Water in the fuel tank

[ctriver]

Help! I have a 1996 17ft Starcraft bowrider with a built in fuel tank. There is so much water in the tank that my fuel pickup is sucking it into the enigne. What is the best way to get rid of that much water.

Thanks
Bill

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Water in the fuel tank

Pump it out. You could install a fuel/water separator but before doing anything I would try to determine how it got there. A number of years ago I had a water in the fuel problem, people said it was probably condensation but it wasn't. It turned out to be salt water, the vent tube for the gas tank had been turned to where it faced forward, water that splashed up when I hit a wave would enter the vent.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Water in the fuel tank

Bill, If you can prop up the bow, and get access to the gauge sender fitting, you can remove the sender and use a siphon on the lower rear of the tank to suck out nearly all the water.

I recommend you suck out as much as you have jerry cans for and let 'em settle. Now you can siphon water from the bottom of the jerry cans to a clear gallon container, and pour the good gas back, and dump the water.

This will take a few hours, but should be pretty effective. Beware any cloudy fuel, as it contains water mixed in.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Water in the fuel tank

I wouldn't pour back the "good" fuel. A carb job or new engine costs more than 10 gallons of gas.
Gatormike, good point; I lost a motor that way. Also a rusted top of the tank (like where the fuel sender joins) can be a source.
On the trailer, obviously, disconnect the gas line from the motor and run it out the drain hole; pump with the syphon ball untill the tank is empty. Then open the sending unit and swab it dry with a rag on a stick. Clean the tank with a can of carb cleaner while you are at it--raise and lower the jack or drive around the block to move it around; swab it out.

 

[ctriver]

Re: Water in the fuel tank

Thanks for the help guys

 

[seabob4]

Re: Water in the fuel tank

You need to determine the source of water ingress before you start the process all over again. The most likely culprits are a bad O-ring under the fuel fill cap, and your vent fitting on the hullside/deck...