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I have waterinmy fuel tank.. I think it's pretty bad..

Here's what happened. I have a 50-gallon barrel of 104 octan gas (for a different fi'd car) and I let it sit out for over a year in the elementrs.

It was capped twice, but I wanted to test if it had water and I filled up about a milk gallon of gas.

It didn't strike me too hard then, but there was a line separating where it was "much more yellow" on top, and less of a yellow shade below it (about.. 5/6th) I put it in the Civic, and then I realized I was screwed...

Do I need to draink the fuel tank? I'm pretty empty on the Civic right now, so I could go and dilute it, but that will be as much as 1/10th of a tank!

Help!

 
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PS: I am thinking I could just take out the drain bolt at the bottom to relive it. However, in looking at the service manual, it says to relieve the fuel pressure. Do I really need to do this?

Thanks.

 
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yeah relieve the pressure first. some people just remove the gas cap, but its not the safest way. i would not chance just filling it up with gas. drain what you put in first.

 
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just take the fuel line off of the fuel rail and shoot it all out haha.

 
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I would definetly drain the tank, but you will not be able to get all of the old fuel out due to some of the baffles that are inside.

Lord ET made a good point about taking the fuel line off of the rail. I would take the line off that feeds to the fuel filter,use some sort of a catch can(milk jug). It important to do this because the filter will abosorb alot of the moisture as well, and you will just move the contaminated fuel to another place in the system.

Keep turning the key from the off position, to position II(second click) on the ignition. Just so you can hear the fuel pump running. DO NOT TRY AND START THE CAR! You want to purge out whatever bad fuel is in the line PRE-FILTER.

Do this as many times as needed.Just keep monitoring the quality of the fuel that is being purged from the line. (smell(woo-hoo),color,etc.) A friend to help(that doesn't smoke) will make this a lot safer

Replace the fuel filter WITH A NEW FILTER!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!, and add Lucas Fuel Stabilizer to the tank. A bottle of the stuff treats I think up to 25 gallons,so use as directed.(auto zone,napa,advance,etc.)

You'll have maybe 40 bucks in the deal, but could seriously save yourself from a classic case of the oh *****.

Just be careful, and take your time.

Hope this helps,
Brad

 
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excellent response! +1 for you!

 
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Thanks Brad for the tips. Can I just take the fuel line without draining the tank? Or do I hae to do both?

 
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I would do both to ensure that all contaminated fuel is purged.

Confusios says, "wash both hands before returing to work"

 
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brad knows his stuff. besides if you just did it from the fuel rail it would take alot longer. it only comes out a little at a time

 
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Ok guys, I wanted to post some pics before tearing the car apart..
Let me know if you think this is still water. I spoke with the local race fuel store guys and they said that water will distinctively sit at the bottom, and if it's yellow, it should still be fuel...

I may have some water, but is it obvious that I have a significant to worry about?

 
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Why on earth did you put that in there? Relieve the pressure and flush it out with clean gas, run fuel system cleaner that is designed to remove water, and refill. Should be good.

Expensive, to waste all that gas, but what are you gonna do?

 
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That doesn't answer my question. Is that gasoline + a lot of water or is it mainly gasoline? The impression I got from the gasoline distributor is that it should be distinctly water..

 
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Is anyone else here that has the knowledge and experience to look at the pictures and say deffinitevly whether there is significant water or not?

 
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put it in something other than a milk jug...like a glass so that we can see the bottom clearly and if there's water you will be able to see a distinct line.

 
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Your civic is mad at you for setting that milk jug of crappy fuel on it.
-JUST KIDDIN

Really Ive removed much worse from previous work. A CRX of mine that I got at a deal The gas tank was rusted the f*** out. Now do you think that gas was good... no. But you remove as much of the problem as you can and do the best you can to fix it. I had to replace tank,injectors,filter,pump, you name it.

If you purge the good portion of the fuel,and you only have 1/10th of a tank anyways(I believe that's what you said previously) The fuel neutralizer will take care of the rest. After a few fill ups, and some normal driving, you should be fine.

Your problem is very simple, just be glad some ******* didn't pour sugar in your tank.


Fuel+Sugar=


Hope this helps,
Brad

 
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Best way to relieve pressure from the fuel line. Remove the fuel pump relay located behind the glove compartment, in front of the ECU. Start the engine and wait untill it stalls. Now you have no fuel pressure in the rail and you never had to open it up.

 
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Can you please explain? Are you saying that if I relieve the fuel pressure in the fuel line I'll be ok.. Doesn't quite make sense.

Also - do you know if there is a drain bolt on the fuel tank in the Civic? Where is teh fuel filter located? In the engine bay or the tank?

Thanks a lot!
Still haven't done this.. but been thinking about it...

 
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fuel filter is in the tank

 
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they used to make this stuff called "dry gas" I don't know if they still sell it, you have to get it from like pepboys or advanced autoparts but you stick it in your tank if you have water in your gas tank. it's supposed to take care of your water problem.