Author Topic: Water in gas tank (Read 5338 times)

banditcilik · « **on:** April 11, 2006, 03:05:59 AM »

I've got clogged water passage on my gas tank and accidentally let water drip to my gas tank when I opened it after a wash.
Should I prevent from turn on the engine (I'm thinking that water could caused water hammering inside the cylinder), and drain out all the fluid inside the tank? Or just run the engine as usual hoping the water will burnt through combustion?

Krautwagen · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:16:39 AM »

If it's just a little bit, don't worry about it. If you're more concerned, go grab a bottle of Heat (iso alcohol) from the LAPS. Burn up that tank as quickly as possible. and fill with fresh gas.

MasterM3 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2006, 12:23:14 PM »

if its just a little water, you can run the engine and it will get burnt up. some water got into my engine and the idle was a bit unstable at times, but i took it to a shop and they said just run the tank till empty and fill it up. i've gone through 3 tanks since then and no problems.

tannerismyhero · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2006, 03:47:42 PM »

I had water in my 1200 when I got it. I just couldnt figure out why the hell it was throwing off so much white smoke. I ended up draining the gas tank and putting fresh gas in. I think there was quite a bit in there. If you think about it, water gets in gas tanks all the time (rusting tanks, frozen gas lines in cars) that is what heet is for tho.

banditcilik · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2006, 03:10:15 AM »

It's about 5-6 teaspoon I guess. Is it considered little?
I wouldn't worry this much if it is a single cylinder it would stop the engine before hammering.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2006, 11:55:27 AM »

How much gas is in the tank? You can't go wrong by draining it and starting with fresh gas, but it the tanks is full and you don't want to throw away $10-15 (more if you're outside the US), you can put some fuel drier, like Heet, in it.

Whatever you do, DO NOT just dump straight isopropyl alcohol into the tank. While straight alcohol will mix with water and it will mix with gasoline, when you put the three together without the extra chemicals of a fuel drier, the alcohol will only mix with the water, creating a larger amount of unburnable fluid. This is a lesson I learned from the University of Hard Knocks.

kingkong666jp · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2006, 08:09:49 PM »

i heard that if you add fuel stabilzer in tank that will rid of water in fuel.

banditcilik · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2006, 02:43:31 AM »

Not much left on the gas tank, guess I'll drain it. However last time I drained it seems like my method is not 100% satisfactory. I just let the fuel through petcock but seems like small amount of liquid can not be drained completely.

Custom 600 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:43:22 AM »

This happened to me last week, I just drained the tank fully by removing the fuel tap on the bottm of the tank. Seemed to do the trick, I then ran the next half tank of fuel down to empty by leaving the tap on reserve. Haven't had any problems since. It was suprising what tiny little bits of crap came out of the tank when I drained it

glad I did now.

bonobandit4 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2006, 09:41:26 AM »

Quote from: "banditcilik"

Not much left on the gas tank, guess I'll drain it. However last time I drained it seems like my method is not 100% satisfactory. I just let the fuel through petcock but seems like small amount of liquid can not be drained completely.

You should remove the petcock. The openings in the reserve fuel leads are an inch above the bottom. Higher for the regular leads. Water sinks in gas... If it's a small amount, you may not get it out just by opening the petcock and draining. I'm going through this now myself... kinked water drain tubing. More on that in another thread later this morning. Good luck.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2006, 09:45:07 AM »

The way the tank is shaped, even with the tap totally removed, it's REALLY difficult to get all of the gas out of the tank.

Red01 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2006, 11:09:42 AM »

Drain it thru the petcock hole, then take the tank off and turn it upside-down...

PitterB4 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2006, 11:35:21 AM »

When did you get a B4, Paul?

There's a pretty good neck on the filler hole that make it less than desireable for emptying it.

Red01 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2006, 01:01:45 PM »

The bigger Bandits do, too.

Shake it.

banditcilik · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2006, 12:07:02 PM »

Well, I turned the tank upside down when I did my paintjob and you're right it won't emptied.
Now before I do something silly, does the petcock removal can be done by limited knowhow guy? I think I read somewhere in this board not to mess with the petcock.