Too much Marvel Mystery Oil in gas, what now

[luckyal]

My grandson filled up one of the A's today for the first time on his own. When leaving I told him to remember the Mystery Oul in the gas. Instead of 3 to 4 ounces that I usually put in he put the entire quart in. The car needless to say smokes excessively. Is there any cure other than dumping the tank full of gas and starting anew ?
Thanks Al

[Farrell In Vancouver]

How about removing three quarters of it into storage, then add fresh unmixed fuel to thin the mix. When you run out of that add some more mixed and add fresh again. Too expensive to waste it.

[Terry, NJ]

Sort of like a problem I once had in reverse. I have a VW Jetta, TDI (Diesel) and I stopped into a gas station to fill up. The non English speaking attendant (This was in NJ and you can't pump your own) gave me a tankful of gasoline. I didn't discover it until later. It drove fine at first but gradually got worse and worse and finally had to be towed home. The next day I was pondering the problem and how to get the gas out of the tank. I went in through the fuel pump access hole and siphoned out about ten gallons from a fourteen gallon tank and replaced it with about eight gallons of Diesel and closed it up and ran the mix off. I put more Diesel in as soon as it went to one half, but I had no further problems. I would just run it off. I don't think it will hurt anything.
Terry

[Bruce Lancaster]

I'd go ahead with post #2, largely because it is pretty easy on a Model A with the drain plug in carb and the shut-off valve as a control...I'd just fill up a couple of jerry cans and use them for future additive duty.
If you have one of the aftermarket fuel level gauge tubes OR other fitting with a tube nipple you can make this even easier by running a rubber hose to your can. Ease of course depends on functional shutoff...
I'm from Joisey too, and once happily filled up my Nova with Diesel when out in a primitive area...THAT was a fun night. Can't discuss my solution until I research the relevant statutes of limitation...

[H. L. Chauvin]

Humble Opinion:

Hi Al,

No matter what age he may be, most importantly is to hug your grandson and let him know that sometimes we all make mistakes like this.

This will be an experience he will never forget and he can relate this Model A story to his grandchildren about how forgiving & loving his grandfather was to him.

My grandchildren can't wait to see grandpa & I can't wait to see them.

Then every time you see a bottle of MMO, rather than frown, you will smile.

[luckyal]

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Mr. Chauvin You obviously have your priorities right !! I totally agree with you ! My grandchildren and my children are my life ! In grandpa's eyes they are perfect in every way. We actually had a great laugh over the incident. I explained that it was totally grandpa's fault for not being more specific with the instructions and he forgave me !
Al Luckins

[marc hildebrant]

I would drive it as is and as needed add just gas until the smoke stops.

Marc

[ronn]

Al, I believe your grandson had intentions for working on the mosquito patrol....

[Bruce Lancaster]

Hey...have your grandson develop the plan for fixing this!

[Fred]

If you had not used it in the first place, no problem.. Dont need it..

[lookin-backtexas]

At least your grandson was showing an interest in an old car and trying to be helpful! We need to cultivate the younger generation to love Model A's as much as we do. Here's a picture of four of my five grandkids sitting on the running board of my 1930 Model A Ford Tudor Sedan which I have owned for 41 years; I restored it myself and drove it from Dallas, Texas to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1986 to attend a national Model A Ford Club convention (2,500 miles round trip). My two sons at ages 5 and 8 rode with me on that trip in the Model A and they still talk about it even though they're now 31 and 34 and have kids of their own. We stopped in Hannibal, Missouri at Mark Twain's home and took their picture standing by the fence that Tom Sawyer paid Huck Finn to whitewash for him.

Every child should have their picture taken sitting on a running board! I remember having my picture taken as a child sitting on the running board of my grandparent's car.

[Chris in WNC]

Originally Posted by lookin-backtexas

Every child should have their picture taken sitting on a running board! I remember having my picture taken as a child sitting on the running board of my grandparent's car.

amen to that, Fred
.
when I drove to the Dearborn meet in 1990, I stopped in Ohio and we took a photo of one of my friends' kids sitting on my running board.
when I drove to Dayton in 1997 we did the same photo with the same car.
my friend and his kids LOVE having those pictures.

