300tdi pre fuel filter thoughts? Water in fuel detector

Hi All

Whats your experiences and thoughts on instaling a pre fuel filter on a 300tdi Defender?
Know the 300tdi eats most, veggie oil included and fuel quality in UK is good everywhere.
Thou it changes when driving in Europe or further. Seen the youtube channel "Defender mods and travels". He was stranded in Hungary due to water in the fuel. And designed a filtration system

Done the google research and Racor Filters seems to be great quality for inline filters and funnels. Is anyone aware of similar brands?

Have an idea of installing the filter before the original filter. Main purpose to filter our potential water and install a water detector in the bowl to know when to take action. Should be simple enough

Anyone done it in their Land Rovers?

Ive got a brand new fuel sediment filter about to come of my D1 project if you want it.

Also the 300tdi filters have a water trap screw on the bottom so just unscrew it to let the water out.

kevstar said:

Ive got a brand new fuel sediment filter about to come of my D1 project if you want it.

Also the 300tdi filters have a water trap screw on the bottom so just unscrew it to let the water out.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer for a fuel sediment filter. Is it same as standard fitted? Do you have a part nr?

Main thing I want to achieve is to know in the cabin via visual indicator when to let the water out of the fuel filter.

Got the coolant tank lid from think a RR classic and wired upto a green and red led on the dash so when cooland is getting low the light changes from green to red. Gives peace of mind on long drives as unscrewing the cap to check is a no.

Dreaming about similar setup for the fuel system

UsInWorld said:

Thanks for the offer for a fuel sediment filter. Is it same as standard fitted? Do you have a part nr?

Main thing I want to achieve is to know in the cabin via visual indicator when to let the water out of the fuel filter.

Got the coolant tank lid from think a RR classic and wired upto a green and red led on the dash so when cooland is getting low the light changes from green to red. Gives peace of mind on long drives as unscrewing the cap to check is a no.

Dreaming about similar setup for the fuel system

Click to expand...

See here mate...…..
https://www.brit-car.co.uk/product....nge_rover_classic_1992_1994_from__v__xa159807

UsInWorld said:

Thanks for the offer for a fuel sediment filter. Is it same as standard fitted? Do you have a part nr?

Main thing I want to achieve is to know in the cabin via visual indicator when to let the water out of the fuel filter.

Got the coolant tank lid from think a RR classic and wired upto a green and red led on the dash so when cooland is getting low the light changes from green to red. Gives peace of mind on long drives as unscrewing the cap to check is a no.

Dreaming about similar setup for the fuel system

Click to expand...

I've got a small circuit board, somewhere, that I bought from a guy on another forum. He was professionally producing them. IIRC you needed a RR classic expansion tank lid to connect up to it to give you a warning light in the cab when coolant went low. I bought it 10+ years ago and still haven't fitted it How does your's work? I must fit mine!
About the fuel filter. Are you planning on travelling to somewhere with a lot of water in the fuel?

Agglomerator with a clear bowl will do nicely.
Had water in my boats fuel so fitted one and you could see it seperating the water out nicely, top tip dont leave your fuel cap off for weeks when rain is forecast!

Didnt the td5 have a water in fuel sensor set up as std?

Al2O3 said:

I've got a small circuit board, somewhere, that I bought from a guy on another forum. He was professionally producing them. IIRC you needed a RR classic expansion tank lid to connect up to it to give you a warning light in the cab when coolant went low. I bought it 10+ years ago and still haven't fitted it How does your's work? I must fit mine!
About the fuel filter. Are you planning on travelling to somewhere with a lot of water in the fuel?

Click to expand...

It works well, found a guide online 2 years ago and bought the component and the PRC7925. Connected it up and it works. If coolant level gets abit low and on heavy breaking the diode/buzzer in dashboard activates. So good indicator topup is needed.
Guess the kit you bought is same. If you have any documentation of photo can guide you thru it. Main task is getting the cable from dash in cabin to coolant tank in engine room

Dreaming about driving beyond Europe and better to be prepared

Dodgy fuel seems to be the subject at the moment. Never experienced it in UK

SA 4x4 magazine had an article about it in most recent magazine mentioning Racor filters

Youtube channel "4WD action" made a video about it few days ago. Thou feels more like a commercial and its very expensive for abit of cleaning liquid

lynall said:

Agglomerator with a clear bowl will do nicely.
Had water in my boats fuel so fitted one and you could see it seperating the water out nicely, top tip dont leave your fuel cap off for weeks when rain is forecast!

Didnt the td5 have a water in fuel sensor set up as std?

Click to expand...

Cheers for the word Agglomerator as comes up with reasonably priced filters with the clear bowl as you say.
Now need to find a suitable one for fitting a watersensor too, and finding the water sensor. Googling continues

Good tip on keeping fuel cap on, guess thats why petrol stations have a big roof

UsInWorld said:

It works well, found a guide online 2 years ago and bought the component and the PRC7925. Connected it up and it works. If coolant level gets abit low and on heavy breaking the diode/buzzer in dashboard activates. So good indicator topup is needed.
Guess the kit you bought is same. If you have any documentation of photo can guide you thru it. Main task is getting the cable from dash in cabin to coolant tank in engine room

Dreaming about driving beyond Europe and better to be prepared

Click to expand...

