Water in gas: any experience?

[Huw Powell]

So were there lots of cars on the side of the road just downstream of 
this place?

Anyway, let's look at it step by step.

First, I suppose there is a general worry of the water encouraging 
corrosion anywhere from the fuel/water tank to the exhaust tips.  I'll 
ignore that the rest of the as a "given".

The fuel tank ought to be ok.

The fuel pump might not like pumping water, I think most of them are 
designed to take advantage of the lubricating properties of gasoline.

I doubt much harm could come to the fuel lines.

I doubt water would "hurt" the fuel metering system or injectors.

The spark plugs might have been gunked.

I'd be concerned if enough water got into a combustion chamber to 
hydrolock it.

I doubt it was good for the OXS and cat, but it might not have hurt them.

So, it's time to get ALL the water out, as much as possible, anyway.

I wouldn't use the fuel pump to do it.  Most garages have a manual pump 
for draining tanks, I'd use one of those to get as much out of the tank 
as possible.

Remove the pump and dry it, WD-40 might be good to play with here.

Open up fuel lines and blow them clear with compressed air.  Don't 
forget the return line!

Pull the spark plugs to blow out the combustion chambers with air and to 
check them.  Spray a little WD-40 in the cylinders (just a squirt).

Replace the fuel filter.

When it's as dry as possible, add a gallon or 2 of real gasoline with 
whatever fuel treatment products are available.

Turn the engine over by hand a few times.

See if it will fire up.  If it does, run it carefully for 5-10 minutes.

Change the oil and filter.

Run it again until the fuel tank is almost empty.

Refill the tank with real fuel to dilute whatever may be left.

If it doesn't fire up, take the insurance company's money...

Good luck

- Huw



On 6/3/2013 9:02 AM, Richard van der Hoff wrote:
 > On 03/06/13 13:24, Kent McLean wrote:
 >> Since the south of France may not have it, they may be able to use
 >> some methanol or isopropyl alcohol.  That is, unless someone pumped
 >> water into the tank.
 >
 > I fear it's more like the latter. The gas in question came from a proper
 > pump at a motorway service station. I don't know what sort of
 > concentration the water was, but I think we're at least into draining
 > the tank and flushing territory, rather than just adding methanol.
 >
 > My question really was around what is likely to have been damaged by
 > trying to run on water: injectors? seals? cats? The insurance company
 > are talking about writing the car off, so I'm just trying to get an idea
 > of what I might be dealing with.
 >
 >
 >
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