Water in Fuel

[03LightningRocks]

Hey Mark...I didn't want to mess up the head count thread but I wanted to mention something I learned a few months back.

At the Virginia event FFW, one of my good friends and fellow points chaser, was going down the track when his Lightning just stumbled and died. He got it restarted and costed to the pits.

Jim had Shawn pull his fuel line loose to make sure it was pumping fuel. He got a couple squirts of water and then a squirt or two of fuel. They pumped his tank dry and came up with almost ten gallons of a milky looking fuel. They let it set for a bit and the water seperated. He had darn near half water in his fuel.

Jim told us that it is real easy to have water in your fuel and not have a problem until you run the tank down enough for the water to get into the fuel pump. I plan to have Terry completely empty my tank just to make sure I haven't accumulated moisture.

The point I am making is that it is possible you had the water in it for awhile, but until you ran it down to almost empty, it didn't get in the fuel lines. It may or may not have been what happened to you...no way to know for sure, but something to think about for folks with trucks that have been around for a couple 3 years or so.

Rocks:beer:

[gagspa]

Let my wife drive your truck for a week or two. She will make sure and drain every last drop of fuel in the tank and then leave the truck with you ;)

[03LightningRocks]

Let my wife drive your truck for a week or two. She will make sure and drain every last drop of fuel in the tank and then leave the truck with you ;)


:rll:

[Mark #2]

Hey Mark...I didn't want to mess up the head count thread but I wanted to mention something I learned a few months back.

At the Virginia event FFW, one of my good friends and fellow points chaser, was going down the track when his Lightning just stumbled and died. He got it restarted and costed to the pits.

Jim had Shawn pull his fuel line loose to make sure it was pumping fuel. He got a couple squirts of water and then a squirt or two of fuel. They pumped his tank dry and came up with almost ten gallons of a milky looking fuel. They let it set for a bit and the water seperated. He had darn near half water in his fuel.

Jim told us that it is real easy to have water in your fuel and not have a problem until you run the tank down enough for the water to get into the fuel pump. I plan to have Terry completely empty my tank just to make sure I haven't accumulated moisture.

The point I am making is that it is possible you had the water in it for awhile, but until you ran it down to almost empty, it didn't get in the fuel lines. It may or may not have been what happened to you...no way to know for sure, but something to think about for folks with trucks that have been around for a couple 3 years or so.

Rocks:beer:

Possible but water sinks, so that would always be pumped out first as the pickup is on the bottom of the tank.

[Sixpipes]

Possible but water sinks, so that would always be pumped out first as the pickup is on the bottom of the tank.

And if I remember correctly, you had the problem all the way home from LFest which means either the gas was emulsified with something, or you got bad gas. :cool:

[Sixpipes]

I filled up at a Shell in Denton on Wednesday and the truck ran fine until I got on it. It immediately started sputtering under higher load. Changed the fuel filter today and rusty looking crap came out the tank side of the filter while clear gas came out the front side. Classic "bad gas" syndrome. As bad as it was, I may have to change the filter again real soon. :cool:

[Mark #2]

I filled up at a Shell in Denton on Wednesday and the truck ran fine until I got on it. It immediately started sputtering under higher load. Changed the fuel filter today and rusty looking crap came out the tank side of the filter while clear gas came out the front side. Classic "bad gas" syndrome. As bad as it was, I may have to change the filter again real soon. :cool:

That sucks, I wonder if all the stations are at the bottom of their tanks waiting for the price to down?

I am going to pull my filter again, know anyone that sells the Motorcraft one, except the dealer?

[Sixpipes]

I use the Wix filter from O'Reilly's. :cool:

[03LightningRocks]

That sucks, I wonder if all the stations are at the bottom of their tanks waiting for the price to down?

I am going to pull my filter again, know anyone that sells the Motorcraft one, except the dealer?

I usely get them at auto zone. It was the only place I could find them besides the dealer.


Rocks

[03LightningRocks]

I use the Wix filter from O'Reilly's. :cool:

Is that a better filter than the Motorcraft? I am always up for better. What do they cost? I believe I paid about 10 bucks each the last time I bought motorcraft.

[Mark #2]

Is that a better filter than the Motorcraft? I am always up for better. What do they cost? I believe I paid about 10 bucks each the last time I bought motorcraft.

I tried doing a little searching for filter specs and didn't come up with any data. I have used NAPA and they are PIA to get off, so back to MC. Autozone over here doesn't carry the MC filter.

[03LightningRocks]

I tried doing a little searching for filter specs and didn't come up with any data. I have used NAPA and they are PIA to get off, so back to MC. Autozone over here doesn't carry the MC filter.

Try OReilly....I have bought them there also. They may try to give you the Navi fuel filter.

Rocks


http://www.oreillyauto.com/B2C/conditionselect.ecatalog?x_0=%3F&x_1=N&submit=Continue&vehicle=vehicle0&category=+&group=+&keyword=+Fuel+Filter&description=1475

[Sixpipes]

Is that a better filter than the Motorcraft? I am always up for better. What do they cost? I believe I paid about 10 bucks each the last time I bought motorcraft.

I think Wix makes good stuff. Mine was $10.99 / Part #33595 :cool:

http://www.wixfilters.com/racingnews/index.asp

[Moonshine]

I have used NAPA and they are PIA to get off, so back to MC. Autozone over here doesn't carry the MC filter.

Don't recall what brand it was (not NAPA), but the one aftermarket fuel filter that I bought for the L had an inlet tube that was slightly shorter than spec. Went on fine, but the next time I tried to replace the fuel filter it took me over an hour to get the non-Motorcraft one off, and I thought I was going to damage the fuel line in the process. I decided that non-OEM fuel filters weren't the place to save a buck. YMMV.

[Sixpipes]

I hate changing the fuel filter, but thanks to Steve-o it's not as big of a pain as it used to be. The ramps give me some much needed room.

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/fuelfilter.JPG

Added a Navigator water pump while I was messin around. :cool:

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/cobra_vs_navi.JPG

[my2002lightning]

I've always used the Ford OEM Motorcraft fuel-filter on my L when Mark#2 and Steve-O changed mine with good on/off results.

She's most likely due for a change. I need to learn how to change my fuel-filter, myself.:cool:

Ronald