Water in fuel light on when I changed my fuel filter

[Diesel]

I recently replaced my fuel filter and now the water in fuel light is on. Would pulling it and cleaning the sensor be all that I need or does this mean its time for replacement?

[Tacoclaw]

Check to make sure you didn't screw it back in too tight. The contacts will cross through the bottom of the filter if that's the case.

Just unscrew it a bit and see if it goes away.

[Diesel]

Oh interesting. I remember getting it relatively tight because I didn't want it to leak. I didn't realize that if there were still threads left that it could possibly be too tight. Help me understand what will happen if I loosen a bit: can fuel leak from that sensor or only water? Does fuel ever go to the bottom of that filter?

[Tacoclaw]

It's an o-ring seal. As long as the o-ring is touching both surfaces, with enough pressure to squish it a little bit, it won't leak.

There is fuel down to that point in the filter, so if you loosen it too much it will leak on your hand. Personally, I'd just back it off a bit, check to see if the light goes off, and if so leave it alone. If not, back it off some more and check again.

O-rings aren't known for letting stuff vibrate loose, so you shouldn't have to worry about it loosening up if you just back it if some.

[Diesel]

Thanks for the information. I will back it off some and see how it goes. I find it interesting that the probes are so long that they could contact the metal in the filter. Seems like an odd design but I am sure they had a reason for it.

[slow_90firebird]

First try unplugging the wire going into the sensor. If the light stays on the problem is not in the filter. If it goes off, it is most likely in the filter.

[Diesel]

Slow -

Thanks for the tip. The trucks at the body shop for paint but they should be done next week. If I unplug it and it goes off then I probably won't plug it back in

[Diesel]

Unplugging the sensor turns off the light! Now I can leave the sensor screwed in tight so it doesn't leak and then when I do the filter change again I will just put in a filter that eliminates the sensor.

[Douglas]

Unplugging the sensor turns off the light! Now I can leave the sensor screwed in tight so it doesn't leak and then when I do the filter change again I will just put in a filter that eliminates the sensor.

Not a good idea. Water is Death for the IP. If you must leave it disconnected, drain the filter into a glass and see how much water is getting caught.
cheers,
Douglas

[Diesel]

Douglas,

I will for sure be checking and draining still...I just don't need the light to tell me what to do!

[Douglas]

Douglas,

I will for sure be checking and draining still...I just don't need the light to tell me what to do!

Just to put a finer point on it; the light is to warn you( operating as a concientious owner and draining the separator from time to time) that you've just picked up some watered fuel and that you should pull over *NOW* and drain it before you need to go inquiring about a new IP.
cheers,
Douglas

[Diesel]

I see. The smallest amount of water causes rough performance. Hopefully I'll be ok.

[wjones]

note where the wires are when you snug the drain. remove it and reach your finger up there and push the spring over toward where the contacts will be when its snug. reinstall the drain and prime it.

it works on fleetguard filters. dunno about others though.