[amodel25]

Quote: drove it from Dallas, Texas to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1986 to attend a national Model A Ford Club convention (2,500 miles round trip). My two sons at ages 5 and 8 rode with me on that trip in the Model A and they still talk about it even though they're now 31 and 34 and have kids of their own.

Made the same trip form Ft. Worth in my '31 Town Sedan with my 10 year old son and 7 year old daughter and stopped by Manitoba on the way. They still talk about it and each one has a Texas license plate that was on the car during the trip hanging on their garage wall.

[Wick]

Just drive it,then add gas. As a teenager everytime I needed gas for the lawnmower and tiller the 5 gal can was empty??? So I dumped my Dirt Bike gas (2-stroke) in the can and just maybe I would find/smell the Thief. Yep it worked...saw my younger brother and his buddies riding around in the 62 Valiant smoke just a rolling out the back!!! Oh he was Mad as Hxxx and it was my falt!

[Hicktick]

One good thing is you have treated the tank against rusting for a while .

[59mgaguy]

MMO is just a mix of solvents - it has no oil in it
From its MSDS, here's the composition (nothing magic here):
Naphthenic Hydrocarbons: 70% – 80% (Benzene or Naptha - AKA lighter fluid)
Mineral Spirits: 20% – 30% (paint thinner)
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: 0% – 1% (possibly something like Tricloroethylene, amount is negligible and probably a manufacturing by-product)

[luckyal]

59mgaguy what are you saying ? Is there another solution ?
Al

[59mgaguy]

In the Name Mystery Oil there is no oil in it. but it does make one think that there some type of special oil in it.

If you want to try and use the mixture of MMO and gas that was in the gas tank. Do like Post 2 suggested. But try to use up the old gas mixture as soon as you can. Remember gas will go bad after a certain length of time.

Do any of you all remember putting moth balls in the gas tank?

[Tom Wesenberg]

"Do any of you all remember putting moth balls in the gas tank? "

I'll bet they were never bothered by mice in the tank.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

I would drive it as is and as needed add just gas until the smoke stops.

Marc

That's what I thought. It ain't a Ferrari. Not even a 1980 diesel rabbit.

Just drive it and in 100 miles you can cut the concentration by half.

Joe K

[59mgaguy]

Maybe I should have rephrase that question about the moth balls. But it's not to keep mice out.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by 59mgaguy

Maybe I should have rephrase that question about the moth balls. But it's not to keep mice out.

I know, and I do remember guys talking about doing that back in the late 60's. As I recall they did it for more horsepower, but I don't know if it worked.

[Gold Digger]

The moth balls just jogged my memory. I remember some neighbor boys putting moth balls in their old 50 Plymouth. They thought it ran better but I never tried it. I wonder if anyone knows for sure if it really did help or what was the consequents'.

[zzlegend]

Do any of you all remember putting moth balls in the gas tank?

I knew this weird kid with no teeth and missing two fingers that tried that once but didn't know how to hold him. By his wings or by his feet.

[Phil]

It is so easy to disconnect the fuel line at the carb. Slip a piece of hose over it and fill a couple cans,why would you not.

It's funny how the guys the complain the most about alcohol in the gas can't wait to pour MMO solvent in to their tank.

I was attending a flight instructor refresher clinic one year. One of my class mates was the corporate pilot for one of the national auto supply chains. When asked if those chemical additives they sold really did anything, his answer was absolutely. He said it pays for that Beechcraft twin and pays my salery to fly the big wigs to parties.

[Richard in Anaheim CA]

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I would get it out of there and reintroduce it a gallon at a time per tank of gas.

If you don't you are going to foul those plugs and have a big mess when you you pull them.

I once put 1/2 tank of diesel in my Model A by mistake. I drove it on a tour before I drained it. it wasn't too bad but better after I drained it and filled with gas. Maybe a good upper lubricant.

Richard
Anaheim CA

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Richard in Anaheim CA

once put 1/2 tank of diesel in my Model A by mistake. I drove it on a tour before I drained it. it wasn't too bad but better after I drained it and filled with gas. Maybe a good upper lubricant.

