Ever diesel anything I've messed with or handled business wise has had water in the separators.Its the nature of diesel fuel.That's why I drain mine some most every fill up.I have done such on my last two diesel trucks and ALWAYS have found water in them even with regular drainings.Why should this 3rd gen be any different.I don't think the WIF system warning works correctly or works at all.Any diagnosis checks for the system in the repair manuals? As far as Baldwin fuel filters when I talked to Baldwin a year or two back they designed their 5 mic filter to meet Bosch specs! Sounds like a bunch of hogwash on a denied claim over a Baldwin filter plus where was the WIF warning? These same story's have been surfacing since the 3rd gens came out.

 

There is an option to add an additional WIF sensor on the trucks. Its supposedly for gov't trucks to run B20... Well from what I have been told there is a pigtail somewhere you wire into.. so you could add an additional f/w sep with a WIF sensor to the truck and the OE light... Might be more reliable..

 

I guess I'll be the first to say that I've had my WIF light come on. It happened at about 110,000 miles. I always drain and change my filter every 5,000 - 10,000 miles. I also clean out the bottom about every other filter change due to the small stuff that may build up in the bottom of the fuel filter housing. I always go to high volume stations. I don't care what anyone says, there is going to be some amount of fine material filtered out and sitting on the bottom over time. The light came on. I kept on driving till I got home. Opened the valve and drained the housing. Did the bump start 3 times. Started the truck and never seen it again since. That was over 10,000 miles ago.

 

WOW.First time I've ever read about a WIF coming on.Anyone else? Anyone look to see if any checkout for the system operation?

 

I have also never seen the WIF light come on. I also drain my canister from time to time.

 

The dealership told my insurance the filter didn't meet specs.... They also quoted me/my insurance $15,000 initially to fix it, after insurance denied it they quoted me 8500 with "after market" parts. I will never have a vehicle with unwarranty realated work performed by a dodge dealer again.

 

My truck is still stock as far as the fuel system, but last time I changed the filter my light imediately came on. It was not on before the filter change and I still have not been able to get it to turn off. I know there was no water in the fuel at the time and it is driving me nuts. Of course the other night it turned off for about an hour as I drove through some bad rain. But once I got out of the rain it turned back on. It is driving me nuts

 

You hit and broke/unplugged something changing the filter. Lets hear from you guys/girls that have had fuel system issues such as water and trash and no warning light also.Its cool to have a POLL on this subject,I should have thought of that! LOL The Baldwin filter meets Bosch and Cummins specs and appears to surpass Dodge specs.Been using one since they came out with a 5 micron and have two more on the shelf.I would have called BALDWIN before listening to any more FACTS from anyone working on the truck.The PROVE it to me usually fixes a lot of that nonsense.

 

I have not had a WIF light in 82K miles, nor have I ever found even a drop of water in the fuel I have drained (monthly). This worries we a lot because my last truck ('04 ferd) would show a WIF every now and again, and ALWAYS had a few drops come out of the separator when drained. Since I buy fuel in the same area as my last truck I can only conclude that the fuel water separator in our trucks does not do as good a job as my last truck. I have used the Baldwin PF 7977 for the last two filter changes and still have not found ANY water when draining.

 

I don't ever want to have any work performed by a Dodge dealer period. Warranty or not. To many horror stories, yours a fine example. If I can't do it myself I figure out how to, usually on here. Or i seek advice or help from someone experienced that i know personally and trust. Sorry to hear about your nightmare.

 

I had the WIF light come on on my old 1st gen truck after pressure washing the engine bay. Not sure why, drained the bowl down, took the elec connector off and sprayed with WD40, nothing helped, after about a week it finally went out on its own.

 

Long story short:

Major water in tank was not detected (light never came on).
Destroyed injectors which led to a melted piston.

Same batch of fuel in buddy's '08, light instantly on.

Also i've been quoted about $200.00 for a new sensor for an '05.
A new sensor for an '08 comes complete with the new filter housing/filter for about $28.00.

 

It seems to me that diesel is better refined than it was in the old days. I think 20 years ago it was commonplace to have the light come on periodically, but not so much now. Also, if you examine the sensor placement in your filter housing, you can tell it would take quite a large amount of water to make the light come on. I drain mine often because I wouldn't want even half that amount in my water separator.

 

Same fuel shows water in my New Holland tractors glass bowl every 50 hours or so.There is always SOME in that glass bowl in that amount of run time.Not much as a rule but some.I would have called their hand on that light issue.Over the years since 3rd gens(2003) there as been many posts of damage from water with NO warning from the WIF system.

 

"we found a large chunk of ice in the barrel."

That doesn't surprise me. 1-getting off road fuel from somehwere you never been, and 2-which i think is more likeley, the drum itself either got some condenstaion in it, (which a gallon sized chunk would be alot of condensation), or 3-it had some water in it or got some in it somehow.

I'd lean towards #3 on this.