dfender fuel filter in rear wheel arch?

smith94rffn said:

this morning I had the water in fuel ash light come on but by the time I got where I was going (about 5 miles) it had gone off. Checked the filter in the rear arch and all is well no leaks etc. Guessing maybe just dodgy sensor. Wondering if anyone has made a guard for the filter as it's in a i ultra of a stupid place.

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discomania said:

First and foremost, the light is an indication of water in your filter - not leaks or issues other than that.

Diesel can absorb up to 5% by volume of water, this reduces the colder it gets - usually this will pass clean through the system without any harm. Once the diesel has absorbed what it can it will start to settle out which can cause issues. So I'd take the message and assume it is correct for now.

Water in the fuel is usually caused by condensation in storage and vehicle tanks - a bit of water inevitably ends up in fuel when you consider all the transferring about that goes on. This time of the year is worst for water due to condensation cycles.

If the light came on it is more than likely that it detected enough water to set it off - or the switch is knackered, however, it was cold this morning, iced up water in fuel can cause issues in filters.

I'd use the drain on the bottom of the filter and drain off about 4 tablespoons off after it has sat for some time (so water diesel is well separated out).

Then see what happens over the next few days.

Keep fuel tanks topped right up in the winter.

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Brown said:

Yes, there's usually a metal guard round the filter that's attached to those flanges either side of it.

Not all models were fitted with a sensor. Maybe yours is one that never hand one. If present, it would go in the bottom of the filter canister. But there is no wiring visible in the picture so I doubt that it ever had one.

Despite the apparent vulnerability, I've never seen any reports of people saying they've knocked one off. The alloy filter head sometimes turns out to be a bit crumbly and breaks up, but that's generally age related and not the result of encountering an obstacle.

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smith94rffn said:

There is a white connector up to the left running over the chassis rail that looks to have been taped up and the tape has come off.

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bankz5152 said:

Water/much in the connector causing it to bridge and set the light off. The sensor is just utter ****e.

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discomania said:

The sensor is pants because of the way they work - it relies on a float which is of a density less than water but greater than diesel so it will only float in water. Small moving part in a moving vehicle that gets gummed up at the slightest chance - bad plan!

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smith94rffn said:

View attachment 139246 Seems to be no sensor connected to the bottom, is there a reason that it might not be hooked up? Didn't think the light would come in if it's not connected

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KISSMYAURA said:

View attachment 139452 View attachment 139453
Your metal shield is missing, it fits onto the peg and hole on the left of your filter picture. Not expensive find them on ebay an give it a blast with waxoyl or similar. Just stops stones whapping your filter or pipes, and keeps it marginally cleaner than without, but it does do a good job of protecting the water sensor.

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discomania said:

As he says - fit one to provide mechanical protection but the best thing I have ever seen done with one of these stupidly located filters is a plastic bag wrapped over the whole lot and cable tied - CharlesY on the forum does this, when he goes to change the filter it looks brand new and just screws off unlike the majority of them that are jammed on with filth and resembles parts of the Titanic!

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