Water in fuel light

foosed · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:40 am

My water in fuel light came on this morning. How far can I drive it before I drain the water from the filter? I am hoping to get back home from work (about 60 miles round trip from the time the light came on). Any insight would be much appreciated.

Tinman · **Joined:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 308

I'd unplug the sensor, and drain the filter to see what comes out. If there is a lot water in there, then change the filter ASAP and run a boat load of fuel conditioner. Chances are you got a bad load of fuel and more could be in the tank. If a few drops come out, it's probably OK to just drain the filter and keep going with frequent re-drains to check for recurrence. The last thing you want is water in the CP3 or injectors.

cerich · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:36 pm

why take the chance
get towed to shop, contact fuel provider where you last bought fuel

bugnout · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:04 pm

Yes, unplug the sensor at the bottom of the fuel filter and unscrew the sensor, (green plastic thing) and catch the fuel as it comes out in a can, bucket something. If its all cloudy, then use the primer pump to pump some more out. if it continues to be cloudy, you should have it towed and have the tank drained.

If you drain it then when you reprime it and don't see any evidence of water, you could probably drive it, but change the filter as soon as possible.

foosed · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:58 pm

I had the filter changed (it was overdue to be changed) and the light did not come back on after approx. 10 miles of driving. Is it possible that the filter just needed to be changed, or might I expect it to come on again after a few more miles? The bad fuel thing is a possibility as the light came on about 8-10 miles after I had just filled up.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:08 pm

The water in fuel sensor only comes on when water in the bottom of the filter provides a current path between the two electrods on the sensor :shock:

If I were you I would treat your fuel as noted and carry a spare filter, NAPA has them. With the cost of our CP3 pump you don't want to take any chances :wink:

bugnout · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:03 pm

foosed wrote:

I had the filter changed (it was overdue to be changed) and the light did not come back on after approx. 10 miles of driving. Is it possible that the filter just needed to be changed, or might I expect it to come on again after a few more miles? The bad fuel thing is a possibility as the light came on about 8-10 miles after I had just filled up.

Its possible that you just collected enough water to finally set off the sensor. but I would run some Power Service 911 until you burn through this tank.

The fuel treatments like Power Service 911 cause the emulsified water to come out of suspension or coalesce so that the water trap at the end of the filter can separate it. So if you got a bad tank, the WIF light will probably come on again before your done. Just drain the water and keep your eye on it.

Carry a spare filter as insurance.

DZL_LOU · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:05 pm

I would certainly heed the wise advice from each of the posts.

There just MAYBE, MAYBE a remote chance that your WIF sensor acts up like mine does to give a false indication of water in your fuel. My WIF sensor sends an alert if it's raining outside, Foggy outside or if I happen to go through the car wash.
It is only in the ON position for as long as the dampness, wetness is in the air and then turns itself off afterwards.

In talking with the mechanics, they advised that if the WIF sensor comes on and stays on continually then you have water in the fuel. However, mine only comes on sporadically as the weather becomes wet.

So maybe I have an additional "feature" in my Libby that advises me of the wet weather :lol:

I know it's a short in the sensor that I need to replace :wink:

Water in fuel light

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