Water in fuel warning light
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: SAN MATEO
Water in fuel warning light
Hello all, I have a strange problem.
I have a 2017 JK unlimited 2.8 diesel and when I drove through a few puddles, the water in fuel warning light came on and wouldn't go off. After about half an hour it turned off but quickly came back on again. In only turned off after driving for about an hour on dry tarmac.
Is there a water drain filter or is there something I can do , like adding something to the fuel?
Could it be a sensor ( it was raining quite heavy when the warning came) ?
What exactly is the light, as I can't find it in the manual?
Thank you
I have a 2017 JK unlimited 2.8 diesel and when I drove through a few puddles, the water in fuel warning light came on and wouldn't go off. After about half an hour it turned off but quickly came back on again. In only turned off after driving for about an hour on dry tarmac.
Is there a water drain filter or is there something I can do , like adding something to the fuel?
Could it be a sensor ( it was raining quite heavy when the warning came) ?
What exactly is the light, as I can't find it in the manual?
Thank you
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 297
Likes: 25
From: Parker, CO
Unfortunately I know nothing about your Jeep. That would be a nice feature to have a fuel sump. I work with a lot of jet fuel and regularly sump water out of the fuel tanks on a monthly basis. I’d check your owners manual first see what it says. If you can indeed sump the fuel tank to remove water, do it after the Jeep has been sitting for 6-8 hours. That should help a lot of water settle to the bottom of the fuel tank. As I understand it diesel fuel is always going to have some amount of water in it.
Do they make any products for diesel fuel like dry gas?
Do they make any products for diesel fuel like dry gas?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 13
From: Ohio
I'm not familiar with diesel automobiles...but in farm and heavy equipment there is typically a fuel water separator that is easily drained.
We in the USA have to wait another year or two before a diesel is an option for our jeeps (the JL). Curious as to the solution, because I'm sure it will happen when we get the diesels here
We in the USA have to wait another year or two before a diesel is an option for our jeeps (the JL). Curious as to the solution, because I'm sure it will happen when we get the diesels here
Last edited by Wuebben.2; Jul 23, 2018 at 04:39 PM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 297
Likes: 25
From: Parker, CO
One long shot option I thought of is use a liquid vac, or one of those hand operated fluid pumps with a long tube. Feed it into the fuel tank after its had a nice long sit still and see if you can pump out the water.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 13
From: Ohio
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 64
From: Sweet Home, TX
I don't know about diesel Jeeps, but diesel Ford pickups have a water filter (not sure what you actually call it), with a drain mounted underneath the vehicle, along the inside of the frame rail near the driver side seat. You get a warning like this, you stop and open the drain till the liquid coming out smells like diesel, then you close the drain and go about your business.
My understanding is this is pretty common practice on modern diesel vehicles. Should say something about it in the owners manual.
Happy Jeeping!
My understanding is this is pretty common practice on modern diesel vehicles. Should say something about it in the owners manual.
Happy Jeeping!
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 297
Likes: 25
From: Parker, CO
Found this thread. Looks like diesel JK does have a water separator/fuel filter.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stoc...4/#post2620770
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stoc...4/#post2620770
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: SAN MATEO
Thank you all for your help.
Upon further investigation I notice the following: the warning light on the dash only comes up when driving through some potholes filled with water -actually more or less in the same spot on the road
. Not very deep, up to the middle of the wheel usually. It doesn't come on when driving very very slow, but I think it may come on in deeper water.
Could it be that the sensor from the link above, responsible for detecting water/moisture in the filter, malfunction? As in, when driving through water some may splash on the sensor , hence the warning?
"The drain plug on the filter body with the two wires protruding is not actually a drain plug. This is the water in fuel sensor which eliminates the need to routinely drain the moisture out. You will receive a warning light on the dash if this sensor detects water. I guess it's basically a conductivity probe which will make a circuit when water is present lighting up the dash. You can still drain diesel out by unplugging the sensor and unscrewing the plug."
Now I'm thinking maybe If I can locate the sensor and have a look, it may need some insulation tape or something?
Can anyone help to locate this sensor? Sorry I'm new to my JK (but I love every bit of it)
Thank you
Upon further investigation I notice the following: the warning light on the dash only comes up when driving through some potholes filled with water -actually more or less in the same spot on the road
. Not very deep, up to the middle of the wheel usually. It doesn't come on when driving very very slow, but I think it may come on in deeper water.Could it be that the sensor from the link above, responsible for detecting water/moisture in the filter, malfunction? As in, when driving through water some may splash on the sensor , hence the warning?
"The drain plug on the filter body with the two wires protruding is not actually a drain plug. This is the water in fuel sensor which eliminates the need to routinely drain the moisture out. You will receive a warning light on the dash if this sensor detects water. I guess it's basically a conductivity probe which will make a circuit when water is present lighting up the dash. You can still drain diesel out by unplugging the sensor and unscrewing the plug."
Now I'm thinking maybe If I can locate the sensor and have a look, it may need some insulation tape or something?
Can anyone help to locate this sensor? Sorry I'm new to my JK (but I love every bit of it)
Thank you