Horrible Mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mar 28, 2006 | 01:33 AM

#41

k99ja04

Racer

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 342

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From: Kalamazoo MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by aminnich

You put 10 bottles of rubbing alcohol in your tank??

I would have to say that was probably an even bigger mistake.

First it is probably 1/2 water, secondly it is isoproypl alcohol, wich mixes with water, does NOT absorb it. Ethyl alcohol absorbs water so it can be burnt of, isopropyl does not, at 100% it breaks down the water molecules so they will 'pass thru' the system, or in most common use prevent fuel line icing. I am sure there is a 'chemist' in here that can better explain it, but in any case that was a bad mistake. Get you tank and lines empty best way you can (and safest) new fuel filter and hope for the best.

I am a synthetic organic chemist. aminnich is mostly right. Although any alcohol will absorb water to some degree, ethyl alcohol will absorb more weight for weight. Ethyl alcohol is a primary (OH group attached to single carbon chain) versus isopropyl alcohol which is a secondary alcohol (OH attached to carbon with 2 branches) These branches inhibit effective hydrogen bonding. Although one might also make the case they are electron sinks and thus stabilize the bonding... The real issues is the dilution. Rubbing alcohol is usually 70%. So you probably added as much water as the car wash. Absolute (200 proof ethyl alcohol) would have been a better choice, although harder to obtain. Don't drink it though, you'll get a bad headache! A 10% blend of ethanol / gasoline will absorb about 40 times the amount of water that straight gasoline would. If you really wanted to absorb the water to burn it through the engine you needed to add methanol. Which is the primary constituent of racing fuels. The downside is methanol is highly toxic and corrosive to the fuel system.

Last edited by k99ja04; Mar 28, 2006 at 01:42 AM.

Mar 28, 2006 | 08:15 AM

#42

ZAWA

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Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 90

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From: Ocala Fl.

Change or clean the sparkplug.
Pump gas into a clear bottle, when you look at the gas the water will go to the bottom of the bottle. Dump it out and fill the bottle again check for water, you may have to do this 4-5 times or until you see no more water at the bottom of bottle.
Before you put new fuel filter on push the valve on the fuel rail to let the bad gas drain out. That should do it have done 5-6 times in my 21 years of owenership.

Mar 28, 2006 | 08:54 PM

#43

robertt43

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Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 462

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From: green valley az

Boners?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric_daniel

OK, this is the HANDS DOWN most embarrassing story that has every been told on the corvette forum (or that I've heard.) My wife said "here's your sign" after it happened. As a matter of fact, I can't believe I'm telling it, but I've got to get the questions out there...........

I had just finished filling up my 85 with gas (premium only) when I decided to drive it over to the drive through car wash. I drive through the washer and drive out. When I get out, my car goes dead. I wasn't sure what could be making it do that, when, IT HIT ME!!!! I hadn't put the gas cap on. I had left my gas lid open, and my gas cap off through the whole wash. There was NO telling how much water had gotten into my tank.

So I walked over to the grocery store and proceded to by 10 bottles of rubbing alcohol to get rid of the water. All in, but to no avail. The I get a can of starter fluid and spray it into the plenum. The car will crank up for about 1 second and die. I continue to do this for a short while, but it never gets better.

So we next put the vette on a car caddy and carry it out to the house. I take the fuel filter off and cut the key on. The fuel pump pressurizes and will pump it out AT A VERY SLOW RATE!!!! I mean like 1 gallon in an hour. I can pee 5 times as fast as this thing. Then I try to syphon it out, but I remind you, I just filled it up.

So now that the stupid story is over, what is the easiest way to empty the tank?
Once empty, is the next step to just put fresh, treated gas in, with new filter and run completely through system?
Or are there worse problems here?
Remember there is a ton of water, plus, soap, and wax...

Please help!!!!!

Thanks, Eric

I just drilled a hole in my firewall,to string a hot wire for my new radio. Only problem is,I drilled right thru the firewall,and into the BATTERY! This is DUMBER than your mistake;YOU just forgot,too much on one's mind will do that. I on the other hand,did it without thinking,planning,or preparing. I feel for you......BOB

Mar 29, 2006 | 10:45 AM

#44

Gold1986Vette420

Racer

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 304

Likes: 0

From: Marlboro NY

In a rush I jacked my car the other day and the jack wasnt centered properly and I ended up with a quarter size hole in my floor. Now THAT is a stupid mistake.

Apr 1, 2006 | 07:57 PM

#45

fyrlt1

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Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 57

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From: Ocala florida

I had water and sand introduced into my '94 after transferring gas from a contaminated can. I did the following :
pull the sending unit and drain tank with an electric pump.
Hand dry tank with towels.
blow out the return and supply lines.
change the fuel filter.
put drigas and fuel in tank.
drive for about 20 miles.
change filter again.
repeat filter changes until car runs right and fuel looks right.
I'm on my 4th filter now. Car runs better with each change and is almost normal now. You need to find a source of cheap filters as they are about 20.00 a pop in parts stores. I used ebay and got em for about 8.00.

Apr 8, 2006 | 09:25 PM

#46

eric_daniel

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 213

Likes: 0

From: Choudrant LA

I appreciate all of your help!!!!! The car is running and running fairly well, considering... I probably need to change the filter a few times as was previously said. But on to new problems...

After I got it running, took it for a ride, I noticed it wasn't going back into park. The shifter would go to park, but the car would still be in reverse. So we jack it up, got under it, and noticed one of the bolts holding the shifter in the right place was out, and the other one was loose. So we tighten all that back up and all's well, but the ignition still won't crank periodically as if the kill switch is detecting that the transmission is in another gear other than park or neutral. Soooo.....could this bolt coming out effect the ignition interrupt, and if so, where is the switch?

Thanks again...
(it seems like everything happens at once!!!)