How to tell you have water in your gas

A new one for me. Grabbed my utility can to put gas in the snow blower and it rattled! Figured the only thing could be was frozen water. Temp at time was 22 degrees coming off 2 days of near zero and low teens. I decanted all the gas into clean cans and filled the blower from them. Then came the fun of shaking ice chunks out of the can. Got a bunch of them, must hae been a small cup of water in the bottom of the can.

Will be filling it again tomorrown and picking up some 'Heet" to add to the PU, car and gas can.

I recall cleaning that can out last year (may have been the fall before). Guess I have to watch it a bit closer.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K
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An old timer once told me that if you have more than a teaspoon of water in your your gas it came from the gas station and can't be condensation. Reason being, he said, sloppy station operators fail to check tanks for water in the bottom every day. These days ethanol is popular as an additive, so stations are forced to take better care of their product, as they could lose up to 10% of it if water extracts the ethanol. The OT also advised never buy gas from a station at the bottom of a hill, and never gas up first thing in the morning. In the winter plowed snow can turn into funnels over the tank fillers and the snow melt runs right into the tanks. Based on personal experience, IsoHeet is only a bit pricier tha Heet, and far better for fuel systems. HTH

Joe

Reply to
Joe

Just thaw the chunks out with a blow torch.

That's a joke.

;-)

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

But it would result in a clean tank (remnant). ;)

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

I once did have to thaw a pickup truck's fuel line with a propane torch to get some ice out of the line.

Veeeerrrrryyyyy carefully.

Reply to
websurf1

Sounds like the oldie..."Dude, got a light? I think I smell gas." Couldn't resist.

Reply to
MLOM

Or this song....

To the tune of "My Bonnie lies over the ocean".

My Bonnie looked into the gas tank, The depth of its contents to see. I lighted a match to assist her, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me...

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff Wisnia

I signed up for a welding class at a local community college. Didn't have much respect for the teacher and lost what little I did the day he rolled an empty gas barrel out in the yard and got ready to cut the top off with a torch. I decided it was a good time to take a smoke break. Nothing happened but...another of his brilliant things. Guy contracted with him to turn an old hangard door into a 4wheel trailer deck. His plan looked okay until he had us weld both spring shackles solid to the frame.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Move can to warmer area, and then pour the (now liquid) chunks out.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

I've been catching the news, the central US area is really being pounded by some nasty snow storms. Time to stock up on Heet, snow brushes, etc. Gonna need em.

First I've heard of frozen water in a gascan, though it does make sense. At least it's not liquid water pouring into your snow blower so it can settle in the carb bowl, and kill the machine.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

I had never thought about it before but it is quit logical and fully to be expected.

Carb bowl!? Carb bowl! This is an ancient Brigs...well not all that ancient, probably circa 1980s but then the technology of those engines was developed back in the teens or 20s and I don't think it was ever upgraded.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Still works nicely. I guess the guys back then knew what they were doing.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Back when my '64 Dodge was almost new, the frozen water in the fuel pump holed the diaphram. Luckily the FLAPS was within walking distance that cold day.

Reply to
Studeman

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