BJ60 3B how do I drain the water separator?

[digitalmo]

I have recently purchased an 84 BJ60 with 3B and just noticed that someone clipped the sensor wire off so close to the plug that I can't solder the wire back on because there is no wire to connect to.

Now I must drain the separator because I have no way to know if there is water in it. The question I have is how do I drain the water from the water separator?

Can I just loosen the bolt on the bottom of the separator and drain it or do I need to remove the entire bowl?

 

[UpsideDown]

The factory frame mounted water separator is easy to drain - loosen the gas cap - open the bottom bolt on the water separator with a 10mm wrench a few turns, then open the top bolt a few turns, diesel should come out of the screws (which has a hole drilled in it, but is often rusted shut). Then close the bottom screw, and wait for fuel to come out of the top screw, then close it as well and do your gas cap back up.

If the bolt's drilling is plugged, then remove it and clear the blockage.

Be warned: the water separators are often very rusted from the inside out and may not have much serviceable life left. If this is the case, then go and get a new one from a truck supply place (P&R Western Star, for example) and put it in place of the Toyota "soup can" water separator. There are many good ones out there, try to get one that has a clear bowl so you can see if it's got water in it.

You should also replace your engine-mounted fuel filter while you're at it.

~John