PLEASE HELP! Major car problem
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 144
From: Retired early,everyday is Saturday...Hocking Hills Ohio
similar thing happened to me when I separated from my crazy, ex-girlfriend. her Dad and a few of his thugs took a 454/400 turbo out of my ‘55 Chevy P/U. like you, I was playing nice and got totally fucked that day. I took the Sheriff w/me, a few days later, to where it was stored (while they had a huge barn sale going on) and got my **** back, after the Deputy threatened grand larceny charges. thank God I never knocked her up. Hang in there buddy...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,719
Likes: 65
From: Illinois
Seems like a lot of money for an easy fix. Siphone gas/water out. Put in new gas. Crack fuel line and run pump until you clean fuel. Pull plugs and turn engine over a few times to get and water in the cylinders out. Put back together and enjoy.
Hope you recoup your money and it all works out.
Hope you recoup your money and it all works out.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 252
Likes: 21
From: Meridian Idaho
Seems like a lot of money for an easy fix. Siphone gas/water out. Put in new gas. Crack fuel line and run pump until you clean fuel. Pull plugs and turn engine over a few times to get and water in the cylinders out. Put back together and enjoy.
Hope you recoup your money and it all works out.
Hope you recoup your money and it all works out.
that water -alcohol sets up a nasty white flim that can only be cleaned by scrubbing with an 90-100 % alcohol soaked cloth. My wifes arms were small enough but on vett tanks very time consuming, scrubb, let dry, inspect, scrubb again, mirror check the shadowed places, diy tools etc, $100 / hr dealer charges .also some oil in the cylinders, oil filters change any other place water might soak into, at the dealer?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 115
Likes: 11
From: Kelowna BC
Full tank of gas when stored...yes. But I don't fill to the absolute maximum...like beyond when the pump stops initially.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 115
Likes: 11
From: Kelowna BC
So finally spoke to her. She is admitting to taking stuff out of the house, but adamantly denies that she touched my car.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 215
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
So finally spoke to her. She is admitting to taking stuff out of the house, but adamantly denies that she touched my car.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
She did something, of course she's going to deny, it's a corvette. proceed with the charges and don't let your feelings get in the way of justice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 783
Likes: 224
From: Chilliwack BC Canada
If you would have picked up bunch of bad gas with water in it at the gas station I'm fairly sure you wouldn't have made it home especially if they pumped 6" of straight water into a jar. That much condensation is also virtually impossible in a full tank and garage stored car. Last week I took our Vette out of storage. It has sat outside but sheltered and covered with a car cover and was hooked to a battery tender. It hasn't run for 6 months and has been exposed to temperatures anywhere from minus ten to the 40's Fahrenheit. It started right up and ran just as well as if I had just driven it yesterday.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 6,271
Likes: 113
From: Texas
So finally spoke to her. She is admitting to taking stuff out of the house, but adamantly denies that she touched my car.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
Is there absolutely any way that water could magically end up in the fuel tank....through natural means....when stored with 94 octane fuel, full tank, in a dry garage!??! I have stored every car I've ever had in the same conditions and circumstances, and never ever had a problem. I don't use fuel stabilizer or anything, but always full tank with quality fuel in dry garage. But I wanted to know if this is at all possible to have happen without tampering.
I cannot see condensation creating nearly that much water, tho.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,719
Likes: 65
From: Illinois
If you would have picked up bunch of bad gas with water in it at the gas station I'm fairly sure you wouldn't have made it home especially if they pumped 6" of straight water into a jar. That much condensation is also virtually impossible in a full tank and garage stored car. Last week I took our Vette out of storage. It has sat outside but sheltered and covered with a car cover and was hooked to a battery tender. It hasn't run for 6 months and has been exposed to temperatures anywhere from minus ten to the 40's Fahrenheit. It started right up and ran just as well as if I had just driven it yesterday.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 5,364
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
I would probably have an attorney write a letter to both the ex-wife and her parents and, describe the issue, not threaten, and list the possible ramifications to each party if legal action is initiated.
Just sayin.
Just sayin.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 18,098
Likes: 1,597
Yeah, natural as in someone put the water there. No there's no way condensation can form enough an amount to send a car with full 94 octane gas into whack.
She did something, of course she's going to deny, it's a corvette. proceed with the charges and don't let your feelings get in the way of justice.
She did something, of course she's going to deny, it's a corvette. proceed with the charges and don't let your feelings get in the way of justice.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
Ruxy's idea may bring results without having to go to trial. Sounds like she likes to play hard ball though. She or someone she knows most likely is the culprit. Since water is heavier than fuel, if you would have pumped bad gasoline into the tank you would have certainly noticed it within a couple of minutes of driving. The thing about water in the fuel, it can form some really small droplets that take time to come out of suspension. Those droplets though would have quickly made their way into your fuel system and to the engine. It is bad enough the engine ran on this emulsion, but be glad it was parked on not on the freeway someplace.
As for the water in the tank, there is no way I would run alcohol through the system to try to dry it out. The suspended water will still damage the injectors and detonate (as steam) in the combustion chambers. The best way to fix the problem is to drop the tanks and clean them out, then flush the fuel system all they way to the fuel rails and through the injectors. It's the steam that ruins engines and craters pistons.
There is such a thing as a fuel polisher. You see this from time to time on boats where condensation can be a real issue in fuel storage tanks. It is a sophisticated filtration system that traps the water when it is pumped out, then returns it to the tank, swirling the the contents. I've used both methods in 150gallon storage tanks on boats (diesel), so the hazards are not nearly as high as working with gasoline.
Good luck with your ex. If no kids its much easier and be glad of it. Better to find out now than 20 years from now.
