Is this a sign of bad gas?

[Corrupt]

What is this that is showing up in the filter? Is that gas that has turned into gel? Is it supposed to look like that?

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

That is from ethanol use. Condensation(water) settles to the bottom of the tank and forms a milky mucous looking slime and ethanol and methanol has a very high detergent action (cleaning) more powerful than pure gasoline. Therefore it quickly removes varnish, scale and oxides from the walls and bottom of tanks and accumulates in the fuel system in the form of slime and crud that can clog fuel filters, carburetors and injectors.

 

[Corrupt]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

So will running 93 octane help any? My buddy is draining his tank tonight as I'm typing this, but is there any type of additive that can be added that will keep this sludge from not appearing?

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

So will running 93 octane help any?

Running a different grade of octane will not help as all are blended at 10% ethanol.

is there a additive that can be added that will keep this sludge from not appearing?

Only after tank has cleaned itself, better to install a water/fuel separating filter and change it every 3 months, this will keep crude from getting to this filter and then start running some Starbrite or Stabil fuel treatment for ethanol blend fuel..

 

[1nebel0]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Put a Racor water separator on your boat...this is a must for every boat given the Ethanol related problems...run it this way and blow up your motor.....read on line about phase separation....

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Thats the inner lining of the gray fuel line.Cut a piece of your hose open.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

if your 93 octane has a "no ethanol" sticker, then it will help.

there is no additive on the market to help the issues that ethanol brings

 

[oldman570]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

You can go to Puregas.org on the internet and see if there is any gas stations near you that has gas with no ethanol in it. Cost more but save trouble in the long run.
Oldman570

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

The scientific name for that brown stuff is "crap". Let the fuel tank settle and siphon the bottom into a 5 gal can. Let that settle and siphon the bottom of the 5 gal can into a clear container. Return the good fuel to the tank and discard the crap. Run a water separator. Ethanol in gasoline is not a problem, unless you get excess water in the fuel as well. Additives are snake oil.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Another vote for fuel water separator filter. Even a low-cost one like the Sierra one with the spin-on 21 micron filter that looks like an automotive oil filter. Best thing I ever did for my old Mercury, have not had a single fuel-related issue since adding one, and fuel here is Crap with a capital C.

 

[evolution6972]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

I had the slimy mucus crap clog my tank filter twice yesterday. How do i clean the tank. Funny as it is I read the postings in here. I never had slime till my dad filled up my tank with the ethanol free gas.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Thats the inner lining of the gray fuel line.Cut a piece of your hose open.

+1. I just finished going through that exact fiasco with my boat.....grey OEM fuel line, 12 years old. In thinking it was a problem in my popular (mfgr) plastic fuel tank, I thoroughly inspected it and found nothing but clear fuel. It was not the problem.

One thing that helped identify the pieces I had, exactly the same color and all as yours, was that most had a curvature to them that would fit a 5/16" circle if joined, which is the dia. of my fuel line. The "stuff" was in my squeeze bulb, all my engine fuel lines up to the filter, in the filter and in the water pump. I replaced all that and in replacing the tank to bulb line, I used a clear PVC tubing for a time so that I could inspect the fuel coming in to ensure that I had the problem.

I did and after the proof, I replaced the line with fuel line from my local auto parts store.

One of the mechanics on here did mention to me in an answer to my posting that that line should be replaced periodically to prevent that.

HTH,
Mark

 

[quicktach]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Dump out the gas + crud and rinse it with fresh gas, dumping that too. Worse case scenario, take off the tank top and pressure wash it, even using degreaser. BUT make sure it's thoroughly flushed out later with clean water, dried and rinsed with fresh gas...up to 10% ethanol doesn't seem to cause the brown crud...always use a funnel with a fine screen when filling the gas tank.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

I had the slimy mucus crap clog my tank filter twice yesterday. How do i clean the tank. Funny as it is I read the postings in here. I never had slime till my dad filled up my tank with the ethanol free gas.

You might want to post a new thread with your question about the filter and the tank, since this thread is/was over 90 days old.

 

[evolution6972]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Thank you for the info I'm going to try cleaning it as soon as the rain stops

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

Well I guess I wasted my time explaining exactly what that was and where it came from including the part that there was nothing wrong with the fuel in the tank, nor a problem with the tank itself. That's ok. My problem is solved.

Not saying the tank isn't a problem in some instances. Just saying that the filter in the pic. is the spitting image of what was in my fuel system, particle color, shape, and size, and I id'd where it came from.

Mark

 

[tazrig]

Re: Is this a sign of bad gas?

So will running 93 octane help any? My buddy is draining his tank tonight as I'm typing this, but is there any type of additive that can be added that will keep this sludge from not appearing?

You should only run the octane recommended by your engine manufacturer. Running a higher octane will make no difference in your problem. Starbrite (snake oil or not) will make a dramatic difference if breaking up and getting the "gook", "crap", "nasty stuff" out of your tank. You will see a dramatic increase of "gook", "crap", "nasty stuff" getting caught in your filters after you start using it. This will continue until Starbrite has done it's job and dissolved all of the "gook", "crap", "nasty stuff" from your tank. You should put in a water separator filter. You NEED to replace all of your old rubber fuel hoses with USCG ethanol approved new ones. Ethanol WILL dissolve your old rubber fuel hoses if you do not. This is fact not opinion. Once Ethanol absorbs so much water that it separates into a layer of gas and a layer of water (phase separation) in your tank there is nothing you can do but to drain out the water from the bottom of the tank. This is also fact not opinion. Good luck, Ethanol can be a pain until you get used to it and make the appropriate adjustments for it.