Is water in fuel a common problem ?
Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:29
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Dean
The electric fuel pump that pumps the fuel from the second tank to the main tank stopped working, one day it worked the next it didn't.
The manufacturer claimed water had got in and stuffed it.
Anyone else had this happen to them and know if it's a common thing, and where and how did it get in ?
The pump was replaced under warranty regardless.
Dean
Reply By: Ted G - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:39
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:39
Hi Dean
Water will get in to the tanks either from the service station tanks or due to condensation with in the tanks of the car.
I have for years used a product called Fuel Set by Liquid engineering in WA.
It converts the water into the fuel and then burns.
The dilution rate is 4,000 to 1 and double for the first dose.
Well worth using.
Regards
Ted
AnswerID:
395300
Follow Up By: landseka - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:52
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:52
Wow, why not FILL the tank with water and toss in a BIIIg dose of that stuff. Cheap motoring...lol
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Follow Up By: Moose - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:58
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:58
"It converts the water into the fuel "
Perhaps you would care to re-word. As stated it is obviously rubbish because you cannot convert water into petrol or diesel!
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663744
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 15:06
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 15:06
Lighten up.
What he means is that it absorbs the water and allows it to pass through with the fuel.
I used to run a jetboat in Fiordland in NZ and its the one of the wettest areas in the world and all our fuel was carted in Jerry cans.
We used to dump about a hallf gallon of Meths into each 24 gallon petrol tank to absorb any water that got in when filling.
worked a treat.
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663745
Follow Up By: blackmax11 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 15:16
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 15:16
If the fuel concerned was an Ethanol mix (E10), it absorbs water from the humidity in the air. The longer the time the more water. The water then goes to the bottom of the tank, taking some of the Ethanol with it.
Ethanol is also a great solvent and will clean all the gunk out of the fuel system and take to they filter and sometimes beyond, causing all sorts of engine problems.
Ethanol also gives less power per litre than standard fuel, so uses more to go same distance (3% to 7%).
As for the fuel treatment, there are such items and they do work within reason. What happens is the dry fuel treatment forms a coating around the water molecule's, allows to travel through the system and get inducted in the normal cycle with clean fuel vapour. There is of course a limit to the amount of water it will treat and allow to be effective in the induction cycle. These products "Dry Fuel" by Quicksilver is one, have been available for many years for Marine use and do work
well.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 22:45
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 22:45
Come across a disco diesel at the pumps one day and the bloke put some brake fluid in, says he has been doing it for years to disperse any water in the system.
I had never heard of it before, i use regular doses of the chemtec diesel additive, seems to work ok.
Pesty
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Reply By: Nargun51 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 16:37
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 16:37
Do you live in a humid environment?
Do you drive with the second tank less than full all the time?
The part of the tank that does not contain fuel will be filled with air; if you live in a humid area this air will contain an amount of moisture. A day where the temperature is below dew point, the moisture will condense out of the air and being heavier than the fuel will
pool at the bottom of the tank. From memory(its been over 30 years since I did physics), if the day warms up, the fuel will form a gas; pressurising the tank which will inhibit the return of the moisture to the air in the tank.
The easiest way to prevent it is to keep your tank as full as possible.
Never run your tank out of fuel as it will draw the heavier crud at the bottom of the tank through the fuel system.
AnswerID:
395310
Follow Up By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 20:07
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 20:07
"Never run your tank out of fuel as it will draw the heavier crud at the bottom of the tank through the fuel system."
The fuel pickup is in the bottom of the tank. The heavier crud is in the bottom of the tank. Why would running out of fuel make any difference?
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Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 20:49
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 20:49
Lex M, Because thats all thats left !!!. CRAP! There is a gap between the sediment and fuel pick up point, No fuel then under suction the crap can be drawn up the line till the thing stops.
Cheers Axle.
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Follow Up By: fisho64 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 22:13
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 22:13
pickup isnt in the bottom, its just above to allow the bleep and water to settle
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