As for the water in the tank, there is no way I would run alcohol through the system to try to dry it out. The suspended water will still damage the injectors and detonate (as steam) in the combustion chambers. The best way to fix the problem is to drop the tanks and clean them out, then flush the fuel system all they way to the fuel rails and through the injectors. It's the steam that ruins engines and craters pistons.
There is such a thing as a fuel polisher. You see this from time to time on boats where condensation can be a real issue in fuel storage tanks. It is a sophisticated filtration system that traps the water when it is pumped out, then returns it to the tank, swirling the the contents. I've used both methods in 150gallon storage tanks on boats (diesel), so the hazards are not nearly as high as working with gasoline.
Good luck with your ex. If no kids its much easier and be glad of it. Better to find out now than 20 years from now.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
Update. Had car flat decked to dealership. Explained in detail to treat forensically due to my suspicions. Got the call later in the day....drew six inches of water into the jar from the initial fuel line test. So confirmed at a minimum that water was put into my fuel tank. Will see if anything else comes up as they tear apart. But told me about $3k in work and parts at this point. Pull fuel tanks, clean out lines, injectors, plugs, etc.
I have already spoken with the police and got the info I needed to move forward with trying to file charges and will take to court for damages, etc. Beyond that...just want my car back and hope there isn't further damage.
I have already spoken with the police and got the info I needed to move forward with trying to file charges and will take to court for damages, etc. Beyond that...just want my car back and hope there isn't further damage.
Women don't really know too much about cars.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 274
So first of all, to set the scene. Just finishing up a separation from my wife. I went away for a day while her and her parents were clearing out some of her final things before moving out. I get a text a day early that they are done, leaving, and that she's taking one of my dogs. Try calling, no response. Get all the way home, and the bitch robbed my house and took my dog....and headed to the coast in Vancouver. I live 4 hours away.
So...today...trying to forget about what has happened. I decide to take my 2010 Grand Sport out of storage. Took the battery tender off. Started the car up....started right away no problem. After running a minute or two, backed it out into my driveway and left it running. Came back out after a couple minutes maybe, and noticed car running rough. Looked in car and whole bunch of service notices came up. Service active handling, traction control, ABS, etc, etc. Car started running more and more roughly...until finally it completely died. Tried starting it again, and just turns over through cycle of pressing the start button....and won't start.
So I thought maybe battery. Went and bought a new battery and installed it....what a ******* bitch on a GS or Z06 as people mentioned. Went to start the car again....same thing. Just turns over and over and won't start. Tried a couple times...no luck.
I'm trying not to think the worst here, but I definitely wouldn't put it past my wife to have put sugar in the gas tank or something. I checked at the cap...don't see any sign at all of any sugar crystals or anything, but I guess it's possible that could have been super careful with a funnel or something. I don't know. Pray to God that isn't the case.
Checked spark plug wires, all on....and as I said, it started up perfectly and ran right the first couple minutes before it started running rough and **** the bed.
Car ran perfectly when it went into storage 5 months ago. And started perfectly. But won't run at all now.
Anything I can be checking???? Car is stuck in the driveway now, because it's a fairly steep incline and can't get it back into the garage. And it's Easter weekend and won't be able to get it flat decked somewhere until Tuesday if I can't get it running.
Is it easy to check the fuel filter? Everything I read says if someone puts sugar in gas tank that it won't make it to your engine and destroy it or anything....that it would collect in fuel filter and not allow gas to get through. Full tank of gas when I put it into storage.
FML
So...today...trying to forget about what has happened. I decide to take my 2010 Grand Sport out of storage. Took the battery tender off. Started the car up....started right away no problem. After running a minute or two, backed it out into my driveway and left it running. Came back out after a couple minutes maybe, and noticed car running rough. Looked in car and whole bunch of service notices came up. Service active handling, traction control, ABS, etc, etc. Car started running more and more roughly...until finally it completely died. Tried starting it again, and just turns over through cycle of pressing the start button....and won't start.
So I thought maybe battery. Went and bought a new battery and installed it....what a ******* bitch on a GS or Z06 as people mentioned. Went to start the car again....same thing. Just turns over and over and won't start. Tried a couple times...no luck.
I'm trying not to think the worst here, but I definitely wouldn't put it past my wife to have put sugar in the gas tank or something. I checked at the cap...don't see any sign at all of any sugar crystals or anything, but I guess it's possible that could have been super careful with a funnel or something. I don't know. Pray to God that isn't the case.
Checked spark plug wires, all on....and as I said, it started up perfectly and ran right the first couple minutes before it started running rough and **** the bed.
Car ran perfectly when it went into storage 5 months ago. And started perfectly. But won't run at all now.
Anything I can be checking???? Car is stuck in the driveway now, because it's a fairly steep incline and can't get it back into the garage. And it's Easter weekend and won't be able to get it flat decked somewhere until Tuesday if I can't get it running.
Is it easy to check the fuel filter? Everything I read says if someone puts sugar in gas tank that it won't make it to your engine and destroy it or anything....that it would collect in fuel filter and not allow gas to get through. Full tank of gas when I put it into storage.
FML
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 274
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,768
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Welcome to the 21st Century.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 274
If you would have picked up bunch of bad gas with water in it at the gas station I'm fairly sure you wouldn't have made it home especially if they pumped 6" of straight water into a jar. That much condensation is also virtually impossible in a full tank and garage stored car. Last week I took our Vette out of storage. It has sat outside but sheltered and covered with a car cover and was hooked to a battery tender. It hasn't run for 6 months and has been exposed to temperatures anywhere from minus ten to the 40's Fahrenheit. It started right up and ran just as well as if I had just driven it yesterday.
