Water in Gas

[June]

After taking off the fuel rail and dumping the water, etc. out, I reinstalled it and the car ran ok for a few minutes, with some misses, Now back to the same as it was. I have added a can of Heet. Planning to repeat the removal, dump process today. any suggestions beyond that? Can I take the rail off, put tubing on the gas line and use the fuel pump to pump some of the contaminated gas out of the lines/tank?

If you have that much water in the tank, you might need to drain the tank. Otherwise add several gallons of E85 to put enough ethanol in to absorb the water. I ran my S80 on 1/2 E85 1/2 the previous fuel by mistake and the car ran great. No engine light, but got a few mpg worse on that tank. I thought I was putting in Super Premium Unleaded. E85 was new back then and I did not know what it was. Didn't hurt anything, and I never made that mistake again. It might allow the water to pass. June

[sucanache]

Took off rail, put hose on fuel line and pumped about 1 1/2 gallons of water out of it. PS -it will syphon from that fuel line if you have enough hose to get down to ground level. I used some fuel line that I had on hand.

[sucanache]

Still missing occasionally at startup. Any ideas? still have about 3/4 tank of the gas left. Run it out?

[mrbrian200]

That's a lot of water.
You might look at the station where you last purchased gas as a possible cause. It happens.

Once a year or so locally I'll hear of some station where their underground tank didn't get sealed properly after a delivery and a torrential rain ends up in people's fuel tanks. Or the local news will pick up on an a state EPA action against a station forcing them to repair/replace a leaky underground tank or get shut down permanently. Sometimes this was after the EPA was tipped off by driver complaints (bad quality gas/water in gas). In most states you file a complaint with the state EPA.

Or you have an enemy or juvenile pranksters in the neighborhood.

In any case if you decide the water likely came from a gas station... I took 5 seconds to google it for your state. In Mississippi you file a complaint with the department of agriculture and commerce http://www.mdac.ms.gov/wp-content/uploa ... _sheet.pdf.

[sucanache]

Thank you.

[June]

Thank you!

How is the car running? Did you do anything particular that solved the problem? I read you siphoned from the fuel rail over a gallon of water. That is not normal, either someone garden hosed your tank or you really got bad gas. June

[sucanache]

Is there any possible way for 1 1/2 gallons of water to get into the tank other than through the filler cap? Car is parked under motion detector lights and of course has the electric fuel door. Do not believe it was "messed with" in any way.

[oragex]

That's a lot of water.
You might look at the station where you last purchased gas as a possible cause. It happens.

Once a year or so locally I'll hear of some station where their underground tank didn't get sealed properly after a delivery and a torrential rain ends up in people's fuel tanks. Or the local news will pick up on an a state EPA action against a station forcing them to repair/replace a leaky underground tank or get shut down permanently. Sometimes this was after the EPA was tipped off by driver complaints (bad quality gas/water in gas). In most states you file a complaint with the state EPA.

Or you have an enemy or juvenile pranksters in the neighborhood.

In any case if you decide the water likely came from a gas station... I took 5 seconds to google it for your state. In Mississippi you file a complaint with the department of agriculture and commerce http://www.mdac.ms.gov/wp-content/uploa ... _sheet.pdf.

All good answers imho. I can't see how water from rain would get to the tank, the tank is a highly sealed part, if there would've been a 'gap' somewhere, it would smell gasoline to the point of getting nausea just being near the car. Still worth a check of the tank cap (check the rubber seal or better get a used one from the scrap yard) and also check the fuel door is locking once the car starts moving (think prankster/not so friendly neighbor).

If it comes from a gas station, it is easy to find/prove the culprit: Just fill a few ounces in a gasoline can at the station and look for water separation

https://www.cheapcarinsurance.net/gas-s ... iolations/
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consum ... nk-n776016
http://www.cspdailynews.com/fuels-news- ... ne-posting
https://www.click2houston.com/news/gas- ... 3153811573

[sucanache]

The car seems to be running very well. It starts quickly and idles like it should. Power and acceleration back to normal.
The fuel supplier is saying that they can find no evidence of water in their tanks.