Water contamination of Puma fuel -how big an issue?

[NT5224]

Ladies and Gents

I think we have all heard the horror stories of folks sucking water-contaminated fuel through into their CRD's. I think the costs of this happening are well understood.

As a new Puma owner and unfamiliar with CRD technology I have researched this online and read startling statements to the effect that minimum fuel quality standards in Australia exceed the tolerances of standard Puma filters, and that Puma filters can be saturated by even a few drops of water.

Are these risks being exaggerated? How many puma owners on here have actually been effected by water fuel contamination -and if so, was it just a result of filling up from 44 gallon drums at an outstation- or can this actually happen if we stick to brand servos?

As the monsoon approaches I'm trying to make a reasonable assessment of risk.

Of course, I've already read the various threads on here about adding additional filters into the fuel line.

Cheers

Alan

[solmanic]

As far as I'm aware, the problems with water in the fuel in Puma Defenders arise more from a poorly designed breather than the actual fuel quality. Early Pumas had a stupid breather that was fixed within the rear wheel arch, well placed to draw in volumes of water thrown up by the rear wheel. Most, if not all of these have now been relocated behind the splashguard and since having mine done I haven't pulled much water out of the separator at all. The later design put the breather in, under the vehicle on top of the fuel tank. This is better than the original location, but still not great. SOme people have extended their breathers up higher.

Here is a link to an old thread (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/59562-devastating-phone-call.html#post776153) when all these issues were arising and if you trawl through you will see some photos and follow-up discussion on the revised breather design.

[PAT303]

I'm on my second CRD engined vehicle and I do lots of outback K's and have never had an issue yet.I fill from jerries etc with a filter funnel and crack the drain on the filter sometimes but as yet haven't be stopped by dirty fuel. Pat

[TimNZ]

You can extend the capacity of the filter quite easily:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/154709-water-filter-trap.html#post1732326

Cheers,

Tim

[scarry]

Some early Pumas also had an issue with the fuel tank filler cap not being waterproof,allowing water into the tank.