Date:         Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:23:38 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: STRANDED in South Florida - NEED TECH HELP-water in fuel
Comments: To: Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no

Well .............. .  Gas stations don't add water to fuel.  Alcohol is
hygroscopic, meaning that it attracts and dissolves water into it.  If a
station's tanks are the least bit leaky, there might be some water
intrusion from the soil.  Long ago, that was sometimes a problem, even
without alcohol in the gas.  Of course, a leaky tank is a violation, but
the older they are, the more likely they are to leak.  This is not
likely to be a problem, and whether the station is beside an interstate
highway or not makes no difference (except that interstate gas stations
might tend to be newer, and so less likely to have old, leaky tanks.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

David Mc


On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 11:18 PM, Zoltan wrote:

> I agree with this assumption.  It happened to me a few times when on
> the
> road.  The freeway side gas stations can do it to you.  Once you are
> gone,
> you're on your own.  Towing, waiting for a garage to open until
> Monday,
> sleeping in the van at a weird place, etc.  Maybe some fuel additive
> would
> solve it.
> The gas stations are allowed to put in a certain amount of water into
> their
> tank, depending on how much alcohol there is in it, I think.
> Zoltan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allan Streib" To: Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 7:47 PM
> Subject: Re: STRANDED in South Florida - NEED TECH HELP
>
>
>> Mark Drexler  writes:
>>
>>> Now just fueled up, and will start, but spits and burps, and can't
>>> get
>>> all cylinders firing on start up. Feels like a lack of fuel delivery
>>> to me.
>>
>> When running problems appear suddenly after a fuel fill, you have to
>> consider that maybe you got a batch of dirty or watery fuel.  I think
>> this is uncommon these days, but it can happen.
>>
>> Allan
>> --
>> 1991 Vanagon GL