Water in Fuel

Just a quick "what should I do".

I bought a car in October from a small dealer.

2011 Astra.

Within maybe two weeks I started to get that warning. It's not consistent but comes up now and again on the dash.

Contacted the garage and went out and they changed it.

Almost immediately again it started and onto them again and back out for a second time(maybe January or so), he told me there was condensation in there and it was no problem.

And like the first time it's still coming back up.

Just wondering what I should do.

Is it a possibility that it's a nothing issue, should I contact them if so and say I'd need the guarantee to extend to any secondary issues that may arise from it if they seem to think it's ok.

I sent emails the previous two times so have a record that this issue was present since I first got the car and I've tried to get it fixed twice already.

The car is running fine but I don't want to get landed with some other issue that was present pretty much from when I purchased the car.

Any thoughts on what course to take.

Dirty Nails

Run it untill its fairly low in diesel & get the tank drained.

He mightn't cover it on warranty, there's no proof of when it got a bad fill.

You need to do it asap,regardless.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058239583/water-in-fuel

Go into any auto parts shop and get a tube of water test paste. Then let the car rest overnight, and if you have bit of 1/4" plastic pipe ( or smaller) smear the paste on it up 30cms or so, and insert it into the tank as far as it will go. Leave it for 20 seconds or so, them withdraw it. If there's any moisture / water in the tank, it will show on the tube as a color change on the paste. If this happens then as Dirty Nails said, drain it, and change the fuel filter as well to be on the safe side.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858233#Comment_118858233

Don't know if I'd have huge faith in the paste,especially as any moisture will be at the botton of the tank.

Maybe drain the fuel filter in to a bottle,if it shows water & this is it's third time, draining the tank is probably a safe bet.

Of course if the filter is clean -it's another story. Might be a filter sensor issue.

maestroamado

Did you mention type of fuel...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858178#Comment_118858178

True, he did ask me the second time where I got fuel but the fact it keeps happening despite being changed twice should show it's not a bad fill on my end.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858317#Comment_118858317

It's a Diesel.

Ill try the paste but in regards to draining the tank is it difficult?.. I'm not very car savy to be doing complicated jobs.

In regards to the faulty sensor.. this isn't consistent, I might not see it in a week(I don't drive much either, I got to football twice a week and barely any runs apart) or might see it 1/2 times in a short period... If that makes any difference.

mikeecho

https://youtu.be/VwW_SrbyC2A

Hope that helps

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858344#Comment_118858344

The video explains it pretty much, I'd still aim for the filter to help diagnose the fault. Trace of water in the filter, drain the tank.

If no water in the filter, replace filter housing with the water sensor.

Now, IF it's water & he only drained/replaced the filter element (instead of draining the tank) it doesn't mean anything as to when it got the bad diesel.

maestroamado

I was told by mechanic a few years ago that if not using diesel car too much keep it pretty full with diesel as condensation can build up inside tank and will in time build up water...

Also get it checked soon as i had a car like that and the fuel pump went and it cost €1200 to get refurbished...

DARK-KNIGHT

Hey berto, maybe call the garage and ask them as a sign of good faith to drain the tank or do the work at a discounted price? It might not be a runner as they coild say no but it could be a good in between for both you and the dealership. I would drive it on til the diesel is maybe a quarter of a tank left and then get the work done.

Thanks for the replies.

It seems like a lot of suggestions involve me paying for a fix.

I'm not happy about this as I know for a fact I didn't cause any issue. It's either that the issue was on the car when I bought it or else the only garage I went to after that.

In fact I can even pin point the only garage I went to in the intervening period as I've checked my online banking. It was a Texaco so not some small independent known for dodge fuel.

I bought the car on the 04/11, and emailed about this issue on the 24/11. I had taken a weeks holiday before that so it was effectively there from the very start(I can go a week without seeing the warning now so it's possible it was just one of those weeks).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858966#Comment_118858966

If draining the tank means I'd have had a different level of fuel.. then yes it wasn't drained. I was actually a bit peeved about that as its a bit of a drive and didn't feel as though it should cost me the fuel to go there and back (and they should have put some in on the two times I went).