Water in fuel question?

[Someday*]

2021 R29 with Volvo D4 and NextGen generator.

A few months ago we had filled tank with Diesel (over 100 gallons) and recently on a run the generator shut down…can’t get it to start. Shortly after the main engine gave a “water in fuel” warning on the Volvo gauge and it shut down.

I tried draining the Volvo filter but engine still wont start.

I am having the fuel scrubbed/polished/filtered by an outside company in hopes to remove the water etc in the fuel.

I will then drain the filters for the generator and main engine.

My question is this:
Once the above is done can I try restarting the generator and the volvo or will I need to have them “bled” of whatever fuel/water they have inside them? Or will that be pushed out by starting them?

Thanks

 

[Ralf H]

Hi there,

After you've done the steps you listed above, about the only thing that you would still have available to do would be the fuel injectors. That should not be necessary. Any remaining water in the fuel at that point will probably not be recognized. If the alarm still sounds when you first run the engine, I'm sure it will reset with a full shutdown after the engine has had a chance to run clean fuel through the lines. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Ralf

 

[Someday*]

Thank you Ralf!

 

[Someday*]

Hi there,

After you've done the steps you listed above, about the only thing that you would still have available to do would be the fuel injectors. That should not be necessary. Any remaining water in the fuel at that point will probably not be recognized. If the alarm still sounds when you first run the engine, I'm sure it will reset with a full shutdown after the engine has had a chance to run clean fuel through the lines. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Ralf

Do you know if the fuel people will be able to access the "sender" under the floor board just inside the main cabin door? They say that will make doing the fuel clean much easier (and cheaper)

 

[jroffel]

You have not really confirmed that the genset engine shutdown is related to water in the fuel. Proper diagnosis is key! Is this water separator ahead of both engines? If it is, and if it is working properly, then the alarm should have come before the water got to the engine.

I am a diesel injection company owner, and we see water in fuel issues all the time. Chances of it coming back to life after removing the water from the tank are not good if in fact that engine shut down because of water in the fuel. In that case there is a very good possibility that the injection system on that engine has been damaged. I would change the fuel filter on that engine, and check the old one for signs of water. If you find water in that filter then flush/clean all the fuel lines going to that engine. You may get lucky.

Jack

 

[Someday*]

You have not really confirmed that the genset engine shutdown is related to water in the fuel. Proper diagnosis is key! Is this water separator ahead of both engines? If it is, and if it is working properly, then the alarm should have come before the water got to the engine.

I am a diesel injection company owner, and we see water in fuel issues all the time. Chances of it coming back to life after removing the water from the tank are not good if in fact that engine shut down because of water in the fuel. In that case there is a very good possibility that the injection system on that engine has been damaged. I would change the fuel filter on that engine, and check the old one for signs of water. If you find water in that filter then flush/clean all the fuel lines going to that engine. You may get lucky.

Jack

I understand...all I know at this point is both engines wont start and that the Volvo guage gave the "water in the fuel" warning and then the engine shut down...I don't know if the engine shuts down when a sensor somewhere outside the engine senses the water of if that's inside the engine? We called our mechanic and he rec we have fuel in the tank checked/cleaned of any water 1st and then he would check out the engine.

Yes both the volvo and the generators filters are upstream/ahead.