filter and $40 fuel filter quotes from the parts counter. That also went with the $400 quote for the 12K mile service. I may be lazy at times but not stupid. Was clearly time to get the old tools greasy.

water seperator

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