06 6.0 diesel and water in fuel?

[wildwood32]

My 06 6.0 ltr diesel ,Ford. The water in the fuel warning came on and was wondering if these have a water separator like a boat has.I know of the 2 filters that I chage every year but is there another separator type or do I just change the 2filters that I have been changing all along?The truck runs fine so I think there is a sensor that lets you know if you get a little water but not enough to not run?Any help is greatly appreciated.What is the best way to fix this?

[jerem0621]

OP... Here is a place to purchase that upgraded brass drain. I have no relationship with this company.

Link

I helped a buddy change his fuel filters on the 6.0 PSD once (He bought the filters and I changed them). They were very tight but not a problem. The water separator/filter on the frame rail isn't a big deal to change. It did take a little tool to open the fuel separator and a 36 mm socket to open the filter housing. Which was fine.

I have to use tools to change the oil too.. It pretty amazing having to use tools... LOL

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[thomasgunnar]

FishOnOne wrote:
This video is probably not the best but illustrates how to drain the HFCM. If you are using a Motorcraft or Racor fuel filter then yes the filter module does separate the water from the diesel.

Link

I don't know why he needs a funnel. I just store it in my sleeve and armpit till the job is done.

[ScottG]

FishOnOne wrote:

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Well, sure seems like a lot of work to drain the water/fuel separator! :S
The one on my Cummins is easily reached under the hood and is a simple lever, no tools required. 🙂
This is something you want to do as soon as the warning light comes on, needs to be easy and quick to do.

This RAM cummins has even a better idea... Stick the water/fuel separator near the exhaust so you can either burn your hand/arm or catch your cummins on fire when you have to drain your water. :S

Link

You don't give up do ya. Most people are smart enough to not drive a 100 miles just before changing the filters.:S

Nor does your fan boys...:W

Someone isn't clever enough to realize the guys arm is next to the drive shaft, not the exhaust.

When it comes to WIF, that is death to any modern diesels fuel system and if the light comes on you should stop and drain it immediately or risk expensive repairs.

Someone doesn't realize as the diesel fuel drains on the driveshaft that it will splash onto the exhaust.

BTW... The ecodiesel has this same setup. :S

It's a none issue - period.
But at least we taught you the difference between and exhaust pipe and a drive shaft.

[FishOnOne]

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Well, sure seems like a lot of work to drain the water/fuel separator! :S
The one on my Cummins is easily reached under the hood and is a simple lever, no tools required. 🙂
This is something you want to do as soon as the warning light comes on, needs to be easy and quick to do.

This RAM cummins has even a better idea... Stick the water/fuel separator near the exhaust so you can either burn your hand/arm or catch your cummins on fire when you have to drain your water. :S

Link

You don't give up do ya. Most people are smart enough to not drive a 100 miles just before changing the filters.:S

Nor does your fan boys...:W

Someone isn't clever enough to realize the guys arm is next to the drive shaft, not the exhaust.

When it comes to WIF, that is death to any modern diesels fuel system and if the light comes on you should stop and drain it immediately or risk expensive repairs.

Someone doesn't realize as the diesel fuel drains on the driveshaft that it will splash onto the exhaust.

BTW... The ecodiesel has this same setup. :S

[jus2shy]

FishOnOne wrote:

I believe transumz9 had the best recommendation. It's cheap and an easy upgrade.

BTW... On the RAM topic I don't believe the filter under the hood has the aqua block media on the filter so I'm not sure how effective this one is.

For some reason, I missed the brass plug recommendation. That is the easy button in this case!

For the Cummins filter, it has the hydrophobic coalescing element, you can see the coalescing element between the 1st set of pleats and the 2nd set of pleats. 1st layer is the 5 micron layer and 2nd layer is the 3 micron layer. It's a pretty good filter overall, so no need to think about doing something like what some guys had done in the past with the CAT 2 micron canister style filters. The new engine filter is backwards compatible with the older style RAMs (2010 - 2012), since those vehicles don't have a separate chassis filter (they only have the cartridge style element on the motor), this fuel filter needs to perform double duty.

Owner's manual also specifies both filters as having water separating media and requiring draining if a WIF light illuminates.

[Bedlam]

Either truck is easier than my Perkins S2 diesel. You had to prime the fuel pump under the hood after draining the water catch attached to the frame rail under the bed or it would remind you in about two blocks by stalling.

[FishOnOne]

jus2shy wrote:
OP, I think one of the fixes the aftermarket came-up with is a bypass setup, such as a parker-racor setup. Here's a bad vid of a bypass setup with the parker-racor filtering system used on boats Parker Racor bypass kit. Unfortunately I don't know if this kit is pre-HFCM or post-HFCM. But I'm assuming it's pre-HFCM otherwise what would be the point? This would make it easier to identify any sediment/gunk in the fuel and easier to drain out than the HFCM.

Ford has learned its lesson though, the 6.4 and 6.7 got Ford back on the common-sense bandwagon :). Actually, I wonder if the 6.4 unit can be retrofitted to the 6.0 truck? Looks very similar to me and seems like it would be worlds easier? 6.4 vid.

