Water in gas tank
10-25-2017, 01:23 PM
#1
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Water in gas tank
I'm heading to a buddy's house after work today to help him out with his car. Somehow, someone managed to dump a few gallons of water into his gas tank, and of course, now the car won't start.
The tanks have been drained, and the fuel pump powered externally to flush the fuel lines all the way to the fuel rails, with fresh gas put into the tank, but it still won't start. I was hoping for some helpful suggestions on some next steps so I'm not spinning my wheels. I'm thinking that the fuel/water mix already in the cylinders might be the culprit, and if so, what can be done about that, if anything?
TIA for your help.
The tanks have been drained, and the fuel pump powered externally to flush the fuel lines all the way to the fuel rails, with fresh gas put into the tank, but it still won't start. I was hoping for some helpful suggestions on some next steps so I'm not spinning my wheels. I'm thinking that the fuel/water mix already in the cylinders might be the culprit, and if so, what can be done about that, if anything?
TIA for your help.
10-25-2017, 02:32 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
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Water
Ed. A good idea to pull the plugs and see if the car will turn over, could get messy if water made it into the cylinders and hydrolocked the engine. Rags by all the cylinder holes. Who did your friend **** off and how did they get to the gas filler ? Mike. 
10-25-2017, 03:03 PM
#4
Man Ed. Lots a things to think about here. Anything mess up when it was powered externally and hooked back up? Has the rail been discoed to check for good fuel flowing....do injectors have any long term ill effects from H20....etc...etc. Does it turn over ? I wouldn't think it would be hydro-locked if it turns over. Keep us posted on this one.
10-25-2017, 03:15 PM
#5
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It will crank, but will not start. Don't know who he pissed off, or how they got to the tank to begin with, just know that it's a mess now. The guy who was originally helping, and being paid for it, is refusing to help now so I got the call for help.
10-25-2017, 03:47 PM
#7
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10-25-2017, 05:22 PM
#8
Once "most" of the water is removed, if using E-10, the ethanol's propensity to absorb water will likely remove the remainder. Unless the fuel reaches water saturation (at which point the fuel will phase separate) which is very bad and the entire fuel system will need to be drained again. But that's unlikely...if all of the gross amounts of water are removed/flushed.
Water saturation in e-10 can occur at ~0.5% water in fuel.
Water saturation in e-10 can occur at ~0.5% water in fuel.
10-25-2017, 05:50 PM
#9
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I think I'd be pulling the fuel rails and injectors. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm guessing that water being molecularly denser than gasoline, the injectors won't let it pass through. Pull the ends off the fuel rails and park them in the sun to let them fully dry out. I'd say put them in an oven around 150*F or so, but if there's still some fuel in there you could get a fire going in a gas oven. Not so much in an electric oven, since it takes nearly 500*F to ignite gasoline. Leave the door open either way.
10-25-2017, 06:45 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Sounds to me like this car has been in a flood, unless someone pried open the fuel door and poured water in the tank. Remove the injectors and make sure they are clean and not stopped up with water or debris. Good luck on this one...you are going to need it.
10-25-2017, 07:21 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
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Sounds like he should have made an insurance claim.
This is going back a few years (not ancient history though), but when we had cars towed in with bad gas issues, we almost always had to replace the injectors.
And regarding the carb comment, eh boy, where do you start.
This is going back a few years (not ancient history though), but when we had cars towed in with bad gas issues, we almost always had to replace the injectors.
And regarding the carb comment, eh boy, where do you start.
10-25-2017, 07:42 PM
#13
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Sounds like he should have made an insurance claim.
This is going back a few years (not ancient history though), but when we had cars towed in with bad gas issues, we almost always had to replace the injectors.
And regarding the carb comment, eh boy, where do you start.
This is going back a few years (not ancient history though), but when we had cars towed in with bad gas issues, we almost always had to replace the injectors.
And regarding the carb comment, eh boy, where do you start.
Hey maybe the car in the OP has water between the points? Happened to me once on a motorcycle after I took it to a car wash. WOULDN'T FIRE! But I always carried a few tools with me and the problem was quickly fixed.
OP: Do you know where the points are on a C6?
10-26-2017, 07:10 AM
#14
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10-26-2017, 09:15 AM
#15
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10-26-2017, 11:52 AM
#17
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10-26-2017, 12:04 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
I was a little too tall
Could've used a few pounds
Tight pants points hardly reknown
She was a black-haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high
Could've used a few pounds
Tight pants points hardly reknown
She was a black-haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high
10-26-2017, 12:42 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
Let it crank over to get any water out of the cylinders and dry out the spark plugs. Removing the fuel rail maybe needed also, just a little in it will cause problems.
10-26-2017, 12:45 PM
#20
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I pulled the plugs last night, cranked it a few times to shoot some E10 into the cylinders so the ethanol could do its thing, and will be putting it all back together tonight. Hopefully this will work.