Water in Gas Tanks

[larry & kaye kepple]

My generator quit working although the coach engine was working fine.
Upon diagnosing the generator problem I found water in the generators'
carb. and when pumping with fuel pump into can I was getting about 1/3
water. So I jacked up the right side of the coach to get water to drain
to the drain plugs on the tanks and then drained out the water/gas. In
the rear tank which I suspect is the auxillary tank I got about 1 and
1/2 gal water. About half this much in the front tank. Had to drain out
5 or six gal. fuel too before it ran clear. This solved gen. problem. I
suspect there is still about a quart or more water in tanks.

Should I add something to gas to dissolve water. A proprane dealer told
me to add methanol. About a quart to tankful.

Is the rear tank the auxillary?

Is the switchover valve a solenoid. If so does it draw current when in
aux. position?

Could this much water simply be condensation over the years?

Larry. 73

 

[terry skinner]

the alcohol that you purchase at the auto parts store is the same alcohol
that the refinery adds in the name of pollution. It does the same thing for
them. Picks up the water out of the fuel storage tanks and sells it to you
for a dollar a gallon. There is a point where it won't hold any more water
no mater how much alcohol is added.The other thing is that if you see that
big truck at your favorite service station, stay away. Pumping all that gas
into the tank will stir the pot and bring any water and Debris up off the
bottom and into your tank. Learned this from the motorcycle days. The jets
in a motorcycle are too small to pass water. Something to do with the
surface tension of water. When the cars started getting smaller and using
fuel ejection the problem got epidemic and rather than fixing the refining
process it was easier to add alcohol in the name of pollution. Maybe one of
the fuel/water separators used on commercial. boats would be the answer.

Feel free to push the delete button now. Just my .02

Terry & Diane Skinner
Webfooted in Washington
'76 Glenbrook

 

[john dolan]

> My new Buick was putting out the sulphur smell. I
>took it in to the dealer and they said they had bulletin from GM saying
>not to use the same brand of gas all the time. Seems the additives build
>up, or something. So I began buying different brands and the problem
>went away.

Thanks for posting this info, it is very, very interesting. I would be
interested in knowing what brand and grade of gas you were using in your
Buick before you started to switch around.

- --
Regards,

John
74 Glacier

 

[richard bachert]

Terry, Good stuff. Been there, done that, wondered why. No fun. Now I know!
Have passed this to everyone I know who operates an internal combustion
engine. BIG list!
Thanks from all of us.
Dick 75 PB in Hotlanta

>the alcohol that you purchase at the auto parts store is the same alcohol
>that the refinery adds in the name of pollution. It does the same thing for
>them. Picks up the water out of the fuel storage tanks and sells it to you
>for a dollar a gallon. There is a point where it won't hold any more water
>no mater how much alcohol is added.The other thing is that if you see that
>big truck at your favorite service station, stay away. Pumping all that gas
>into the tank will stir the pot and bring any water and Debris up off the
>bottom and into your tank. Learned this from the motorcycle days. The jets
>in a motorcycle are too small to pass water. Something to do with the
>surface tension of water. When the cars started getting smaller and using
>fuel ejection the problem got epidemic and rather than fixing the refining
>process it was easier to add alcohol in the name of pollution. Maybe one of
>the fuel/water separators used on commercial. boats would be the answer.
>
>Feel free to push the delete button now. Just my .02
>
>Terry & Diane Skinner
>Webfooted in Washington
>'76 Glenbrook
>
>

 

[john dolan]

> I was buying from 7-Eleven, 87 octane, and I'm told it is Citgo. I
> didn't get the impression from the dealer that the brand was bad, but
> one shouldn't use the same brand all the time.

If I was the dealer, I would not want to give the impression that I was
saying that Citgo's or whomever's private label brand of gas was bad (or
high in Sulfur compounds). They get less arguments, I bet, if they say
you should switch around and it also covers the case where the same
generic and smelly burning gas is sold to several generic station-chains
in the area. I don't know for sure, but my BS detector went off when
they told you the additives build-up, if you use the same brand of gas
all the time.

- --
Regards,

John
74 Glacier