Water in Gas?

[packman35]

How would my engine run, specifically, if I have water in the gas? Hard to start? Bad idle? etc.

The only gas I can get around here is E10 and I think I may have some water issues. I am planning on putting in a water separator this weekend and hopefully that will help.

 

[psteurer]

Re: Water in Gas?

A water fuel separator would be good to install. Also, add some type of fuel stabilzer like Stabil. The real problem with today's fuel is that it is not good for the fuel to sit for long periods of time (maybe 30 days or more). Unfortunately, that is the practice with boating, especially those boats that have big fuel tanks. If you use ALL your fuel within 30 days, a water fuel separator or even a fuel stabilizer is not really needed. But if you let the fuel sit, then both of these are the way to go.

You did not say what motor you a running but you may have other issues to attend in addition to installing a water fuel separator. Give that a try but I would also recommend a fuel stabilzer and maybe some Sea Foam.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Water in Gas?

The engine may run with a small amount of water in the fuel. It just won't make any power under load. You might want to take a fuel sample to check. Pull the hose off the engine and remove the hose barb. Hold it into a glass and pump 8-10 ounces into the glass. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

 

[packman35]

Re: Water in Gas?

Thanks guys. I am definitely planning on adding the water separator ASAP. Is the Walmart one any good?

Would water in the fuel also help explain the hard start and bad idle?

It does act like it's lost some HP so that jives with what emdsapmgr said.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Water in Gas?

Your not alone,It's a big problem in the baltimore area also.Just be sure to change the filter often.I empty mine into a glass jar and add a few drops of food coloring.It will only mix with any water and not the gas!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Water in Gas?

More mis-information on E10. 30 day old E10 is not an issue and can hardly be called "old gas". My gosh our collector cars including my boats sit from November until April as they have since 1997 when we started using E10 with stabilized fuel and there simply is no issue. Add the filter and go boating. If you have a serious water issue, buy your fuel somewhere else.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Water in Gas?

Water separator filters come in different sizes, so make sure you get one with sufficient flow capability. I think most all brands will handle your 115-but check the instructions inside the box before you buy.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Water in Gas?

More mis-information on E10. 30 day old E10 is not an issue and can hardly be called "old gas". My gosh our collector cars including my boats sit from November until April as they have since 1997 when we started using E10 with stabilized fuel and there simply is no issue. Add the filter and go boating. If you have a serious water issue, buy your fuel somewhere else.

Have to agree with this one. No need for 30 day panic !!!

 

[psteurer]

Re: Water in Gas?

Well, what I was quoting was my 2008 Honda 50 hp owners manual in regard to the 30 days. Actually the owners manual has reference to days in two places. One page said fuel can go bad in 15 days and another page said fuel can go bad in 30 days. As the manual said fuel deteriorates more quickly when the tank is not fuel and also in hotter weather. There is very little literature in the old OMC manuals on this type of fuel and the information is conflicting with what is know today . Some may consider Honda motors to be high quality and recommendations made in owners manuals should be followed. The fact that on one page it says 15 days and on another page it say 30 days tells me today's fuel is causing problems even for the engineers at Honda.

Personally, I am not convince on water fuel separators as the cure all for today's fuel. A reason is that I do not see any water fuel separators on any automobiles. What I am convinced is that many outboard motors have huge fuel tanks. The bigger the boat the bigger the motor and the bigger the tank. Some inboard fuel tanks are 70 plus gallons and this fuel can sometimes sit for a long period of time, maybe even an entire boating season. For those boats, water fuel separators are a must as is some type of fuel stabilizer. For someone running an external 6 gallon tank, I do not think there is any need for a water fuel separator or even a fuel stabilizer as long as almost all the fuel is used with each use. But of course this is a highly debateable topic.