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TucsonJim's avatar
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Mar 31, 2014

May have just destroyed my TV engine :-(

I made a stupid and likely very costly error this afternoon. I have a 2013 Ford 6.7 Diesel. About a week ago, I needed to top of the Diesel Exhaust fluid before a long trip. I bought a 2.5 Gallon container and poured it into the DEF port. However, there were still 3-4 cups of DEF in the container and the truck was full.

I put the remainder in the garage and took our trip. I put on about 500 miles this week, so this afternoon, I though I'd put the rest of the DEF in the truck. I have NO idea why I did it, but I opened up the diesel cap and poured the remainder of the DEF in the diesel fuel. I didn't realize what I'd done until I'd driven about 4 miles and the "Water in Fuel" light came on. It dawned on me what I'd done.

After researching many forums, in all likelihood the engine is now toast, and the cost will be somewhere around $10-12K to get it fixed. I'm sick to my stomach from the guilt this is causing. In addition, we have a big family camping outing on april the 9th that I'm likely going to have to cancel because I won't have a TV to pull the fiver to it.

I'm sick, sick, sick of the stupid error I made.
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  • path1's avatar
    path1
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2014
    Maybe not as bad as you think. I doubt if local dealer can help with this question but Spend some time trying to talk with somebody at Ford maybe in tech dept or chemical engineer.


    I made the mistake (one time) of putting some gas (about 2 gallon) in my diesel tank (capacity of 33 gal). Called my brother in law to find out if knew anybody with any brains about gas in diesel. He drives tanker truck for big company. He called their "formulation" guy. About 45 min later called me back that ratio of gas to diesel was not good, but OK to drive and at 3/4 tank refill to get ratio lowered. And keep refilling at 3/4 for about 1,000 miles. I know your talking DEF, but wanted to relay might not as bad as you think. Let's hope.
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Mar 31, 2014
    It's not just the water in the fuel. The urea in DEF is very corrosive and destroys items that weren't designed for it such as fuel systems. It forms a white crystal structure that plugs up the system and destroys major components.

    From what I understand, the injectors, fuel rails, filters, water separator and other components must be replaced. The fuel tanks and lines have be completely flushed and might need replacing. It doesn't matter whether it was one cup or 5 gallons of DEF. I'll post more tomorrow after talking to the dealer.
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2014
    I have good news and bad news for you.

    The good:
    Almost assuredly you did not destroy your engine. If you did it would be around 20 grand to fix.

    The bad:
    You might have hurt or destroyed your fuel system.

    If so, it will cost you about 12K to fix.

    If it was my engine I would personally pull and put a new pump on before it took out the entire fuel system.

    You can pay about 4 grand now or maybe 12 grand latter. Your choice.

    Sorry about your problems.
  • The_Mad_Norsky's avatar
    The_Mad_Norsky
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2014
    tsetsaf wrote:
    I was not aware that the result could be so bad. If it is can anyone tell me why the filler necks are adjacent to one another. Hopefully you can fix it without the big price tag.


    Both Dodge Ram and Ford build them this way, with the filler caps next to each other.

    The high pressure fuel pump (a Bosch CP 4.2) used in the Ford is really, and I mean REALLY, particular and sensitive to water in the fuel. The fuel itself is ALL that furnishes lubrication for this pump.

    Appears the 2015 Ford's are coming out with a newer model of this very pump, supposedly not as sensitive to water.
  • tsetsaf's avatar
    tsetsaf
    Explorer III
    Mar 31, 2014
    I was not aware that the result could be so bad. If it is can anyone tell me why the filler necks are adjacent to one another. Hopefully you can fix it without the big price tag.
  • The_Mad_Norsky's avatar
    The_Mad_Norsky
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2014
    Possibly not ruined. To me, with the amount you said you poured in, it is possible you just hit the threshold amount to activate your water in fuel light. My manual says when this happens you should stop ASAP and drain the frame mounted filter below the drivers seat.

    Since your Water in fuel light came on, drain everything (frame mounted filter and the fuel tank), change both fuel filters and see what happens first.

    Its worth a try.

    Gosh, best of luck. If you're like me, and sounds the same, I'd be sick to my stomach too.

    ON EDIT: thinking, and if this were me, I'd also add a good dose of lubricity additive to the fuel tank when refilling it. Maybe even higher dosage than is actually required for the amount of fuel in the tank.

    And I'd surely use the good old PM-22-A from Ford itself.

    Mind you, Stanadyne, Schaeffers Diesel Treat 2000, and even the good old Power Service are good lubricity additives. But in this case, I'd stay with the Ford/Motorcraft product.
  • SWD's avatar
    SWD
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2014
    http://www.transliquidtechnologies.com/blog/bid/103155/What-happens-if-you-put-Diesel-Exhaust-Fluid-in-your-diesel-tank

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