Water in Fuel Tank

HalseyGreen · Jan 24, 2001

Does anyone know a better way to get all the water out of the rear tank on a Ford F350. My son got some real bad diesel on Sunday at our regular filler up. Seems someone didn't check the tanks, and we ended up with rusty water with the 4 gallons he was able to pump. We have pumped the tank the best we can, but we know we don't have it all. Thought about dropping the tank, but that's a whole lot of work, and pumping with the fuel pump is hard on the starter. We were able to switch to the front tank, and after about a quart of water, got clear fuel, and got the truck home. Appears to run okay, but I'm worried about the injectors, I under stand that water with heat will blow the ends off, and my son admits he didn't notice the water in fuel light until after the truck had died. Any suggestions will be appreciated

lens12 · Jan 24, 2001

1.You could install a sediment bowl in the fuel line to seperate the fuel from the gas. 2.Take off the fuel line & lightly pressurize the tank either by blowing or cupping your hand over the fill hole & using a compressed air source.

cowboydoc · Jan 24, 2001

Halsey,
What year is your Ford? Depending on the year you will either have a fuel water separator under the hood by the master cylinder or you will have a lever to pull back by the turbo on the newer ones. Either way drain the water out from either one of these places and then replace the fuel filter before you run it anymore. I would also put one of the diesel additives in for the next 100 gallons or so. The one I use cleans and lubes the injectors and helps to dissipate water. If you do all of this you shouldn't have alot of future problem with it.
Richard

cowboydoc · Jan 24, 2001

Sorry misread your post. I thought you had the water out but after rereading you switched to the front tank. Again depending on the year Ford has a curve in those that makes it tough to siphon out of. We had a guy one time fill up a tank with regular gasoline instead of diesel. They had a fuel pump that they hooked to a battery with a small hose and siphoned it all out that way. I wasn't satisfied though and told them I wanted the tank pulled and drained. When I tapped on the tank you could still hear fuel in there. They said they'd give me 200 gallons of free diesel to do it myself and sign a waiver. I did and went home and pulled the tank. Believe it or not there was almost two gallons of fuel in there. My thought would be to make sure you got it all out you'd have to pull the tank.
Richard

Jeff_In_NC · Jan 25, 2001

I'd get all the fuel out, too. In regards to the how.....I would take the bed off or unbolt it and turn it sideways on the frame rails...dont forget to unplug the wiring harness for the tail lights.... (That way my lazy fat but would not have to lay on the cold ground and wrestle with the partially filled tank.) Take the sender unit out for the fuel gauge and suck all the "stuff" out from there.
jeff in nc

Rch · Jan 27, 2001

As a general rule I never fill-up when the tanker is delivering fuel to a station. There was always some H2O in the bottom of the underground metal storage tanks in the 1950s and 60s when I worked in my father's gas station ( we put some clear jelly on the bottom of the long wooden dipstick and it turned purple if it contacted water in the bottom- 4 or 5 inches was "OK"). Nowadays all those metal tanks have been replaced with a doubled wall tank (fiberglass, I think with other safe guards) I'd see alot of sand too, sticking to the jelly. Just imagine 5000 gallons cascading in thru a 3 or 4 inch hose stirring things up. I think the "FINAL
FILTER" that AMOCO had made alot of sense. Remember also, sand and water in the gas tank is a favorite ex spouse/girl-boy friend trick. Get a locking fuel cap.

RCH

HalseyGreen · Jan 28, 2001

Worked at the problem this yesterday, used the air compressor idea, unhooked the fuel line to the fuel pump, and got out another gallon, about 3/4 water. Just what I was looking for. Put fresh fuel in the tank, some fuel additive, new fuel filter, and bleed the air. All appear well. Thanks for all the ideas and help. The station still hasn't resolved their problem, they are blaming their supplier, but they are willing to pay for the filter and fuel, guess I can't expect much else. Thanks again.