Diesel contamination & damage especially on D4D Common R

[PeteS Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeteS]

Though I would post an interesting link to a thread on ExplorOz regarding Diesel contamination.

Note: When you open the link you may have to scroll back up the very top of the page to see the original post
http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/View.a...px%3Fpn%3D1#TW

It seems Common Rail Diesels with their finer tolerances are more prone to being damaged.

It's a bit of a hit & miss with filling up as we have no real way of knowing if there is water contamination or old fuel in those large tanks in the ground. I try to use a high turnover servo that trucks use and keep my receipts for proof of purchase if I do get contamination.

One of the posts in the thread near the bottom reads "After reading about Diesel problems (and having my NP DiD off the road for 3 weeks to have the Injector Pump replaced under warranty) I've decided to do this.
Get 3 clear jars with labels taped on top.
At the servo I put the first fuel into the jar and check that it is clear and contaminant-free.
I write the date and the servo and pump number on the label.
When it is time to refuel I empty the oldest jar into the tank to be ready for the next sample.
I always use the same servo, so there is no doubt who to blame if I have a fuel problem - although you can't do this when travelling.

I don't know if i will go as far as filling jars up?

PeteS

[Fazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fazza]

:shock: PeteS

"That all sounds a bit scary"

Fazza :shock: :shock:

[Fazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fazza]

It may pay to drain the water trap regularly into a jar as a check.
At least that would rule out at least one contaminant?

Fazza :idea: 07 D4D Auto

[PeteS Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeteS]

Thanks Fazza
A good idea, would give an indication if my regular fuel refill source is a but suspect.

Good to know about these things. Hopefully we can reduce our exposure to any contamination and this along with a fair share of luck may help us escape a major problem.
PeteS

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

On the topic of which company provides the best diesel for the D4D, i am going to be driving the Barrier HWY in Nov and I was wondering if anyone had an incite into which company provides the best diesel in the western region of NSW, specifically Broken Hill and Dubbo areas?

[Fazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fazza]

Thought of the day ("Mav" Unfortunately it won't answer you question)

No matter how careful we are as to where we purchase our fuel, things like this can still occur.

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/ ... n=business

Some years ago this happened to me. Filled up the v8 Commodore (80 litres) at my normal service station, but unbeknown to all, the fuel delivery that morning was put in the wrong underground tank. Unleaded had now become Diesel. (I didn't get very far) :evil: :evil: :x :x

Cheers,
Fazza 07 GXL D4D Auto

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Article in local paper about a filter with a waning light for water in diesel.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z115 ... nation.jpg

From earlier comments on this thread this looks like it might be worth further examination.

Please reduce image to 800 pixels wide *mod.

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Bit the bullet and had one (called a Water Sedimenter) installed today by designer of unit Alan Clare of Labrador Fuel injection (gold coast) Ph 07 55 637 844.

This photo shows the unit sitting next to the vehicle fuel filter



And this is the alert which flashes and beeps if there is water, or black algae in fuel.



It is similar to a Cav filter , on my boat, with a sensor.
The sensor beeps for a few seconds, when motor is started to alert driver that sedimenter is on.

Whilst sensor will not activate when foreign bodies are trapped at least they can be seen and removed before entering the fuel system.

The benefit I saw was that whilst the Toyota fuel filter has a drain point and a sensor this sensor is a light on the dash and , as explained by the manufacturer of unit, once a tiny bit of water gets into fuel system of vehicle it is too late and damage has occured.

Apparently the new common rail system is very sensitive to this fuel contamination .

If water is detected if key is turned on alert will continue to beep while water is in bottom of sedimenter.
Once water has been cleared beeper stops and journey can be safely continued.
If beeping starts further down the track drain the water until beeper stops and continue this procedure until assistance with clearing contaminated fuel can be given.

Told Alan I would let Pradopoint members know of this and he said he would look after members, price wise, if they mentioned "Pedro" and Pradopoint.
He said he can post the kit interstate with fitting instructions.

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

ns.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Bit the bullet and had one (called a Water Sedimenter) installed today by designer of unit Alan Clare of Labrador Fuel injection (gold coast) Ph 07 55 637 844.

This photo shows the unit sitting next to the vehicle fuel filter



And this is the alert which flashes and beeps if there is water, or black algae in fuel.



It is similar to a Cav filter , on my boat, with a sensor.
The sensor beeps for a few seconds, when motor is started to alert driver that sedimenter is on.

Whilst sensor will not activate when foreign bodies are trapped at least they can be seen and removed before entering the fuel system.

The benefit I saw was that whilst the Toyota fuel filter has a drain point and a sensor this sensor is a light on the dash and , as explained by the manufacturer of unit, once a tiny bit of water gets into fuel system of vehicle it is too late and damage has occured.

Apparently the new common rail system is very sensitive to this fuel contamination .

If water is detected if key is turned on alert will continue to beep while water is in bottom of sedimenter.
Once water has been cleared beeper stops and journey can be safely continued.
If beeping starts further down the track drain the water until beeper stops and continue this procedure until assistance with clearing contaminated fuel can be given.

Told Alan I would let Pradopoint members know of this and he said he would look after members, price wise, if they mentioned "Pedro" and Pradopoint.
He said he can post the kit interstate with fitting instructions.

Did he happen to say how much the kit would be? I would be interested in this as I will be doing a lot of driving and filling up at unknown fuel stops who may have shonky tanks.

A friend of mine once filled up at a roadhouse on the Stuart HWY and he got a tank full of water.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Pedro,

What price range is the filter?

Leachy

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Leachy,
The fitted price was $785 but, as I was the first Prado D4D . he gave me a discount.

Was unable to get a firm price for members, but he said he would look after them, and said there was a considerable saving in just buying the kit.

[Fungi2003 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fungi2003]

FYI, end of last I happen to notice a leaflet placed strategically close to the front desk at a Toyota Service department that outlined the importance of the dirty fuel indicator.

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Fungi
Interested to see what the pamphlet said and also what is the indicator of the "dirty fuel filter"?

My unit , from Alan Clare, is still quite clear with no visual signs of contamination, and when I switch on the indicator it lights up , and gives a beep to let me know it is working

As a mechanical dunce, I feel pretty happy with this unit .

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

Hmmmm,
That was going to be my air-compressor spot, strewth thats nearly the same price as one of my large marine Racors, but having another sedimentor/agglomerator is good insurance.

The D4D Toyota secondary filter/separator does have a blocked filter alarm which activates when fuel suction pressure drops across the filter due to blockage and also a float reed switch assembly in the drain assembly which alarms when water is present until you open the little drain cock and drain off the water.

If I was working out of 44 Gallon fuel drums on a property I would definately fit the additional fuel separator.