Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

[mooseo]

I had a problem with water in my fuel a while back. I am running a Johnson 90hp 2-stroke on a 17' Whaler. For a kicker, I have an 8hp Yamaha 4-stroke. Both motors come off the same tank, through a Ranco water separating filter. I wasn't paying attention, the filter filled up and killed the main motor. Still not knowing the problem, I started the kicker and killed it. I cleaned out the plugs and pumped gas through the filter until it stopped showing water in the plastic bowl. I got both motors started and ran them for a while. Probably ran the kicker for 15 minutes and the main motor for about 5-10 hours. <br /><br />I took the motors in for annual service, and they said there was no problem with the main motor but that the carb on the kicker was gunked up and needed to be rebuilt. <br /><br />They also suggested that I dump the 15-20 gallons of fuel in the tank, and maybe have the tank cleaned. I am wondering whether if this is really necessary. <br /><br />In running the main motor for all those hours, I have gone through about a tank and a half of fuel. The filter isn't showing any water separating off in normal use. <br /><br />Even if I do drain the tank and try to clean it out, is there any reason to toss the fuel? It seems like everything above the bottom couple of inches ought to be just fine, even if there is water. Looking into the tank, I can see all the way to the bottom, and everything looks fine.<br /><br />Thanks for any suggestions. That was an expensive lesson in remembering to check my fuel filter. By the way, how often to people change the filter element in a Ranco?<br /><br />cheers,<br />mike

 

[DJ]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

Mike, <br /><br />If you have run your 90 that many hours, with no trouble, I think you are good to go. I would get some spare filters and change them every ten hours or so until you can be certain all the gunk is gone.<br /><br />If your tank is easy to remove and dump, I would do it.<br /><br />The 90 and your kicker are two totally different animals. The small 4-stroke engines have very tiny jets (orifices) and are VERY sensative to <br />any fuel contamination. Your 90 will gulp fuel that that kicker will choke on.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

If you have not tried it yet, use dry gas that will help remove some of the water IF there is still any in there..

 

[wrangeller]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

A little water can go a long way in damaging a motor, especialy a 2-stroke. Oil and water dont mix, so when a 2 stroke takes in water there is going to be a lack of lubrication!! Any reasonable effort you can take to eliminate water in your fuel is effort well spent. Watching the bowl on your filter CLOSLEY and draining off any accumulated water would be the minimum. I would also check with the engine manufacturer before adding any dry gas. The alcohol in them can damage fuel system parts.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

You might also want to get a new separate 3 or 6 gallon fuel tank for you kicker, In an emergancy take use that fuel to power the kicker if your main engine fails! And if your main engine fails because of a fuel problem the same thing will happen to the kicker shortly! so buy a seperate fuel tank for it and keep fuel from a different store...... sorry for the spelling!

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

the pickup tubes in my tanks draw from the bottom of the tank. the water was the first thing out. so why pull the tank?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

Not sure if this will work for you. I have a fairly large tank (100 gal). The pick up tube is roughly one and half inches off the bottom. After winter is over, and all the condensation that occures from the ups and downs of the temps, I get several quarts of water built up in my tank.<br /><br />This is what I do to remove it. I take the fuel and 90 degree fitting off the tank leaving the pick up tube in the tank. I then take a smaller tube that will fit inside the pick up tube and slide it down inside it. On the small pick up tube, I have a fuel line hooked to it going to a squeeze bulb pump. I just simply keep squeezing the bulb pumping out the water and sediments that are on the bottom of the tank until I get nice clean gas.<br /><br />Disposal of the old nasty stuff goes into my 5 gallon bucket of used motor oil that I turn into the autoparts house. I strain off the water first though.........Just an idea that works for me.....SS

 

[Solittle]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

Not sure I can add much here but - - you are running a 2 cycle and a 4 cycle from the same tank. Do you use premix for the 2 cycle or do you have a VRO? Reason I ask is if you are running premix I'm not sure how good that fuel is for the 4cycle.

 

[wezie]

Re: Water in fuel -- how worried should I be?

SSmayfloat identified the problem; the pickup is not on the bottom of the tank. The reason for that is so that it will not pick up the last drop of water and debris. <br />You may have as much as a quart or two of water in the tank waiting for a little more water or to be sloshed around and mixed with the gas as you pound over the waves.<br />Suggest you empty the tank and clean it. You have already paid the bill once. Why again? Paddling is just not fun, rebuilding that 90 will be less fun, and there won't be any excuses next time.<br /><br />Note: Service stations tell me they only want oil, not mixtures. Might ask them.