Water in my petrol tank

Laney760 · Dec 13th, 2015, 16:41

As I normally do this time of year I emptied the leftover 5 litre cans of petrol used for my garden power tools into the car's tank rather than have them sit overwinter to go stale. One with a couple of litres in didn't have a lid, it was lost but I figured that as it had been under a lean-to rain couldn't have gotten into it. Duh, very bad decision. Put the petrol into the car, started her up, oh boy, is she running badly. Stuttering like mad. I didn't think about condensation. It's not such a tragedy in that once she warms up (say within a mile) she switches over to lpg and then runs perfectly but nevertheless for that first mile of my journey she is slow, lacking in power and spluttering and that could be dangerous. I thought by adding more petrol and going for a run I would push the bad petrol through but that didn't work and I've read that in order for the water to combust I have to add some meths to the tank and that the meths and water combine and the meths combusts thereby getting rid of the water. I've also read that I can use Wynns

Any advice anybody please?

chris-oxon · Dec 13th, 2015, 18:58

This is a common problem in the U.S. as any moisture in the fuel lines can easily freeze in extreme temperatures - with the result that the car just cuts out and stops. This happened to me in Minnesota many years ago at about -20degrees. So U.S. accessory shops sell lots of suitable fuel treatments - and I used to use them in every tank of fuel when I lived there.

Not so much demand obviously in the U.K., but I did some searching on the internet and came up with following product, which might help if you can get it!

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motors...ith-antifreeze

phil1968 · Dec 13th, 2015, 19:31

Yes use meths, it makes the petrol absorb the water instead of it separating out & the engine will then burn it (as strange as that sounds). I did it with a tank of water contaminated petrol on one of my bikes after recommendation & it worked :-)

Clan · Dec 13th, 2015, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil1968

Yes use meths, it makes the petrol absorb the water instead of it separating out & the engine will then burn it (as strange as that sounds). I did it with a tank of water contaminated petrol on one of my bikes after recommendation & it worked :-)

I remember volvo recommending in one of the old green manuals white spirit to do the same job , i.e. emulsify the water to allow it to go through the system and be burned .

Laney760 · Dec 13th, 2015, 20:26

Thanks everybody. I'd already ordered some meths when Chris posted, if the meths doesn't work then I'll order Chris's recommended product

Just been outside to make sure she'll start in the cold in the morning, have to give her extra gas as soon as she fires up....

migrator · Dec 13th, 2015, 22:04

If the meths trick does not work, you can always drink it - waste not want not ...

DaveNP · Dec 13th, 2015, 23:29

Seem to remember a thread in the past about water in fuel and someone said it was more common with boats and they have additives to deal with it, might be worth a chat with a boat yard or chandlery.

oragex · Dec 14th, 2015, 17:07

It is better not to use gasoline that had sat for a few months. Also, you mention gasoline was kept in a recipient without a lid, normally gasoline would evaporate (and smell) quite rapidly in such situation.

I would rather remove the gas pump cover and siphoning the remaining gasoline.

green van man · Dec 15th, 2015, 06:37

Has the 760 a tank drain plug?
Petrol will sit on top of water if left to settle so if a drain plug is available the first fluid out is the water. If not can you gain access to the tank via the the fuel gauge sender, if so drop pipe to bottom of tank and suck/ syphon the water out, you could try this via the filler cap but its ensuring the pipe is at the bottom of the tank that would be the problem.

Paul.

dingov70 · Dec 15th, 2015, 07:29

Morning Laney , just been reading your tale of woe . A relatively cheap solution is to buy a bottle of the following :- Briggs & Stratton fuel fit . I use this on plant equipment to good effect , especially for engines that only get used rarely & left with modern fuel in them .

It also helps with slowing down the effects of fuel turning stale when stored , another cause of poor running on petrol , it may well be worth a try as it can for want of a better phrase mop up any water lurking elsewhere in your fuel system that can / will create problems

