Houston, we have a problem

[Wingnutt]

If I had done this, it would be in the stupid human tricks board. <br /><br />As I was prepping the boat to take it out this afternoon, my daughter decided to be helpful (you should know where this is going ) and noticing that the boat was low on fuel, she grabbed a five gallon can and proceded to dump about three and a holf to four gallons of kero into the fuel tank! <br /><br />Now this is the BLUE KERO can, NOT the RED GAS can! At 16 you would think she knows the difference, but I guess that even the cans are different colors and clearly marked kero and gas, she can't tell the difference! <br /><br />Anyway, what's done is done, soooooooooo how bad will four gallons of kero in a 25 gallons of gas screw things up. The engine is a 4.3 mercruser, so I know it's gonna smoke quite a bit, but will the kero mess anything else up. I'm thinking it will be OK after I run most of the kero out and full the tank back up (at 2.69 a gallon, that's gonna hurt!); but I wanted to check with the experts here first. TIA!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

keep it in the driveway, till you get an answer. i don't know. but, will watch this.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Kids, gotta love 'em. .....<br />This is a new one that I haven't heard before .....<br />I think you will be OK, it isn't water or diesel.....<br />I'd like to hear what Rodbolt, Don S. & Bondo have to say on the subject.......

 

[Don S]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

How big is your tank? I doubt it will hurt much if you have a 60 or more gallon tank, but it might cause running issues (more than just smoke) if only 3 gallons in 25.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

I work at an airport and I'm responsible for the fuel quality (hence my user name). If that is kerosene, its very close to diesel. Diesel and mogas mix well, making for a very large quantity of tainted fuel that's not good for anything but a woodpile behind the house. If you don't want to see problems unimaginable after trying to save 25 gallons of tainted fuel and running it through your engine, siphon the fuel out of the tank and start over again. Engine damage can occur when trying to run that stuff through an engine. Believe me, I've had training on this. <br /><br />Mixing gas types isn't recommended!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

I am with the rest. the consequences of running contaminated fuel far exceed the cost of fixing the problems it causes.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Hmmmm that's what I was afraid of. The tank holds 30 gallons, and I would say she dumped at least three gallons minimum of kero in the tank. Siphoning the fuel out is going to be fun since the tank is under the deck and has a VERY long filler hose.<br /><br />Here's the sadly funny part, when she looked at the fuel gage, the blasted key was in the off position showing just above E. If she would have bothered to turn the key on, she would have seen the gage rise to 3/4 (25 gallons) of a tank.

 

[Shawdaddy]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Isn't Kero just mogas with much more oil added into it? I think it will run with just that small amout in it, but it will smoke a bit and possibly foul the plugs. But tis better to be safe than sorry. I am in the Air Force and guess what a F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet uses for fuel? JP-4..you ask what is JP-4...Mogas mixed with large amounts of kerosene..So you could be using jet fuel....maybe

 

[hudman]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

if the boat is on a trailer, and you can sit the can on the ground, it will siphon. 25 gal of fuel at $3 a gal is $75, and i cant imagine anything that cheap being done to the motor by a repair shop... just be glad you caught it

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

but imagine how fast it will go with JP4

 

[sloopy]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

You should be ok if you run it WOT, and carry some normal gas with you. In the old days (maybe JB should conform this) Farmers would have two gas cans on there tractors when they started and shut down the tractor it would be on the gasoline tank, but once running with a load they would switch over to kero. I don't know it this is 100%<br /><br />But I am sure you should be fine with the fuel, I would for safe measure, fill the tank up with gas, then take it out on the lake and run it WOT. Then with the boat in neutral poor 5 gallons from a can into the fuel tank and head back to the trailer. Don't worry about the fuel not mixing, they are both petroleum based so it will be very mixed by now. Also diesel (which I think is like kero) has a high flash point, you may want to add in some octane booster and top the tank with 93 or 100LL (if you can get to it).

