How to Fix Water in Gas Tank with Symptoms
Is your car not starting as it used to be? Are you trying to step on an accelerator but there is no immediate effect on the speed?
It can be the problem of water in the fuel tank.
In this article, you will find some of the ways through which water can find its way into the fuel tank, some of the symptoms of water in the fuel tank and how to solve this problem.
Whether accidentally or intentionally, water in the gas tank of a car is a problem that needs immediate attention. There are many ways through which water can enter the fuel tank.
Possible Ways Through Which Water Can Find Its Way Into The Fuel Tank
How To Know If There Is Water In The Gas Tank
There are many signs which can show that things are not well with your fuel tank. Below find some of the symptoms that can occur when there is water in the fuel tank.
1. Hydrolock
When this happens, you cannot start the engine of your car. This means that water has entered the combustion chamber and prevented compression and combustion of the gas.
2. Engine Starts But Stops
The engine of your car may start when you turn the key, but will soon stop. This could imply that the water inside has made the combustion weaker than what is required. You need to remove water from the tank and do some maintenance.
3. The Engine Does Not Start At All
In this case, the engine stops responding even if the ignition remains on. But a lack of gas could also be a reason that the engine does not start.
4. Reduced Fuel Economy
Water in the gas tank reduces the power of the engine. While the amount of gas burned remains the same, you get less mileage from your car. In the end, you will consume more on fuel without getting the right value.
Apart from that, water will settle at the bottom of the tank as it is more substantial than gasoline. This can rust your fuel tank.
Water in a fuel tank too makes a car to lose its power. It results in the fuel biodegradation. Microbial growth could block the filters and cause the entire fuel system to collapse.
5. Reduced Acceleration Speed
You can also experience subtle speed changes that you do not implement while driving. This can also get the form of a sputtering.
If you have adequate fuel, but it still stutters when you step on the accelerator, at that point, consider checking if your fuel is water polluted.
How To Remove Water In Gas Tank
Below are some well-known ways that you can easily follow to eradicate the water in your vehicle's gas tank.
1. Replace The Fuel
The best way to remove water from the tank is to flush out the gas from your car and replace it with the fresh one. High-quality fuels without ethanol are one of the best for this purpose.
Fuels containing ethanol are shorter in shelf life. They absorb the excess water in the tank within a few weeks. In fact, this type of fuel is known to consume about 50 times more water than non-alcohol gasoline.
2. Use Octane Fuel
You can also load your gas tank with a high octane number to neutralize the water in the gas tank. High octane fuel can exhaust your gas tank quickly. All moisture is absorbed, and the tank stays dry.
3. Use Additives
You can use an additive to remove water from the tank. Many products available on the market contain methanol and special fuel additives. These additives can effectively solve the problem.
But keep in mind that fuel additives will not work if your car's tank has a high volume of water.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol will sink to the bottom of the tank and help absorb water. Once the rubbing alcohol absorbs water, it will result in a safe mixture that is not dangerous to your engine. The combination will be burned in the exhaust.
However, rubbing alcohol is not the ideal solution to remove water from the fuel tank. It has water by itself. So if you decide to use it, seek or do under professional guidance.
5. Consult A Mechanic
If you are not sure whether all the fuel needs to be drained from the tank, or if only the use of an additive will serve the purpose, it is always best to seek expert advice.
Call your authorized service centre and report the problem. Asking a mechanic to inspect the car before any drainage method is done will worth every penny. In case the water content in your fuel tank is very high, you will need to use some new filters and drain the fuel completely.
Let’s Answer Some Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a way to convert a vehicle to run partially on water?
The precise and concise answer is no. This is for a variety of reasons. Introducing water into an unmodified gas tank can damage your vehicle.
2. What is a water-to-gas converter?
This type of system performs a chemical process to extract the hydrogen from the water and feed it into the gasifier with the gasoline.
3. Are water-to-gas converters safe to use?
As long as you apply them correctly, they are safe to use. Thousands of people have successfully converted their cars around the world and enjoy all the benefits of driving them.
4. Why is the price of gas rising so high?
There are many theories about why the price of gas is so high, from greedy investors to greedy oil companies to supply and demand. And also lack of alternatives.
5. Can water actually power the car?
This technology has been available since the end of the 19th century. With the original steam cars, the steamboat engines; driving a car on the water is not a new thing - but it seems to be forgotten.
Concluding Thoughts
If you are not in the position to perform this procedure by yourself, it will be a good approach to find a professional mechanic to do the job. Water in a fuel tank can cause damage to the engine if it goes unsolved for long.
The engine is the core of your vehicle, so give it maximum care like what you are giving to your heart.