Dec 13th, 2015, 16:41	#1
Laney760 VOC Member Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 12:17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Henley on Thames	Water in my petrol tank As I normally do this time of year I emptied the leftover 5 litre cans of petrol used for my garden power tools into the car's tank rather than have them sit overwinter to go stale. One with a couple of litres in didn't have a lid, it was lost but I figured that as it had been under a lean-to rain couldn't have gotten into it. Duh, very bad decision. Put the petrol into the car, started her up, oh boy, is she running badly. Stuttering like mad. I didn't think about condensation. It's not such a tragedy in that once she warms up (say within a mile) she switches over to lpg and then runs perfectly but nevertheless for that first mile of my journey she is slow, lacking in power and spluttering and that could be dangerous. I thought by adding more petrol and going for a run I would push the bad petrol through but that didn't work and I've read that in order for the water to combust I have to add some meths to the tank and that the meths and water combine and the meths combusts thereby getting rid of the water. I've also read that I can use Wynns Any advice anybody please? __________________ [IMG]Volvo2 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG] Current '96 945 2.3 lpt - Aurigas, tailgate spoiler, sports grille, lpg fuelled Previous '88 764 TD, '92 945 TD, '88 745, '81 244 DL

Dec 13th, 2015, 18:58	#2
chris-oxon Junior Member Last Online: May 6th, 2016 15:26 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Henley-on-Thames	This is a common problem in the U.S. as any moisture in the fuel lines can easily freeze in extreme temperatures - with the result that the car just cuts out and stops. This happened to me in Minnesota many years ago at about -20degrees. So U.S. accessory shops sell lots of suitable fuel treatments - and I used to use them in every tank of fuel when I lived there. Not so much demand obviously in the U.K., but I did some searching on the internet and came up with following product, which might help if you can get it! http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motors...ith-antifreeze __________________ Chris - in Oxfordshire (V70 - D5 185 - MY07)

Dec 13th, 2015, 20:26	#5
Laney760 VOC Member Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 12:17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Henley on Thames	Thanks everybody. I'd already ordered some meths when Chris posted, if the meths doesn't work then I'll order Chris's recommended product Just been outside to make sure she'll start in the cold in the morning, have to give her extra gas as soon as she fires up.... __________________ [IMG]Volvo2 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG] Current '96 945 2.3 lpt - Aurigas, tailgate spoiler, sports grille, lpg fuelled Previous '88 764 TD, '92 945 TD, '88 745, '81 244 DL

Dec 13th, 2015, 22:04	#6
migrator Aye - him again Last Online: Yesterday 20:08 Join Date: May 2001 Location: HAWICK	If the meths trick does not work, you can always drink it - waste not want not ... __________________ (Ouch - that's another knuckle ...) VOC 11817

Dec 13th, 2015, 23:29	#7
DaveNP Non VOC Member Last Online: May 29th, 2024 18:03 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Milton Keynes	Seem to remember a thread in the past about water in fuel and someone said it was more common with boats and they have additives to deal with it, might be worth a chat with a boat yard or chandlery. __________________ David V70 2.5 10v Torslanda Manual 98 Sreg

Dec 13th, 2015, 19:31	#3
phil1968 Master Member Last Online: Jul 27th, 2020 23:19 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Chatham	Yes use meths, it makes the petrol absorb the water instead of it separating out & the engine will then burn it (as strange as that sounds). I did it with a tank of water contaminated petrol on one of my bikes after recommendation & it worked :-)

Dec 14th, 2015, 17:07	#8
oragex Premier Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2021 21:24 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Coldnada	It is better not to use gasoline that had sat for a few months. Also, you mention gasoline was kept in a recipient without a lid, normally gasoline would evaporate (and smell) quite rapidly in such situation. I would rather remove the gas pump cover and siphoning the remaining gasoline. __________________ Several Volvo Repair Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ECTts0FSVSOT_c

Dec 15th, 2015, 06:37	#9
green van man Premier Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2024 09:21 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ffos y Ffin	Has the 760 a tank drain plug? Petrol will sit on top of water if left to settle so if a drain plug is available the first fluid out is the water. If not can you gain access to the tank via the the fuel gauge sender, if so drop pipe to bottom of tank and suck/ syphon the water out, you could try this via the filler cap but its ensuring the pipe is at the bottom of the tank that would be the problem. Paul.

Dec 15th, 2015, 07:29	#10
dingov70 Master Member Last Online: May 29th, 2024 18:59 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Blackpool	Morning Laney , just been reading your tale of woe . A relatively cheap solution is to buy a bottle of the following :- Briggs & Stratton fuel fit . I use this on plant equipment to good effect , especially for engines that only get used rarely & left with modern fuel in them . It also helps with slowing down the effects of fuel turning stale when stored , another cause of poor running on petrol , it may well be worth a try as it can for want of a better phrase mop up any water lurking elsewhere in your fuel system that can / will create problems __________________ To stupidity & beyond

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