You've got me interested in this again now, I'll try to dig out the little circuit thing I bought. It's still in the little padded envelope it came in.......somewhere!
Your driving dreams sound tremendous, good luck I hope you get to do them.

UsInWorld said:

It works well, found a guide online 2 years ago and bought the component and the PRC7925. Connected it up and it works. If coolant level gets abit low and on heavy breaking the diode/buzzer in dashboard activates. So good indicator topup is needed.
Guess the kit you bought is same. If you have any documentation of photo can guide you thru it. Main task is getting the cable from dash in cabin to coolant tank in engine room

Dreaming about driving beyond Europe and better to be prepared

Click to expand...

Didn't take long to find it. I can't believe it after all of these years.

So, It's a little, sealed black box of tricks with a green LED sticking out through the resin.

Quotes the same number for the RR cap too!

EDIT
Looks straight forward to fit, I can't remember why I didn't get around to fit it way back when!

Al2O3 said:

Didn't take long to find it. I can't believe it after all of these years.
View attachment 189695
So, It's a little, sealed black box of tricks with a green LED sticking out through the resin.
View attachment 189696
Quotes the same number for the RR cap too!

EDIT
Looks straight forward to fit, I can't remember why I didn't get around to fit it way back when!

Click to expand...

Thats quick indeed! Now get the coolant sensor cap with added RR classic flavour to the mix and you got a working system. I fitted my homemade box behind the dash for less wires in engine room.
Depends on where you easiest can get a +12v from ignition and how handy running wires

Thanks we are making it further south every year. First past Edinburgh, then Northumberland, Yorkshire, London and this year Bournemouth on south coast so we will see whats next After each journey improve the the Landy further for our needs

UsInWorld said:

Thats quick indeed! Now get the coolant sensor cap with added RR classic flavour to the mix and you got a working system. I fitted my homemade box behind the dash for less wires in engine room.
Depends on where you easiest can get a +12v from ignition and how handy running wires

Thanks we are making it further south every year. First past Edinburgh, then Northumberland, Yorkshire, London and this year Bournemouth on south coast so we will see whats next After each journey improve the the Landy further for our needs

Click to expand...

I'm just ordering some stuff from LR Direct and have put one in the basket!

We do camping tours, around Europe, for our summer holidays. Use the Mondeo estate though It's a long way to go in an old 90

UsInWorld said:

Thats quick indeed! Now get the coolant sensor cap with added RR classic flavour to the mix and you got a working system. I fitted my homemade box behind the dash for less wires in engine room.
Depends on where you easiest can get a +12v from ignition and how handy running wires

Thanks we are making it further south every year. First past Edinburgh, then Northumberland, Yorkshire, London and this year Bournemouth on south coast so we will see whats next After each journey improve the the Landy further for our needs

Click to expand...

12v feed from the yellow wire on the ignition switch, this will go live when the key is turned on.

Then if you look behind the fuse box/peddle box you will see a few places to run a wire
through the bulkhead.

kevstar said:

12v feed from the yellow wire on the ignition switch, this will go live when the key is turned on.

Then if you look behind the fuse box/peddle box you will see a few places to run a wire
through the bulkhead.

Click to expand...

Aye, but it's on the back burner again!
Reckon my cylinder head gasket has just gone today!
I did buy the RR Classic expansion bottle cap from LR direct earlier today. Think I'm going to need a new expansion bottle now anorl!

Al2O3 said:

Aye, but it's on the back burner again!
Reckon my cylinder head gasket has just gone today!
I did buy the RR Classic expansion bottle cap from LR direct earlier today. Think I'm going to need a new expansion bottle now anorl!

Click to expand...

Oh no that's a bummer matey.

kevstar said:

Oh no that's a bummer matey.

Click to expand...

Aye, just a bit

Al2O3 said:

Aye, just a bit

Click to expand...

Ive got a fully refreshed engine though its a edc just need to swap the pump & injectors ect
If yer stuck that is

kevstar said:

Ive got a fully refreshed engine though its a edc just need to swap the pump & injectors ect
If yer stuck that is

Click to expand...

Well, I don't know what I'm going to find when I take the head off, so you never know.
That would have been strapped to an auto gearbox wouldn't it?
How much do you want for it?
You can PM me the details an dhow much you are looking for if you want. I'll then keep it mind while I'm finding out how bad it is! The Bonnie Banks are not that far away from here

Al2O3 said:

Well, I don't know what I'm going to find when I take the head off, so you never know.
That would have been strapped to an auto gearbox wouldn't it?
How much do you want for it?
You can PM me the details an dhow much you are looking for if you want. I'll then keep it mind while I'm finding out how bad it is! The Bonnie Banks are not that far away from here

Click to expand...

Yup it was on to a auto box but I sent the flywheel ect to another member as I don't need the auto bits
as my 90 is a 300 aswell . Not sure on a price matey let me stew on it, youl get a good deal though