 

[Trent]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

You already know your answer but I know fuel is high and you want to save the money. You need to drain your tank and install fresh fuel.<br /><br />Kerosene "K1" is almost the same as "Jet A (JP5)" fuel. The main differences is flash point, freeze point and thermal stability. <br /><br />When your daughter installed the Kerosene in the fuel tank she diluted the fuel and lowered the octane rating. This lowering of the octane rating will cause detonation/pre-ignition. This will cause your engine to self destruct. Its just like pouring diesel fuel into your fuel tank. In fact diesel fuel and kerosene are very close to one another but has more "oil" for lubrication. <br /><br />So its your choice? Ever seen a gasoline engine torn down after running diesel or Kerosene. I have. It aint pretty.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Oh well, at least I don't have a hundred gallon tank. Anybody have any suggestions as to what to do with the tainted fuel aside from using it as a weed killer?

 

[KaGee]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Try it in your lawn mowers. They'll burn almost anything.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

If it's only 3 gal and you don't do WOT like Sloopy said you'll be fine. If you're worried just drain out half of what you have in there now and fill it back up with MOGAS. Run it and do the same thing when you burn out some more gas.<br /><br />Large amounts of K1 could cause detonation(but you should hear it). You probably won't see much smoke at all... you're only talking 16% here.<br /><br />USAF doesn't use JP4 anymore...phased out in 1996 .. You're right though... JP4 was also called "Widecut Gasoline"....(mostly naptha + Kerosene)....JP8 is used DOD wide now because it's much more resistant to being ignited by accident. <br />It caused hard starting in some jet engines.<br /><br /><br />Cheers, <br /><br /><br />Rick <br /><br /><br />

Originally posted by Shawdaddy:<br /> Isn't Kero just mogas with much more oil added into it? I think it will run with just that small amout in it, but it will smoke a bit and possibly foul the plugs. But tis better to be safe than sorry. I am in the Air Force and guess what a F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet uses for fuel? JP-4..you ask what is JP-4...Mogas mixed with large amounts of kerosene..So you could be using jet fuel....maybe

 

[hudman]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

25 gal x 3 is only $75.00 how much would you pay to have your carb removed and disassembled and cleaned out??? your money ahead now, dont try to save a nickel and end up spending $3.00<br />lots of guys on this site would love to have their problems solved for only $75.00

 

[Bondo]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

If it were Me ,.........(My Disclaimer )<br /><br />Trent explained the Issue with adding Kero, or Diesel to your Gasoline suppy,.....<br /><br />And,.. Knowing Detonation is a Very Distinct Possibility,......<br /><br />I'd top off the tank with the Real Expensive Hi-Test,+ Go launch at Sackets Harbor to Troll for Walleye,.... <br />For atleast a 12, maybe 16hr. day..........<br />Then I'd top off again,+ Troll another day......... By then I'd be into Fresh Gas with the next fill..........<br />That little 4.3l of mine will sip that down, Without Issues at 1000rpms........And that's as Fast as Needed......<br /><br />Kinda like Rick said.............<br /><br />If you Could have plans to be Pulling kids on Tubes,+ Skiers,... Or Just plain Hot Rodding Around,..........<br />Forget It,...... Rodbolt or Don, or Somebody will be selling you a New Motor............

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

I guess descrition is better than hoping for the best, BUT my dang mouth still tastes like gasoline! <br /><br />I guss it's been to many years since I tried to sipion anything! Ah yes, the memories of my mispent youth. <br /><br />But I digress, the crud has been removed and used to kill a large and very healthy plot of poison ivy, along with being used to ignite my neighbor's brush pile. Y'all should have heard the whoomph when he lit it off! He said that he owes me one since he didn't feel like spending $10 just to light it and it would sit for another year if I hadn't given him the fuel. Hey, what are neighbors for? <br /><br />Anyway, I'll hook it up tomorrow and drag it the the gas station and put a big dent in my wallet. Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

I'm glad you took our advice. Your boat will thank you.

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

I know this is an old thread, but I was reading over it and thought it was funny how he was complaining about $2.69/gal. Man wouldn't we all kill for 2.69 nowadays?!?!? I'm wondering if I'll even be doing any boating this year at $4.50 :-( I really don't wanna have to charge my passengers but I'm going to have to if anybody wants to go!

Man the good old days! lol