URGENT Water in fuel tank

[MTD]

I have a 1996 Ford Transit Custom campervan. Yesterday my son filled up the water tank for a trip. Turns out her was wrong and filled up the diesel fuel tank. I found this out because I started the van, it ran briefly and stalled, and then I quickly diagnosed the problem, freaked out for awhile.

I need to get this thing running ASAP as I have to travel with it immediately (not a pleasure trip, moving). I siphoned as much as I could out of the tank, disconnected the fuel line from the fuel filter and pumped about another gallon our of the tank.

Now I am going to remove the tank and empty it (hopefully), reinstall and put in fresh diesel and a additive to break down any water, pump clean fuel through the lines all the way to the injectors (lines are disconnected here as well), reconnect lines and try to start it.

I could use all the guidance I can get. How difficult is it to drop the tank (I see two straps with long bolts)? What else should I do before I turn this thing on? Anything else you can think of.

Thank you very much

[MTD]

Hello. Help! Yesterday my son accidentally put water into my diesel fuel tank instead of the fresh water tank on my campervan. I discovered this because started the vehicle, the water in fuel light came on, and the van stalled. Then figured out what had happened.

I am using this to move, several hundred miles. It needs to run asap.

I have siphoned as much as I can out of the fuel tank. Then I disconnected the fuel lines at the water filter and the injectors. Then I pumped another 1/2 gallon out using the key/starter.
Right now I am dropping the fuel tank to empty anything else out I can.

My plan is to empty the tank, reinstall, fill with clean fuel and additives to hopefully remove any other moisture, pump this new fuel through the lines to the water filter, reconnect the line there, pump more through the filter, reconnect the other side of the fuel filter, pump more clean fuel through to the injectors, reconnect the lines at the injectors.

Then I am thinking of trying to start the vehicle.

I can use any advise at all you have on this process. What else should I be doing? I appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Thank.you very much.

[MinorMatt]

Syphon or pump as much out as you can. If you leave it to settle for a while the diesel and water will seperate out and you should be able to recover the diesel.

Once the tanks is as empty as possible put diesel in.

I would then disconnect the pipe that goes between the lift pump (passenger side down the pack of the engine) and the fuel filter.

Crank the engine (don't let the starter get too hot!) until its diesel coming out.

Reconnect pipe, fill a new fuel filter with diesel/injector cleaner and refit.

Start the engine. It may take a little bit of cranking. Run for 30 seconds or so

Drain the fuel filter (using the tap on the bottom) until only diesel comes out. You will likely need to do this a few times until you get just diesel.

Then use the van - drain the fuel filter at the beginning of every day, or if the engine starts misbehaving, until there stops being any evidence of water in the diesel.