I have a 2008 CTD with 75k miles. I deleted the pfg,egr with a sinister diesel kit, 5in turbo back exhaust and H&S mini maxx. 
The truck ran 100% perfect. I fueled up 3/4 tank from Kroger grocery gas station and the truck ran fine, the next day driving home from work, the truck started to sputter a bit while pulling into my driveway. As i accelerated a bit there was no power and a bunch of white smoke. I shut the truck off and it would not restart. I checked for codes and there were no DTC's i opened the diesel water separator valve and a heavy stream was pouring out, i re primed a few times and bam! It started and ran fine. I let it idle there was no white smoke, i shut off the motor and tried to re start and it would not fire. I opened the the water separator valve and a large amount of fluid came out... started it again and it was missing bad with white smoke and the smell from the exhaust was, if i could explain "condensation type smell, like starting a gas engine in the morning" i hear the truck priming perfectly fine. I am new to Diesel engines and need help/guidance on what to start tackling on first. Could it be water in fuel? The tuner? Injectors? Lift pump? My fuel line pressure reads 6ksi idle on the gauge... please help

What kind of fluid drains out of the separator? Is it mostly water? It does not take a lot of water to mess things up.

You can thank Kroger for a tank full of water most likely. I only get fuel from high volume locations (like truck stops). Or you might be geled up. What have the temperatures been outside?

Both my trucks have a large water separating filter before the lift pump, So it can't chop the water into little droplets.

 

They have clear bowls so you can see when to drain, but most important, It helps the smaller factory filter last longer by not having to do all the work.

Edited January 22, 20178 yr by JAG1

In freezing weather you have to be careful because water will freeze in the filter and possibly in the fuel lines too. Causing all kinds of issues ranging from poor performance to no start at all. Gelled fuel is a different story and typically be dealt with by using anti-gel product. Water though there is no way to fix frozen water in fuel other than heat the vehicle up in an enclosed space.

I turn that little drain nozzle once in awhile and drain any water out resting on the filter bottom.