Ive been reading most of the threads here and have done a search but have not found anywhere about what to do when your water in fuel light comes on. It only came on a couple of times and then went away. This is a fresh fill up so thats probably it. The truck runs well and I dont notice any issues with the engine, even tows nicely. Currently the water in fuel light is off and it only flashed on a few times, but its better to be safe I guess. The question is what do I do now?

Thanks

Well if you've got the single filter there is a water bleed screw and then:
;) For the few of you out there that have 82's and 83's with spin on filters: The primary filter on the firewall is a water separator. The bleed valve on the top of it is only there to allow for draining water out of the drain valve. Both need to be open to drain water. After draining water, the filter MUST be removed and filled with clean diesel. The other spin on filter is the actual fuel filter. The way the system works is the fuel pump sucks through the water separator and then pressures through the smaller filter to the injection pump. An air leak anywhere in the system will allow fuel to back feed to the tank, draining fuel from the water separator and making starting very difficult, because the fuel pump will start sucking air if the water filter isn't completely full. Hope this helps.

The single filter is a square box on the passenger side firewall. The water drain screw is towards the drivers side on the bottom side of the filter base, somewhat hard to see. There should be a hose running from the drain to somewhere under the truck to run out the water/fuel when you open the drain screw. You can drain the water with the engine at idle --- probably not recommended, though.

If the Water in Fuel light comes on only at acceleration or high load, that means you need to change your fuel filter.

Its only been a few weeks since the fuel filter has been replaced. I will try to purge the water out of the filter housing. I also only noticed the light when I was towing my trailer.

Thanx that was going to be my question mine only comes on under heavy application of my lead foot :):)

Chuck

Mine comes on from time to time when I first start the engine from cold. When the glow plugs cycle and the glow plug light, lights up, the water-in-fuel light goes off, then comes back on, until the glow plugs cycle again. It goes away after a minute or so, and never comes back on until starting the engine from cold again.

Maybe I should open the filter housing, purge the fuel, prime and so forth, but it's never affected performance. I've replaced the filter a few times after I began to run B20 in the motor, too.

Mine always flickers, new filter etc. I just ignore it.