Ram 2500 water in fuel?

[joshuabardwell]

Well, folks, here's the status. The truck is plugged into the charger to top off the battery. I drained the fuel filter and set its contents aside to see if it'd separate. And while I was at it, I checked the air filter change indicator, and it may be time for a new air filter as well. I'll keep you updated.

 

[hogheadCTD]

Josh, have you changed the fuel filter before? If you havent, make sure you prime it before you try to start it otherwise youll have to bleed the injection lines. To prime it you: bump the starter (dont start it), listen really close for the lift pump to make noise then it will stop, bump starter again, same thing but it will take longer for the lift pump to shut off, bump, lift pump starts and then stops, full start.

If you want to check out some great deals on Cummins parts check out Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel Parts and Accessories - Geno's Garage.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Josh, have you changed the fuel filter before? If you havent, make sure you prime it before you try to start it otherwise youll have to bleed the injection lines. To prime it you: bump the starter (dont start it), listen really close for the lift pump to make noise then it will stop, bump starter again, same thing but it will take longer for the lift pump to shut off, bump, lift pump starts and then stops, full start.

I haven't personally changed the filter, but my girlfriend has run it out of fuel once, and I followed the priming instructions in the owner's manual. It says to crank for 1-2 seconds and if it doesn't start, just let it sit with the key in the ACC position for 30 seconds while the pump primes the lines, then try again. That was a couple of months ago, although maybe now you're going to tell me that I need to bleed my injection lines and that's why I'm having this problem. :laughing:

 

[doxford jim]

An off the wall question - do you have a fuel pressure gauge fitted on the truck ? If you do, what has been the fuel pressure when the truck is idle, normal driving and WOT ?
Is your fuel lift pump dying ? Fuel filter plugging up from a batch of dirty fuel ? Any bugs in your fuel causing filter to plug and cause fuel starvation ?
There are a number of different causes for hard starting, but putting in two new batteries could be a good start. Also, check out your grounds as they often get rust or oxidation between the conducting metal surfaces and as a result, cause weird spurious readings when checking for error codes.
If you have been using the same fuel vendor with no previous problems, then I would check some of the other more obvious causes. If you have water in the fuel you would know about it as the problems would be constant not once in a while or when the batteries are low.
Good luck and let us know how you made out.
HTH
Jim

 

[joshuabardwell]

An off the wall question - do you have a fuel pressure gauge fitted on the truck ? If you do, what has been the fuel pressure when the truck is idle, normal driving and WOT?

I don't have a fuel pressure gauge.

Is your fuel lift pump dying ? Fuel filter plugging up from a batch of dirty fuel ? Any bugs in your fuel causing filter to plug and cause fuel starvation ?

No way to know, at this point.

There are a number of different causes for hard starting, but putting in two new batteries could be a good start.

That is an easy hypothesis to test. I am going to put the truck on the trickle charger every night so that the batteries are always strong and topped off in the morning. If the problem goes away, then I'll put new batteries in. If it doesn't go away, I may still put new batteries in, as it could still be a compound problem.

Also, check out your grounds as they often get rust or oxidation between the conducting metal surfaces and as a result, cause weird spurious readings when checking for error codes.

Correct. The error code that was in the computer is often caused by either failing batteries or bad ground, according to the Internet.

If you have been using the same fuel vendor with no previous problems, then I would check some of the other more obvious causes. If you have water in the fuel you would know about it as the problems would be constant not once in a while or when the batteries are low.

That's my thought, and my mechanic's thought too. But then what was the dealer doing with that diagnosis?! I find it hard to believe that they were out-and-out lying, you know? Maybe I ought to go out to the barn and see how my fuel sample is doing...

 

[JerryK]

On my 2001.5, the pump only runs for a short time when the key is turned to 'ON'... controlled by the Cummins ECM. When replacing the fuel filter, I mark the position of the filter cap so I can make sure I retighten it properly after installing the new filter. After the old fuel filter is removed and the filter unit cleaned... install the new filter and fill the unit nearly full with fresh CLEAN fuel... then install the screw on cap using the new supplied O-Ring. Then cycle the key to ON several times, five or so, depending on how much you pre-filled the filter cavity etc... Too few cycles to ON is more badder than too many... you try to start it without the lines being purged of air, and then you will really 'test' your batteries cranking her to get the air out of the injection pump/injector lines after cracking one of the rear injector lines. I modified my truck by relocating the lift pump down on the frame, from on the motor which was a problem on my years 2nd gen 24 valve Dodge Cummins. I also installed a relay/switch circuit on my lift pump, so I can flip a switch and run my lift pump as long as I want manually.

2002 [2001.5] 2500 white CCSB 6spd/stock HO, 285 BFG Revo's, Ford clearance lights, BD 2-low kit, Bowers idle kit, MWFI VP44@70K ,VulcanKit/StockPump, J&J Ent. SS sideboards, IssPro FP w/idget light , homemade ign.kill-key out idle-DRL-A/C defeat circuits. Amber turns. VelvetRide shackles. NV241HD, DANA80 3.55.

 

[PsRumors]

I am not impressed with Dodge or Ford's water separation system and my brother who owns multiples of both diesels have had water issues from both types.

My 7.3 was bought new by my father in '97. After 107k miles the water in fuel light never came on and he never drained the water seperator. When I built my fuel system I used a Napa prefilter / water seperator used on a Cat.. I get a little water out of it every month now

The OEM systems are lacking.

 

[JimRB]

Note that batteries that are on a trickle charger overnight may still not have much amperage. When I got my used 2004 Dodge Cummins a few years ago it had two new looking batteries in it. I am guessing the original batteries lasted 6 or 7 years.

If I turn my ignition switch to on I hear two things sometimes. One is the transfer pump running for a bit, second is the grid heater relay clicking out. Now that I type this I might be attributing sounds to different systems but those are the two things that happen before I hit the starter which is the real amperage consumer. A friend had batteries die in his Ford diesel. Well one battery died, replaced that and the other battery died soon thereafter.

 

[joshuabardwell]

What do y'all think? Water or no? I can't tell if that's a thin layer of water or just the refraction layer at the surface.

 

[Willl]

I thought water would settle on the bottom ?