Warning to Diesel Fuel Tow Vehicle Owners

[TucsonJim]

Sounds like a bunch of bull to me--for 2-3 ounces--3000:1 dilution. There's more water than that in your tank at any given time.

Have the tank pumped out, and refill with fresh diesel with a fuel additive. Then see how your truck runs.

Bamaman - It wasn't 2-3 ounces, it was 2-3 cups (16-24 oz). The diesel tank was only at about 1/4, so the concentration was much higher. Our first plan was to do as you suggested, but when we pulled the filters, they were loaded with DEF crystals. That warranted the tear down. When the injectors were pulled, the tips had DEF crystals too. If one of the crystals causes an injector to lock open, the engine can hydro-lock and cause catastrophic engine damage.

BTW, it's not the water in the DEF that is the problem. It is the urea. When mixed with diesel fuel, the urea doesn't remain bonded to the water molecules. It actually separates and bonds with diesel fuel also. So if you get a "water in fuel" light, which I did, just draining the water trap won't remove the DEF.

[Bamaman]

Redid my note. I was pressed for time (with grandchildren) and didn't read the whole message with pictures. Wow, what a mess DEF makes in the diesel tank.