Thread: Anyone experienced water in diesel?

we replace filters at 12 months on road going trucks.these only get 10K/yr.
im getiing crud out of the hiluxes at 10K and most of the time i relace the filter.the filter base must be removed and cleaned.the drain gives no indication of whats inside.the isuzu/toyota floats system you mostly find the traped in slime.
then the orings must be replaced as the expand.so i mostly throw on a new element.

fire trucks we do every 2 year due to very low milage and never seen any that needed replacement.the fire pump has a inline filter in or after the pump and a cav.since ive been doing this ive reverse flowed the filters and thrown the prefilter [these block up quickly] the perentie has the sedimenty fitted reversed.and i had a discusion with a gent that thought the engine fitted filter was adequate.

now we get slime at 12month service in the glass bowl that whould havecloged the element.

I have never understood the drain on factory filters.most of these ive used to bleed the filter when held upside down.only the mazda truck with a drain top and bottom to allow the fuel to run out and then used a vac pump to draw the fuel through.

dads pajero we fitted a racor kit and we had to drain it regulary.the original i never saw rubbish in it.i swap a comodore to nissan diesel.for a filter i got a racor to suit 13liter +.in 8 years i never replaced the fiter,i then replaced it as the case rusted trhough from outside.

the toyota is common rail as is the johndeer and isuzu/hino.
the large john deer have spinons and ive never seen crud in these.they use about 500L per week.the trucks have a large strainer that looks racor,i often have to unscrew the plastic bottom and clean.they have a red ring thats suposed to float but it gets stuck on the bottom with crap.

In late May my car died on the way home from Birdsville Track with sudden onset of errors which led to death of engine:
2 sets of bogus "warning messages" (1. suspension fault, limited to normal height, 2. transmission fault, limited gears available), followed within minutes by amber engine warning light ("engine problem") then complete stop.
Roadside Assist got us home and car to dealer.
Diagnosis "water and dirt in fuel killed high pressure fuel pump". Your fault. Your cost. Not warranty. Complete new fuel system from tank to injectors. $15,000.
Claimed on insurance; paid excess. Sent fuel receipts in to claim excess back if fuel company/retail outlets admitted to dirty fuel.
5 weeks in workshop waiting for Cat Logistics (who do LR parts worldwide) to get a fuel tank from UK to here (not allowed to clean out and refit original plastic tank, according to dealer on LR's advice).
Got car back, went back to Birdsville track & back. Works fine now but I'm less than happy with a fuel filter which has a sensor (apparently) to notify the ECU of "water in fuel", but doesn't do anything.
Fuel filter is under car, behind 6 bolts/panel, next to transmission.
Not easily replaced by ordinary person, especially in the field.
LR Australia strongly advised me "fitting 2nd fuel filter voids warranty".
Dealer wouldn't fit one or support me if they saw one fitted when they serviced it.
My research found that 2nd fuel filter can (but might not) reduce fuel pressure to HP fuel pump, generating an ECU error. Toyotas sufffer from this too, apparently. Only engineeringly-valid option is "Water Watch" type product which doesn't reduce fuel pressure but "spins" water out of fuel into in inspectable clear bowl under the bonnet. But dealer & LR Australia don't support fitment and say (extended) warranty is void if fitted.
Only practical solution is to replace fuel filter frequently, with great cost and/or inconvenience.
When will these people learn that this is Australia, where dirty fuel is common?
No gripes about the Disco itself and how it performs. But LR Australia and Cat Logistics - words fail me!

Not good to hear of your dramas.

I am curious to read that adding a 2nd filter can (but may not ) effect the HP fuel pump...How can this be so?...Where did your research find this ?

I fail to see how a fuel delivery system can be effected by any amount of filters, unless it restricts the fuel before the pump.

Isnt the HP fuel pump in the tank of the D3, same as on the D2, or do the V6 have a engine driven fuel pump?


Cheers Ean

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

Not good to hear of your dramas.

I am curious to read that adding a 2nd filter can (but may not ) effect the HP fuel pump...How can this be so?...Where did your research find this ?

I fail to see how a fuel delivery system can be effected by any amount of filters, unless it restricts the fuel before the pump.

Isnt the HP fuel pump in the tank of the D3, same as on the D2, or do the V6 have a engine driven fuel pump?


Cheers Ean

Fuel pressure is monitored and adding certain extra filters can cause an increase in fuel line pressure that can be picked up and a fault registered - however there a many filter systems that do not cause any issue.

My local mechanic has fitted the "Waterwatch" water catch system to D3s and he says he has had no issues with faults being registered.

While I am sure L/R has said adding another filter will void warranty - like all mods it will be up to Lr to show a second filter caused issues in a court. This public policy could come back to bite them - if I had asked LR to fit an appropriate filter to my vehicle and they refused and documented that the addition would void warranty - and then I did get dud fuel I think a very good case could be made against landrover.

Remember Landrover have said that just about any after market accessory not provided by them will void warranty - Bushido

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Fuel pressure is monitored and adding certain extra filters can cause an increase in fuel line pressure that can be picked up and a fault registered - however there a many filter systems that do not cause any issue.

My local mechanic has fitted the "Waterwatch" water catch system to D3s and he says he has had no issues with faults being registered.

While I am sure L/R has said adding another filter will void warranty - like all mods it will be up to Lr to show a second filter caused issues in a court. This public policy could come back to bite them - if I had asked LR to fit an appropriate filter to my vehicle and they refused and documented that the addition would void warranty - and then I did get dud fuel I think a very good case could be made against landrover.

Remember Landrover have said that just about any after market accessory not provided by them will void warranty - Bushido

Garry

I was under the impression that we would be talking of full flow fuel filters, and not adding say a 1/4" filter to a 3/8 line, but I understand your point.

So is the HP fuel pump in the Tank of the D3?..

As a matter of interest the Waterwatch filter system you speak of, is it an off the shelf product, or a specialty ordered system from overseas.

Cheers Ean

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

As a matter of interest the Waterwatch filter system you speak of, is it an off the shelf product, or a specialty ordered system from overseas.

Cheers Ean

My mechanic had a display on his service desk - runs and all and you squirt some water in and the alarm goes off. When I asked about it he said it was about $800 fitted but when he asked what car and I told him he said in the order of $1300 for a D3 - he had done one the week before and said it was a pain to install but it did work Ok, not causing any issues in the D3.

Cooma Diesel Service - Water Watch

Responsive Engineering | Water Testing System | Diesel Filtration | Water Watch - Water Watch System

Garry

I Filled my new Defender up in Darwin,got 40kms out of town the vehicle just died.
$7000 worth of damage, water in the fuel system.Needed new injectors and fuel pump.LRA wont cover this as warranty is void.
Luckily my insurance have payed for the repairs.
The garage kept a sample of the fuel and my insurance sent out their own inspector to assess the damage.
Still have not got my Defender back yet to really notice if thre is any change in the motor.

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

So is the HP fuel pump in the Tank of the D3?..

There is an electric low pressure/high volume fuel pump in the tank. The high pressure fuel pump is belt driven, at the back near side of the motor. The outlet to the rail is at the front of the HPFP - so when it fails, it dumps diesel all over the turbo. Don't ask me how I know.

Cheers,
Rob