Left fuel cap off while cruising

[bspeth]

How quick would I know if I took water in the fuel tank if I went cruising with the fuel cap off.The cap is on the starboard side in the back. I came off plane twice during the run back to the dock to pull er last time out.Concerned that some water got up that high when powering down.It ran great on muffs after sitting for a couple of weeks.Thanks-B

 

[Dallas007]

I would think the quantity of fuel in your tank would be a factor. More fuel would dilute the water. Perhaps adding more fuel to dilute now would help. Good luck!

 

[GA_Boater]

Since you made it back and don't say she started to run badly, you're probably fine. Any water would sink to the bottom of the tank quickly and drown the motor in short order or cause poor running.

 

[littlerayray]

Check your fuel water separator and maybe pick up another tbs

 

[Bondo]

I would think the quantity of fuel in your tank would be a factor. More fuel would dilute the water. Perhaps adding more fuel to dilute now would help. Good luck!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Gas, 'n water don't mix, nor dilute,....

Any water will be sittin' on the bottom of the tank, waitin' to be sucked up, 'n deposited into the fuel filter,....

Just carry a fresh fuel filter, 'n if it starts to run bad, change it,....
I carry qt. freezer baggies to change the filters, without spillin' fuel into the bilge, 'n it double duties, as ya can dump the filter contents into it, 'n look for water,....

 

[bspeth]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Dallas007]

Thanks for the welcome! Perhaps dilute was a poor choice of words. I was thinking a quart of water in a 10 gallon fuel tank would have more of an impact on performance vs. a quart in a 50 gallon tank. Also not sure how a fuel filter would separate gas from water if they run through the same paper element? I'm always interested in learning something new.

 

[Bondo]

I was thinking a quart of water in a 10 gallon fuel tank would have more of an impact on performance vs. a quart in a 50 gallon tank. Also not sure how a fuel filter would separate gas from water if they run through the same paper element? I'm always interested in learning something new.

Ayuh,.... Even in a 1,000 gallon tank, a quart of water is still gonna be a quart water bubble wanderin' 'round the bottom of the tank, waitin' to be sucked up the dip tube,...

A quart of water would probably take 3 or 4 fuel filters to get rid of, as they hold somewhat less than 1/2 quart,....

The water/ fuel separator filters use gravity to remove the water,.....
As the raw fuel comes in the inlet into the filter, the flow slows, 'n the water falls outa suspension, to the bottom of the canister,...
The clean fuel is drawn off the top of the filter, on the other side of the paper, crud, 'n water free,....
Once the filter gets to full of water, it begins to get drawn out with the clean gas, that's when the motor stumbles at Wot, 'n ya know it's time to change the fuel filter,....

 

[Dallas007]

Thanks Bondo, I never knew the fuel separator worked that way! I appreciate the info.

 

[biggjimm]

Welcome Dallas

Thanks Bondo, I never knew the fuel separator worked that way! I appreciate the info.

Stick around awhile & that Bondo, as well as some other guys, will learn you a few more things. Quite a combined collection of knowledge on this board.

 

[achris]

Thanks for the welcome! Perhaps dilute was a poor choice of words. I was thinking a quart of water in a 10 gallon fuel tank would have more of an impact on performance vs. a quart in a 50 gallon tank. Also not sure how a fuel filter would separate gas from water if they run through the same paper element? I'm always interested in learning something new.

Doesn't matter if it was 1 gallon of fuel or 50... The water being heavier than petrol will sink. ALL the water will be at the bottom of the tank. NONE will be absorbed by the petrol, so there is no 'dilution'.... If you're concerned, then fill the tank, throw a couple of pints of methylated spirits in with it and stop worrying....

The water sep fuel filters work by using the fact that water is a) heavier than petrol, and b) not absorbed by it. They do moving into and out of the filter through the same lines, but the filter acts as a settling tank, and the water will fall to the bottom. The lines in and out are at the top. The water falls to the bottom and only pure petrol comes off the top, until the filter is full of water, then you're screwed.... And that's why we check them so often....

Chris.......

 

[gm280]

If you are seriously worried about this, you could always pump all the fuel out of the tank through a water separator setup and into some temporary container(s), and then dump the filtered fuel back in the tank again and happy boating... just an idea... :thumb: