Dumb mistake

[M_R_E_]

I filled up my 5 gal can with diesei in back of pickup when towing and forgot to put cap on and drove for 3 hours in light rain. Will some water damage the fuel ? Is there something I could add to the fuel ?

[M_R_E_]

Thanks for all the responses. Not worth the risk, but where do you dispose ?

[MFL]

Three pages of response, but OP has not returned. With the mixture of solutions, I wonder what the OP plans to do? I am guessing he hates to waste the small amount of fuel, or he would not be asking. Is it safe to use, worth trying to separate, worth the stinky mess on your clothes, hands, and shoes? I think OP was asking, should I just dump it in the truck, or not?

Let us know OP, is it worth the risk to YOU?

Jerry

[JRscooby]

Back in the day I would let truck set overnight, then drain about 5 gallons of fuel out of each tank every fall to be sure no ice in winter.
I would use that fuel for parts cleaner, add to the oil I turned in for recycling.

[valhalla360]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:

Exactly my point. Treating away the water is more costly than dumping suspect fuel.
That raises another issue, how and where to dump contaminated fuel?
Theres the kicker, do you trust the water separator filter and do you know how to service it? If not, read you tube for a minute about your truck.

Use it for starting fires as someone mentioned.

Or offer it to someone for free (be honest about what happened)...there seem to be plenty of folks willing to much about with their 5 figure engine to get $20 in diesel fuel based on some of the posts.

[SDcampowneroper]

Lantley wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
A few raindrops will settle out and be separated in your water filter. At worst case you will get a 'Water in fuel ' check light.
If you do, stop as soon as it is safe, , open the drain on the bottom of the filter and let it drain until the droplets 'sheet off' no longer 'beading off ' as droplets. A few pumps on the primer pump will help.
Use of a diesel fuel conditioner like Howes, Sea Foam or Diesel Service will dissipate water , for dissipation, not ridding the water.
Even treated dissipated water is harmful to common rail HPS diesel pumps.
Avoid the issue, deal with it, do not try to 'treat'' it away.

Seems like a lot to go through for $20.00

Exactly my point. Treating away the water is more costly than dumping suspect fuel.
That raises another issue, how and where to dump contaminated fuel?
Theres the kicker, do you trust the water separator filter and do you know how to service it? If not, read you tube for a minute about your truck.

[Lantley]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
A few raindrops will settle out and be separated in your water filter. At worst case you will get a 'Water in fuel ' check light.
If you do, stop as soon as it is safe, , open the drain on the bottom of the filter and let it drain until the droplets 'sheet off' no longer 'beading off ' as droplets. A few pumps on the primer pump will help.
Use of a diesel fuel conditioner like Howes, Sea Foam or Diesel Service will dissipate water , for dissipation, not ridding the water.
Even treated dissipated water is harmful to common rail HPS diesel pumps.
Avoid the issue, deal with it, do not try to 'treat'' it away.

Seems like a lot to go through for $20.00

[TXiceman]

mhardin wrote:
I would never knowingly put contaminated fuel into a truck with a $10,000 engine. If water makes it to the injector pump and it eventually grenades you will be looking at a huge repair bill.

Better check the price for those diesel engines. Had a new crate 6.7L engine put in the truck in October 2014. Back then the engine was almost $16,000 and the installation at the Ford dealer was $23,800. Fellow here in the park had his 2015, 6.7L Ford take a dump. A remanufactured engine installed is $15,000.

No way would I take a chance on that contaminated fuel unless it was run through a proper oil/water separator.

Ken

[SDcampowneroper]

A few raindrops will settle out and be separated in your water filter. At worst case you will get a 'Water in fuel ' check light.
If you do, stop as soon as it is safe, , open the drain on the bottom of the filter and let it drain until the droplets 'sheet off' no longer 'beading off ' as droplets. A few pumps on the primer pump will help.
Use of a diesel fuel conditioner like Howes, Sea Foam or Diesel Service will dissipate water , for dissipation, not ridding the water.
Even treated dissipated water is harmful to common rail HPS diesel pumps.
Avoid the issue, deal with it, do not try to 'treat'' it away.

[Cummins12V98]

MFL wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Water will settle to the bottom, it will roll around on the bottom looking like mercury. Slowly pour it into another container thru cheesecloth until the water is close to coming out. Now let the new container set for a day and then pour most of it into your truck.

Slosh around the containers and then pour out and let them set upside down to drain. Done!!!

I agree, water is heavier, and your description may be a doable solution, if there is no way to replace the fuel. I have to know, is this what you would do, fresh fuel readily available, or would you be more inclined to follow my advice, previously posted?

No reply needed...I already know. :C

Jerry

Since we are talking about a fuel container that most likely you can look into with a flashlight you would be able to see if the fuel has water and or debris in it. Not everyone has a creosote treated power pole at their property line as I do.

If I only saw water I would have ZERO issue doing as I said earlier. If full of crud then the power pole would get some preservative.

[dieseltruckdriv]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Water will settle to the bottom, it will roll around on the bottom looking like mercury. Slowly pour it into another container thru cheesecloth until the water is close to coming out. Now let the new container set for a day and then pour most of it into your truck.

Slosh around the containers and then pour out and let them set upside down to drain. Done!!!

This is the best advice here. The water WILL settle to the bottom, so don't pour the entire container into the clean container. Just let the clean container sit to make sure you didn't pour too much fuel out. As someone else mentioned, use the bottom fuel to start a fire.

[mhardin]

I would never knowingly put contaminated fuel into a truck with a $10,000 engine. If water makes it to the injector pump and it eventually grenades you will be looking at a huge repair bill.

[MFL]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Water will settle to the bottom, it will roll around on the bottom looking like mercury. Slowly pour it into another container thru cheesecloth until the water is close to coming out. Now let the new container set for a day and then pour most of it into your truck.

Slosh around the containers and then pour out and let them set upside down to drain. Done!!!

I agree, water is heavier, and your description may be a doable solution, if there is no way to replace the fuel. I have to know, is this what you would do, fresh fuel readily available, or would you be more inclined to follow my advice, previously posted?

No reply needed...I already know. :C

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

TXiceman wrote:
Water and diesel engines do not mix, except in the radiator. Just dump the fuel. But dumping will be an issue for the environment.

Ken

Sinner!

[TXiceman]

Water and diesel engines do not mix, except in the radiator. Just dump the fuel. But dumping will be an issue for the environment.

Ken

[Cummins12V98]

Water will settle to the bottom, it will roll around on the bottom looking like mercury. Slowly pour it into another container thru cheesecloth until the water is close to coming out. Now let the new container set for a day and then pour most of it into your truck.

Slosh around the containers and then pour out and let them set upside down to drain. Done!!!