My uncle, a survivor of WWII on seeing my Model A asked if I had ever run it on KEROSENE.

"It's all we had during the gas rationing during WWII. It make it bang like heck and smoke like hades - but it got us to where the girls were."

He used to start on gasoline and make the switch over to kero on the fly.

And yes, a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine (another "d" head engine) will run perfectly fine on diesel - provided its started on the gasoline that's left in the carb and is fully warm. You probably won't even notice the difference. Just don't try to re-start if the mower stops for any reason.

We who drive diesel VWs and always keep a diesel can hanging around the garage (and whose wives are wont to confuse) learn these things.

Joe K

[columbiA]

In the early 50,s when I sometimes couldnt afford some gas,I would add about 3 gals of stove oil to the seven gals in the tank.It would smoke lot but increase my driving range.I dont know if Dad ever noticed that the heating oil was going down a little quicker!

[40 Deluxe]

Terry in NJ, you must have an older model Jetta TDI! The newer ones, '10 and up, will die a quick, expensive death from gasoline in the tank. Their injection system runs at 28,000 lbs (twenty-eight thousand PSI) rail pressure with a fuel-lubricated pump that does not like gasoline! A friend who is parts manager at the local VW dealer told me the other day about a fellow from Wisconsin who filled his 2011 TDI with gas. It died almost right away and cost over $10,000 (ten thousand) to get back on the road! Seems the pump eats itself and sends nice shiny aluminum filings throughout the system-injectors, lines, tank, etc. Ain't technology great?!

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Joe K

My uncle, a survivor of WWII on seeing my Model A asked if I had ever run it on KEROSENE.

"It's all we had during the gas rationing during WWII. It make it bang like heck and smoke like hades - but it got us to where the girls were."

He used to start on gasoline and make the switch over to kero on the fly.


Joe K

I have heard that often!

[Terry, NJ]

It's a 2002. I don't know that the gas did any harm. it happened about five years ago. It still runs and gives great mileage. I don't think I'd buy another one though, too much is proprietary with VW, Like oil, anti freeze, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. VW uses an antiquated oil filter system. It's a great car, but too expensive to maintain.
Terry

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Terry in NJ, you must have an older model Jetta TDI! The newer ones, '10 and up, will die a quick, expensive death from gasoline in the tank. Their injection system runs at 28,000 lbs (twenty-eight thousand PSI) rail pressure with a fuel-lubricated pump that does not like gasoline! A friend who is parts manager at the local VW dealer told me the other day about a fellow from Wisconsin who filled his 2011 TDI with gas. It died almost right away and cost over $10,000 (ten thousand) to get back on the road! Seems the pump eats itself and sends nice shiny aluminum filings throughout the system-injectors, lines, tank, etc. Ain't technology great?!

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

It's a 2002. I don't know that the gas did any harm. it happened about five years ago. It still runs and gives great mileage. I don't think I'd buy another one though, too much is proprietary with VW, Like oil, anti freeze, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. VW uses an antiquated oil filter system. It's a great car, but too expensive to maintain.
Terry

2003 TDI Golf here. +1 to all of above. Never buy another VW although I still like my TDI.

Looks like Honda henceforth.

I'd best like a 1983 Rabbit Diesel Pickup. Alas for corroded steel in the Northeast. (Rabbits, what few are left, are known locally as "rot boxes.")

A 1982 Jetta 1.6 diesel engine with 123K miles coupled to a Chinese "ST" 4 pole generator is shortly to be my emergency power supply for the sump pumps.

VW WAS the "people's car." Now a car for the rich and fuelish. VW sold out to the EPA. PM me and I'll tell the story of the 2011 Passat fuel management system differences between European and American production.

Joe

[59mgaguy]

Phil, Looks like your a level headed guy. And your into A/C too. I've been taught by smarter men then me that it's just a waste of your money. I also hope no one plans on running kerosene in their cars. Kerosine has a low flash point but a heck of a higher BTUs which could melt your aluminum pistons. A little like adding to much oil to a 2 stroke.