Thread: Water in Fuel

Hi Strange_Rover,

Being a recent convert from V8 to TD5 I am no expert... but pretty sure you want the separator you will find under your right rear guard... bottom of the pump.

Also I was told that this can be regular fault with these - many give fake positives ... could be wrong - but good chance you have nothing to worry about.

Cheers, Mark

Thanks Mark, might pop my head under there tomorrow and have a quick look.
Shano

Shano,

Drop the drain from the bottom of the filter and drain it into a clean container. If no evidence of water, a new sensor is required These DO fail at times, and usually just after being taken off to be drained out and re fitted again
I've had to supply a few that either broke when being unscrewed, or did as yours has done- stayed on after servicing.

JC

JC, thanks for your input, is it an expensive sensor to replace?
Shano

The fuel / water drain is part of the sensor on the bottom of the fuel filter (right rear wheel arch)

To drain it, you "carefully" turn / undo the hole thing (sensor) anitclockwise until it allows fuel / water (if any) to drain out. It has a machined slot in it that when its lined up the fuel can flow out. If this puts the light out, then great, if not just disconnect the plug, tie it up out the way and forget about it.

You then have 2 options, leave it as it is, as they are common to give "spurios" messages, or simply replace it on the next filter change. They cost about £20 over here......

I do know of dealers who have simply disconnected it and tied the loom out the way.

DO NOT overtighten it back up, as they can shear off easily !!, and then you will have no vehicle to go get another one

Worth also checking that the plug / loom connection is clean and makes good contact, may just be a dirty connection.

the td5 has a combined filter/seperator element on the right hand side in front of the rear spring on the outboard side of the chassis..

its hidden behind a plate thats held in place with a speed bolt remove that unhinge the plate and you'll see the filter... on the bottom of that is a threaded plug with a bunch of wires, trace the wires back to a quick connect plug. disconnect that and then carefully, very very carefully unscrew the plug, theres no need to undo it all the way once it starts leaking your set, catch about a coke cans worth of fuel then do the bung back up and replace the wiring and the cover.

TD5 filter drain procedure complete, I do it every 10,000 Km and replace the filter every 30K Km.

the td5 has a combined filter/seperator element on the right hand side in front of the rear spring on the outboard side of the chassis..

Yours is in a strange place then

Hi Shano
They are well known to be faulty.
Does yours even light up when the key is turned on? Mine dont,then again neither does the oil pressure light!!!
Mine flickers on just before the fuel needle reads 1/2 then shuts up again.
Ignore it,would have to be real dodgy fuel to be full of water already.
Pretty sure the later D2s had it replaced with no sender.
Goodluck
Andrew