And a little clarification on the RAM setup. There are 2 water/fuel separators. Both filters perform the function as they both have coalescing elements. 2 chances to catch water, so if you get a WIF light, you have to drain them both. I prefer the redundancy. Neither filter requires tools to drain, both are finger tightened/loosened to open the drain valve. Yep, the rear chassis filter is just about over the driveshaft. Doesn't require much crawling underneath to get to, but you do have to crawl under there. If you don't have a hose on you, you can make a mess and get eau' de' Diesel all over your arms. The exhaust is a non-issue. I've changed my fuel filter while performing an oil change, and I only do oil changes with a hot engine.

I believe transumz9 had the best recommendation. It's cheap and an easy upgrade.

BTW... On the RAM topic I don't believe the filter under the hood has the aqua block media on the filter so I'm not sure how effective this one is for blocking water. The box labels it as filter only and does not specify it as a water separator filter.

[jus2shy]

OP, I think one of the fixes the aftermarket came-up with is a bypass setup, such as a parker-racor setup. Here's a bad vid of a bypass setup with the parker-racor filtering system used on boats Parker Racor bypass kit. Unfortunately I don't know if this kit is pre-HFCM or post-HFCM. But I'm assuming it's pre-HFCM otherwise what would be the point? This would make it easier to identify any sediment/gunk in the fuel and easier to drain out than the HFCM.

Ford has learned its lesson though, the 6.4 and 6.7 got Ford back on the common-sense bandwagon :). Actually, I wonder if the 6.4 unit can be retrofitted to the 6.0 truck? Looks very similar to me and seems like it would be worlds easier? 6.4 vid.

And a little clarification on the RAM setup. There are 2 water/fuel separators. Both filters perform the function as they both have coalescing elements. 2 chances to catch water, so if you get a WIF light, you have to drain them both. I prefer the redundancy. Neither filter requires tools to drain, both are finger tightened/loosened to open the drain valve. Yep, the rear chassis filter is just about over the driveshaft. Doesn't require much crawling underneath to get to, but you do have to crawl under there. If you don't have a hose on you, you can make a mess and get eau' de' Diesel all over your arms. The exhaust is a non-issue. I've changed my fuel filter while performing an oil change, and I only do oil changes with a hot engine.

[FishOnOne]

rhagfo wrote:

Hank85713 wrote:
on mine the light came on while traveling and I needed to drive another 100 miles before I could get at it. amount of water was less than 1/8 teaspoon if that much.

I have read that there is not much in the system when the light illuminates, I have only drained 1 time since owning the truck and I bought it new in 04. Filters are changed regularly, but I dont live in a wet/humid area area either.

Fish the point is that draining the water separator should be easy and quick! It is easy and quick on a Cummins, no tools required! To have to craw under the truck to drain the water separator is poor design.

I would never drive 100 miles with the water in fuel light on.

As usual your point was useless to the OP.... In addition on a current RAM you have to crawl under the truck to drain the water/fuel separator too. Sorry but that's just how it is. In the video did you see the description on the filter box for the filter that went under the truck say "fuel/water separator"? Plus the tall tell sign it's a water separator filter is the electrical wire/plug that connects to the bottom is this filter. The filter under the hood has a drain to remove the fuel from the filter housing, and I noticed the guy had to cut is plastic fender well to get access to this filter.

[rhagfo]

Hank85713 wrote:
on mine the light came on while traveling and I needed to drive another 100 miles before I could get at it. amount of water was less than 1/8 teaspoon if that much.

I have read that there is not much in the system when the light illuminates, I have only drained 1 time since owning the truck and I bought it new in 04. Filters are changed regularly, but I dont live in a wet/humid area area either.

Fish the point is that draining the water separator should be easy and quick! It is easy and quick on a Cummins, no tools required! To have to craw under the truck to drain the water separator is poor design.

I would never drive 100 miles with the water in fuel light on.

[Hank85713]

on mine the light came on while traveling and I needed to drive another 100 miles before I could get at it. amount of water was less than 1/8 teaspoon if that much.

I have read that there is not much in the system when the light illuminates, I have only drained 1 time since owning the truck and I bought it new in 04. Filters are changed regularly, but I dont live in a wet/humid area area either.

[FishOnOne]

And the Dodge boys strike again... What a shame.

OP,
Keep on truckin... Any more questions on your truck I would recommend Ford Truck Enthusiasts.com and go the the 6.0 PSD forum. You'll receive really good advise from a great group of guys.

[Bird_Freak]

You need to drain it as soon as the light comes on and I would change the filters also. Keep an eye on it for a while to see if you picked up a lot of water at a fuel stop.
I also don't see why a Cummins was ever mentioned here. One poster mentioned a better way to drain, the other's were useless post.

[ScottG]

FishOnOne wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Well, sure seems like a lot of work to drain the water/fuel separator! :S
The one on my Cummins is easily reached under the hood and is a simple lever, no tools required. 🙂
This is something you want to do as soon as the warning light comes on, needs to be easy and quick to do.

This RAM cummins has even a better idea... Stick the water/fuel separator near the exhaust so you can either burn your hand/arm or catch your cummins on fire when you have to drain your water. :S

Link

You don't give up do ya. Most people are smart enough to not drive a 100 miles just before changing the filters.:S

Nor does your fan boys...:W

Someone isn't clever enough to realize the guys arm is next to the drive shaft, not the exhaust.

When it comes to WIF, that is death to any modern diesels fuel system and if the light comes on you should stop and drain it immediately or risk expensive repairs.