This is a heads-up for GMC Duramax and other diesel engine owners. Install an additional filtering system between your fuel tank and the OEM filter… the sooner, the better.
On June 7th, 2012, we bought diesel fuel from the I-90 Service Plaza (Shell… north side of exit 332) in Mitchell, South Dakota. About 270 miles farther west, in Rapid City, a “REDUCING ENGINE POWER” message was displayed on the instrument panel and the engine shut down to an idle immediately. According to the Rapid City GMC dealership, the filtering system on our 2009 GMC 3500 Duramax passed the contaminated fuel to the injection system, damaging the injectors and fuel pressure regulator.
Even though the fuel from the fuel filter had lots of water in it, the WIF (water in fuel) warning didn’t activate. Absolutely no warning messages or lights were triggered until the REDUCING ENGINE POWER message was displayed seconds before we lost power. With only 32,700 miles on the truck, GMC denied our claim without analyzing the fuel, fuel filter or water sensing system.
Our cost: Over $9,700
I love the Durmax and I will run this one with my additional after-market filtering system (Air Dog 165) until I can afford a new truck. If I had been running the additional filtering system, lift pump and fuel pressure monitor last summer I might be $9,000 richer right now. My next truck will be a Ford or Dodge, but only because of the non-warranty from GM.
Bottom Line: Don’t trust the stock filtering system, the stock water-in-fuel sensor or your GM warranty.
More details & fuel pix at http://www.bennsci.com/GMC/Bad_Fuel .
Sorry to hear this. As I read your post I was thinking of the many that complain of the same thing in Fords. We just bought ours last August so we are taking fuel additive precaution and now am wondering of the fuel filter. A lot recommend changing more often than what Ford recommends. I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses here.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 SD CC DRW 6.7L Diesel Lariat, Hensley BD3 with Ford Under-Bed Adaptor
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, and Paris in spirit), Missy, Maggie, and now Mica!
Based on another unfortunate truck owner (also denied warranty because of contaminated fuel-Ford this time) I'd be contacting my insurance company and the fuel stop to file a claim. He was reimbursed by insurance.
Yes, if you can validate proof of fuel purchase and a link to causation of issue, a claim can be filed against the fuel deliverer to the station. The station should have a standard form for you to fill out.
Sorry OP about this repair costing you big $$$. Did the dealer fix the reason why the WIF light didn't come on? Something really stinks that this system failed and didn't provide sufficient warning.
The problem with your added fuel filter you just provided GM another excuse to void your warrenty if you have another catrastrophic failure, but maybe this will prevent another failure.
Dodge will do this too - deny coverage because they claim water in fuel but why didn't their WIF light come on??? Seems like it should be their problem since the failure of the WIF light is clearly bad.
I have added a a 2 micron filter system from Glacier Diesel performance.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
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I would like to ask about using a fuel additive designed to "soak up" water in the diesel......is that feasible?...is that advisable? Is there a recommendation on such an additive?
husk wrote: I would like to ask about using a fuel additive designed to "soak up" water in the diesel......is that feasible?...is that advisable? Is there a recommendation on such an additive?
A diesel fuel additive that soaks up water is a big no...no...!
What you want is an additive that seperates the water from the fuel so your fuel/water seperator can do its job.
Exactly. The last thing you want is something that just breaks up the moisture into smaller particles and tries to run it through. You'll end up with a rusted fuel inj. system and a $10k bill.
* This post was
edited 07/27/12 08:40pm by ScottG *
campboss222 wrote: This is a heads-up for GMC Duramax and other diesel engine owners. Install an additional filtering system between your fuel tank and the OEM filter… the sooner, the better.
On June 7th, 2012, we bought diesel fuel from the I-90 Service Plaza (Shell… north side of exit 332) in Mitchell, South Dakota. About 270 miles farther west, in Rapid City, a “REDUCING ENGINE POWER” message was displayed on the instrument panel and the engine shut down to an idle immediately. According to the Rapid City GMC dealership, the filtering system on our 2009 GMC 3500 Duramax passed the contaminated fuel to the injection system, damaging the injectors and fuel pressure regulator.
Even though the fuel from the fuel filter had lots of water in it, the WIF (water in fuel) warning didn’t activate. Absolutely no warning messages or lights were triggered until the REDUCING ENGINE POWER message was displayed seconds before we lost power. With only 32,700 miles on the truck, GMC denied our claim without analyzing the fuel, fuel filter or water sensing system.
Our cost: Over $9,700
I love the Durmax and I will run this one with my additional after-market filtering system (Air Dog 165) until I can afford a new truck. If I had been running the additional filtering system, lift pump and fuel pressure monitor last summer I might be $9,000 richer right now. My next truck will be a Ford or Dodge, but only because of the non-warranty from GM.
Bottom Line: Don’t trust the stock filtering system, the stock water-in-fuel sensor or your GM warranty.
More details & fuel pix at http://www.bennsci.com/GMC/Bad_Fuel .
Based on your fact situation, I would be filing an immediate claim with your comprehensive carrier as well as with the filling station.
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