1995 Chevy 6.5L diesel question

[Matty1000]

Got bad fuel at a Hess station the other day. Lots of water in it. Water in Fuel light came on immediately, but no problems, so I thought it was just a little bit, and would get picked up by the separator. Truck began to stumble, and died on me. Cranked for 20 seconds, and started up again. This happened a bunch of times, and sometimes it would die, but restart before I came to a stop. Came to a point where it wouldn't restart at all. Pulled the separator and replaced it. <br />Started again and ran ok for a bit, but started acting up again. After a few more restarts, it was fine for almost fifty miles, but the water in fuel light was still on. Got into a local town, and it died for good. Changed the separator again, but didn't work this time. <br />Now it just cranked and cranked without even stuttering or backfiring. Like it is completely starved for fuel, not just like it had water in it. This was all last night. Come out this morning, and try again. It cranks, and fires immediately, but then dies immediately too.<br /><br />My ? is, will draining the tank and purging all lines, and repalcing all filters and the separator fix me up, or do yoyu see a larger problem. Any chance I blew the injector pump or some other vital (readricey) part?????<br /> any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanx in advance,<br /> Matt

 

[JRJ]

Re: 1995 Chevy 6.5L diesel question

No way to tell about damage until you drain, purge, new filters, etc. Keep a spare filter with you. Good luck.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 1995 Chevy 6.5L diesel question

I agree. If you have the ability to do the drain & purging yourself, get to it. It has to be done first. Only after that will you know if anything else is damaged.

 

[PAkev]

Re: 1995 Chevy 6.5L diesel question

When changing the filter/seperator did you get it on tight? If not you can be sucking air instead of fuel. I've changed the fuel filter on my Duramax 6.6 L and have experienced the same as what you are describing if the filter is not tightened as far as she can go.<br /><br />Not too familiar with the 6.5L but if it follows the design of the former 6.2L , I recall there is a primary and secondary fuel filter that get changed together. I believe it was 94 or 95 which GM revisited the light duty diesel market by introducing the 6.5L so your setup might be a bit different than the two I have owned.<br /><br />Also, do you have a drain petcock on the bottom of the filter housing where you can drain the fuel into a glass container to see if there is indeed water contamination?<br /><br />Unless you were pumping while the station was getting their fuel delivery or shortly thereafter, it seems unlikely you would get enough water to cause the problems you are describing during one fill up. Most modern fuel stations have decent contaminate mitigation. However, it is common in warmer weather to develop algae in diesel fuel which occurs from contaminated tank condensation; especially if the truck has sat for any period of time with anything other than a full tank of fuel. Therefore, it is possible that over the past 10 years this could have been occuring and is coincidence the water sensor light came on during filling. Reputable fuel treatments can usually keep this problem to a minimum through routine use. Before going through all the trouble of purging the tank and fuel delivery system, I would go out and buy a few cans of good diesel fuel treatment/conditioner to add to your fuel.<br /><br />Speaking from experience... I once had the water sensor light come on after a fill up. I overdosed with fuel treatment/ conditioner and the light then went off a few miles down the road. I'm therefore a believer in fuel conditioner and use it with every other fill up in the summer and every fill up in the winter.<br /><br />Let us know what you find out!