bad gas ??

[padronanniversary]

What do you guys do for bad gas ? I got some bad gas at a gas station in a little town and my car runs like **** ! I already siphoned as much gas as I can, still have a half tank. Any ideas ?

 

[soob]

You might have to disconnect a fuel line and use the car's fuel pump to drain the tank. It may be necessary to hotwire the pump to get it to run without the ignition. Then just fill it up and hope it dillutes whatever's left. You might also add some fuel stabilizer.

That's what I'd do, anyway, but I'm no expert.

 

[padronanniversary]

does fuel stabalizer get rid of the water in the gas ? i sure hope its not sediments . I hate small town gas stations.

I took my obdii reader, and it looks as though its all pollution control stuff that is going off. I through some octane booster in there, and the engine is running a better. But still, I guess its a matter of getting rid of the gas. So far, no knocking from what I can hear.

 

[plinker]

If it's a small amount of water, some winter isapropyl alcohol might work. Seafoam or Stabil ethanol formula may also help

It'd be best to get as much gas out as possible either way.

You might have to disconnect a fuel line and use the car's fuel pump to drain the tank.

+1 This does work pretty good.

 

[therealwormey]

If it's a small amount of water, some winter isapropyl alcohol might work. Seafoam or Stabil ethanol formula may also help

It'd be best to get as much gas out as possible either way.



+1 This does work pretty good.

ditto,,,,,,,seafoam,delete old gas,,,,

 

[Herb]

I've never had a problem with bad gas, but my wife would probably disagree!

 

[diesel research]

It's not a matter of small town or large town (there are 2 million people inside the city limits here, and another 4 million just outside) and not a matter of certain brands.

We often haul bulk fuel from the refinery to the fuel farm, and from there at the fuel farm you can see a wide variety of brands filling tankers and going to all sorts of local stores.

While the fuel is running through the nationwide pipelines, it also has no idea what brand it is either.

I know no one has mentioned brands yet, but it is bound to come up.

Now on the individual level, there are some stores who maintain their tanks and pumps less than others, but not on a brand or city size level. Could happen anywhere, anytime.

Look up your local reporting laws, the station you refueled from, may owe you something. If you buy spoiled meat from the store, you don't just grin and bear it...if they don't know they have a problem, keeping quiet won't help.

 

[Lotek]

Your best bet is to drop the tank and clean it out properly, the sooner the better, otherwise there may be a puddle of dirty water that sits in the bottom of the tank, causing problems intermittently for months. Change the fuel filter and add a bottle of Techroline/Seafoam/your additive of choice. If too much gets in the injectors, you might need to replace some of those too. Pumping it out doesn't get the last half gallon or so, and you risk burning out the pump.

 

[soob]

You may be able to reach the inside of the tank from the top, if it's under a trunk. Then you could take the pump out and pump the gas out from that hole, then clean the tank through it as well. May be easier than dropping the tank.

I definitely agree about the fuel filter, forgot to mention that. Though I don't see why pumping the old gas out would hurt the pump. That's what it does, after all.

 

[diesel research]

You may be able to reach the inside of the tank from the top, if it's under a trunk. Then you could take the pump out and pump the gas out from that hole, then clean the tank through it as well. May be easier than dropping the tank.

Many imported cars such as nissan or bmw are even easier to access. Remember changing the pump on my old bmw when I was 18 in 10 minutes, never got under the car. Right under the seat.

Hardest part was undoing the seat latches. Pump itself was cakewalk. Same goes for nissan too.

 

[treasureseeker]

Why not take a gas sample in something glass to verify what you have before tearing your car apart and if you have an import you may have a drain plug in the bottom of the tank. If you have water the sample will have an easy to spot level of water seperated from the gas.

 

[diesel research]

Some antifreeze makes it even easy to separate and spot.

All of the water doesn't just fall out even though oil and water "don't mix", gets emulsified a bit like mayo. Pump/any internal return keeps it stirred a bit.

After settling, the antifreeze level in bottom of test sample "grows", indicating water content.

 

[DRhodes]

It's not a matter of small town or large town (there are 2 million people inside the city limits here, and another 4 million just outside) and not a matter of certain brands.

We often haul bulk fuel from the refinery to the fuel farm, and from there at the fuel farm you can see a wide variety of brands filling tankers and going to all sorts of local stores.

While the fuel is running through the nationwide pipelines, it also has no idea what brand it is either.

I know no one has mentioned brands yet, but it is bound to come up.

Now on the individual level, there are some stores who maintain their tanks and pumps less than others, but not on a brand or city size level. Could happen anywhere, anytime.

Look up your local reporting laws, the station you refueled from, may owe you something. If you buy spoiled meat from the store, you don't just grin and bear it...if they don't know they have a problem, keeping quiet won't help.

It is the same fuel, however some brands add "ethenol". Harley Davidson advises against running any brand with ethenol. You used to be able to count on BP for not having ethenol in the fuel, however they recently started adding up to 10%.

 

[Lotek]

You may be able to reach the inside of the tank from the top, if it's under a trunk. Then you could take the pump out and pump the gas out from that hole, then clean the tank through it as well. May be easier than dropping the tank.

I definitely agree about the fuel filter, forgot to mention that. Though I don't see why pumping the old gas out would hurt the pump. That's what it does, after all.

It's when you run it dry that kills it, voice of experience speaking.

 

[soob]

Mine always seem to go out with a full tank of gas. Must be my luck.

 

[Lotek]

Some antifreeze makes it even easy to separate and spot.

