Water In GasTank

[rickdb1boat]

I have a 25 GAL. built-in Gas tank on my toon and wound up getting water in it. I would guess about 2 or 3 gallons. I drained and disposed of all but about an inch from the tank. I had about 20 Gallons in it at the time it took on water. My question is, will it be OK to fill it up now with what little is left in there or do I have to find a way to get it all out? Is there anything I can add that will take care of the remaining mixture that's in there? I had to drill a hole in the Tank to get out what I could( Which is about an inch from the bottom of the tank). Any help would be appreciated, as it would be next to impossible to pull the Tank to get it all out! Thanks,

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Water In GasTank

Had to drill a hole! <br /><br />Go to a hardware store and get a hand pump. I am able to get everything out except about a 1/16th of an inch with one. Napa sells a drill driven one that is rated for fuel/oil also. Makes it darn handy to change oil via dipstick tube in my I/O.<br /><br />I would work on getting more out then rune some dry gas in the tank too.<br /><br />Bob

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Water In GasTank

Thanks Bob, I will see if NAPA has a pump. I was worried about a drill pump, as you never know with Gas! What brand or type of dryer would you recommend to put in the tank after I get the rest out? Thanks,

 

[Capt. Bob]

Re: Water In GasTank

Whatever you have to do to get all of the water out..do it. If you don't already have one, install a water seperator type of fuel filter in the system. Water in fuel can cause you to lose power when you least need to...when the seas get rough the water no longer is sitting on the bottom of the tank and the fuel pickup tube that is slightly off the bottom will injest the water and kill the engine. You can be dead in the water at the least opportune time. You could sustain engine damage also.<br />Take the time to do it right and you will remain a happy boater.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Water In GasTank

Thanks Capt. Bob,<br /><br /> I went out yesterday and got a pump. I am going to try to get all of it out, but may still have a little on the bottom. I have some treatment to add, that NAPA recommended, to put in also. That's exactly what was happening. It would just die after about 2 min. running and since I was on Vacation about 200 miles from home and had about 20 Gal. fuel in the tank at the time, I just popped a small 1/4 inch hole near the bottom of the Plastic Tack and drained it into 5 Gal. containers, as it would have taken forever with a hand pump. I only got it down to about an inch left and did'nt have a pump handy to get the rest. Should be easy enough to repair the hole after I get the rest out. All was not lost however, I just went up and got 2 6 Gal. portable tanks to get us through. I am going back down to the Lake Wednesday to see what I can do with it. I did find a crack in the Transom, that was spraying water right on top of the Tank, which I believe is how the water got into it. Probably through a bad seal at the fuel sender! So the first thing I have to do is get that welded. I sure hope this works! Also, where is the best place to install a Water Seperator on a 1991 70 HP Evinrude And how do they work?? Thanks again,

 

[Capt. Bob]

Re: Water In GasTank

There are different kinds of seperators..some that spin the fuel like the Raycor Filters and others that use the sediment design. As far as where to install, I would find a convenient spot to mount it anywhere between the tank and the engine that can be watched and serviced from time to time. I don't know what type or size would be best for your engine..perhaps the engine forum or someone else will have that info for you.<br />Good luck,