PB Challenger owners

I placed a "Water Watch" system in prior to the fuel filter and pump on my Hilux. It is not a fuel filter, but a water catch with sensor and audible alarm. So far we have had no issues with contaminated fuel. We did a trial and injected some water into the water watch, and everything worked as is should. The extra dash light came on, and the annoying buzzer set off. I did not place an extra fuel filter after the water watch and prior to the Toyota setup and it could have caused more problems than what its worth. Fuel flow restrictions is the main concern, and advised it was not necessary. The water watch is not a flow restriction. only a precaution measure prior to the toyota setup. If you stop immediately, the contamination should not reach the filter and pump in my case, but I do carry spare filters to change should this happen to be on the safe side.

Stromster
Is that V Strom related?

The Water Watch works different to a filter and the two should not be considered and judged against each other.

The WW warns of water suddenly being present and you can then do something about it's presence.
In most OE filters with a water sensors, they are merely a water "level" sensor and will warn if water gets to a certain level. However, the water may be there for 6 months or more before it accumulates to the level of warning. This method does little for preventing water presence from microscopically finding it's way into the fuel system.

The WW also does not stop water, or filter, it merely warns when it is there in very small concentrations, ie before trouble begins to manifest itself.

An additional filter (with dewatering capabilities) may not warn of water presence or it's sudden appearance in the fuel lines, (you should check frequently). What the additional filter then does is try to eliminate to a bowl, any water which is leaving the tank.
This filter may also begin to restrict with heavy water presence and warn you via Poor performance. All this then should be happening before the OE filter systems of warning.

Looking at each item and EXACTLY what they provide in warning, performance and filtering, or not, requires serious consideration before choosing what you want.

If you want warning and additional filtering then the product you choose should do both. Many do not do both.

I had the dash light come on several times in a troopy I had. Water in fuel. No dramas..just stop car and replace fuel filter, prime and on your way. Drained old filter and water was only just over the sensor. On my Pajero (2014) I have fitted the Donaldson auxiliary filter after the Pajero one as the factory Pajero filter has the water alert fixed to it.

At 10,000klms the factory unit gets changed and 15,000 for the auxillary. MM maintenance is above these figures. Toyota is even more (30,000klms I think). I,ve seen plenty of filters changed at various times (cut them open) and many are still in reasonable condition at 8-10,000klms. Filters are inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. The Donaldson aux is a 3micron so nothing will get through it. It has a very high flow rate and have no effect on engine performance or warranty of car.

I believe anyone with a crd engine who doesn't have an auxillary filter is taking a big risk on an expensive part of the engine to fix.