All of the water doesn't just fall out even though oil and water "don't mix", gets emulsified a bit like mayo. Pump/any internal return keeps it stirred a bit.

After settling, the antifreeze level in bottom of test sample "grows", indicating water content.

I remember doing that using alcohol, before we got the fancy tester, but antifreeze is usually at hand, good to remember.

 

[diesel research]

It is the same fuel, however some brands add "ethenol". Harley Davidson advises against running any brand with ethenol. You used to be able to count on BP for not having ethenol in the fuel, however they recently started adding up to 10%.

Isn't much of a brand thing, it's usually a statewide mandate. Some are just now putting up the legally required sign that ethanol "may" be in there up to 10%.

I remember seeing these stickers atleast 15 years ago.

Even so, it isn't blended at the station.

 

[TJH in OKC]

Are you sure that it is bad gas? 26 years ago I had a 1 year old Jeep that ran awful and was under warranty. The dealer said it was bad gas. They pulled and drained the tank and added new gas. When I picked it up it still ran like ****. I stuck my head in the engine bay and saw a flash--yep it was a burnt plug wire arcing to the head. I moved the burnt place on the wire away from the head and it smoothed right out. They wouldn't cover repairs and tow bill under warranty. They never got another nickel from me. Good luck. Tom

 

[DRhodes]

Isn't much of a brand thing, it's usually a statewide mandate. Some are just now putting up the legally required sign that ethanol "may" be in there up to 10%.

I remember seeing these stickers atleast 15 years ago.

Even so, it isn't blended at the station.

You can visit http://pure-gas.org/ and get a listing in your state of gas stations that contain 0% ethenol. I have one locally and personally I get about 1 mpg more by using ethenol free gasoline.

 

[plinker]

Usually premium gas (93 octane) doesnt have ethanol. At least up here anyway. The other two grades may contain up to 15% ethanol.


I had to clean out a small generator gas tank a month or so ago at work as the entire tank & carb was covered in a nice tar like varnish, due to the previous owner leaving gas in it. (the boss got it off craigs list apparently).

 

[diesel research]

You can visit http://pure-gas.org/ and get a listing in your state of gas stations that contain 0% ethenol. I have one locally and personally I get about 1 mpg more by using ethenol free gasoline.

None within 100 miles of here due to emissions laws. (checked your link) We also have to have those special gas pumps with vapor recovery.

 

[srmofo]

In the 10 years I have been wrenching professionally I have only come across bad gas once. Not old gas from sitting, but bad straight from the pump. However Ive heard this excuse many many times.

First you need to verify its actually the fuel thats causing your car to run like ****. It can be as simple as taking a sample. I know when I found that bad fuel it would separate. The owner ended up calling the fuel station and they verified that they had a problem with their tanks, and to send a copy of the repair invoice in and it would be paid in full. They would not state what the issue was even after I called them to find out what was mixed with the fuel. I told them if I cant verify what the other substance is, the repair is going to cost more. Still would not tell me. Sooooo....I ended up dropping the tank sending it out to have it steam cleaned, replace both pumps with OEM pumps(pacifica, and per customer request), flush the fuel lines with a cleaning agent and ran an injector flush on it.

 

[padronanniversary]

wow srmofo, how much was a bill like that ?

 

[srmofo]

wow srmofo, how much was a bill like that ?

I cant remember exactly but I would say up near the $2000 mark. Each pump was around $500. Add a diagnostic, labor, tank cleaning, shop supplies, and tax to that.

I tired to warn the station about cost, but they didnt care. The vehicle owner was afraid he might have problems later and since he had to sign a liability clause before receiving his check he wanted to make sure he wouldnt have a problem later down the road. That was the only way I could be 100% certain he wouldnt have any.

I kind of felt bad about replacing all that stuff that I thought would be okay, but since my reputation was on the line and I had no way of confirming what the other substance was, I had to. My customer was happy and in the end thats all that matters to me

 

[Wakefield]

At where I worked someone mixed some diesel fuel into a gascan for twostroke. A blower some of it was put into actually would run a little bit,terrible smoke. Like something on the Three Stooges.
I think there are politicians always trying to get the (mandatory) ethanol % increased in pump gas. Bad business as far as I see it. Someone to vote against.

 

[GoBlue]

I have seen it exactly twice and once was from a private in ground tank probably from the 40s!

 

[regguy1]

I'm wondering if this is coincidental...you got gas and you noticed a symptom. How are you determining it's "bad gas" or are you concluding A preceded B so therfore A caused B ?

 

[fordbroncodave]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tls/2478948321.html

use this and then throw it away. i'll let it go for $20. bring any other tools you have for sale and we can chat it up.

 

[GoBlue]

absolute must have! I use it for trans fluid, rear end dope, gas when doing a fuel pump, etc...

 

[Milton Shaw]

I got a tank of gas on night forty years ago that had a lot of water in it. The car at the time (56 Ford) had a glass bowl on the fuel pump. Had to stop and drain it every ten miles or so for three hours one long nights drive. Last tank that I know of that was bad. One thing don't do is fill up when the fuel truck is delivering gas. They stir up the bottom of the tank and then you get water and crud at the pump for the next hour or so. I sometimes see stations where they are pumping the bottom of the tank, filtering it and returning it to the tank. The stuff that comes out is pretty bad. Most tanks the pickup for the pump is some distance from the bottom of the tank so it normally doesn't pick up water and crud.

 

[GeorgeH]

One thing don't do is fill up when the fuel truck is delivering gas. They stir up the bottom of the tank and then you get water and crud at the pump for the next hour or so.

There are filters between the tank and the hose inside the pump.