[maxamis]

Hi all? I have a problem.. After about 5mins of driving my truck today, the water in fuel light came on. After which I took the truck straight home maybe mile of driving total. I have owned truck for nearly 2yrs and it has never come on before, so I don't think it is faulty in anyway. Not too mention im in NJ and its been between below 0 with wind chill to 40ish.(Yes it has been plugged in whole time)

I remember when I bought the truck the guy that sold it to me mentioned something about that light. And something about a pump he has underneath the truck just for that problem.

I guess my question is If i do and or don't have the pump, exactly what am i to do? Do i hook pump up and drain that way? Replace fuel filter, drain tank, all, etc..? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Steve

 

[kappelmd]

If you have had the truck for two years and haven't changed the fuel filter, change it and change it about every 12-15K miles. You may be able to drain the water out of the filter, but I would change the filter. You can search on here for how to change it. Eric has a post with lots of pics.

Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[RayMich]

Replace the fuel filter and keep a spare filter with you at all times. Do NOT drive it any more until you change the filter.

See the DIY section for instructions.

How many miles on that filter any way?

 

[oil burner]

What year is the truck???? The water light will turn on if the filter is restricted/dirty on some of the older models.

 

[High Sierra 2500]

Welcome to the forum! :welcome2:

Sounds like you fuel filter is clogged (at least if it is a post-1984 model truck). If it is pre-1984 it is probably a wiring problem.

Here's the reason since I know it seems a little strange that the water-in-fuel light means your fuel filter is clogged...

The later model trucks had a square fuel filter on the firewall held onto a mounting base by a couple of clips. In the base there is a fuel heater, a water separator, a water sensor, and a pressure sensor. At the top of the base there is a valve for bleeding air out of the fuel system. At the bottom of the base there is a valve for draining water out of the system. The water sensor and the pressure sensor are both wired to the same warning light (the Water-in-Fuel light). The water sensor senses water in the separator. The pressure sensor senses the pressure change when the fuel filter clogs. You probably aren't getting water in the separator since any water that is in the fuel system right now is frozen, so your fuel filter is clogging up turning the light on. Time to change the filter (they are supposed to be changed every 15,000 miles and that is one GM maintenance recommendation I would follow).

Early models didn't have that fuel filter setup. They had a round fuel filter assembly mounted in a similar spot on the firewall. They did have a Water-In-Fuel light, however... It was wired to a water sensor, but it wasn't mounted in the filter. They didn't have a pressure sensor.

Hope this helps!

 

[maxamis]

Thanks everyone for your help and info. I am going to replace fuel filter today, and hopefully that will cure the whole water thing. Oh and by the way it is a 83 6.2L chevy C20

 

[93anthracite]

Bringing a dead topic back cuz I'm a newbie as well. I've had my truck for about 6 months now, but it has pretty much just sat around and had less than 500 miles put on since then. It's been started regularly and driven around the block. Yeah, I know this isn't good for the truck, but money has been really tight and other projects have taken precedence.
However, on several occaisions I have driven my 83 Sierra 3500 and the Water-in-fuel light will come on, but then go back off. I changed both of the fuel filters, but it still will occaisionally come on. Thoughts?

 

[the_other_matt]

bad fuel maybe...does it only happen with fuel from one particular station? running any additives?

also could be a loose connection somewhere.

good luck!

 

[High Sierra 2500]

Bringing a dead topic back cuz I'm a newbie as well. I've had my truck for about 6 months now, but it has pretty much just sat around and had less than 500 miles put on since then. It's been started regularly and driven around the block. Yeah, I know this isn't good for the truck, but money has been really tight and other projects have taken precedence.
However, on several occaisions I have driven my 83 Sierra 3500 and the Water-in-fuel light will come on, but then go back off. I changed both of the fuel filters, but it still will occaisionally come on. Thoughts?

Sounds like an electrical issue if you ask me... You should check all the wiring to the water-in-fuel light.