Water in gas

[Robert/Texas]

About a year and a half ago I filled the tank in my original, unrestored 1937 Ford Fordor Touring Sedan with Shell Regular. I’m 89 years old and came down with some medical issues shortly after that so I wasn’t able to drive the car until now.

Yesterday I got the car started. It ran rough for awhile but it smoothed out after about ten minutes. I took a ride in it for about 40 miles and it ran great. This morning we went for another ride and the engine started missing after about 5 miles and then stalled. I believe it has water in the gas tank and/or fuel system.

Solution: I want like to get all of the water out of the entire system. Any suggestions for the best/easiest way to accomplish this will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Robert.

[J Franklin]

Many tanks have a drain plug fitting, does yours?

[nelsb01]

As I mentioned on the Early Ford V-8 web site -- -find some HEET and add it to the tank if you really think it is water in the tank.

[50fordcoupeman]

Stick a hose into the tank, the other end into a gas can, put your air hose into the tank and block off the opening with a rag and give it a few psi of air and the gas will come shooting out into your gas can. better than sucking on a siphon hose.

[Robert/Texas]

Many thanks for your helpful responses.

I found my 1937 Ford book and it shows on page 5-8 where the drain outlets are located on the carburetor and fuel pump. I plan to drain both as soon as I’m able. I’m nervous about removing the fuel tank drain plug and plan to try the Heet suggestion. I like the Heet idea because it would be easy, but I have no idea of how this works.

Robert

[tubman]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"Heet" is mainly isopropyl alcohol which is hydroscopic (it combines with and therefore absorbs water) allowing it to pass through the fuel system in a normal manner and does not affect the combustion process like pure water does.

[joe 1950]

b - careful make sure it says contains isopropyl alcohol on the label

[blucar]

Water in fuel, gasoline and/or diesel use to be a big problem until the EPA made the services stations replace their old leaky tanks that allowed ground water and condensation to seap into the underground tanks. In the good ole days water in fuel was a constant problem, therefore the parts stores sold many brands of solutions to add to fuel, all of which was just basically Isopropyl Alcohol. Go to your local drug store and buy a quart of Isopropyl Alcohal,, a half a quart will do a good job of purging the water from the system.In lieu of draining the tank, use a gadget called a Super Siphon Hose, available at most auto parts/hardware stores...
Before the days of unleaded fuel which contains a percentage of alcohol, I generally installed water separator filters on many of my vehicles especially trucks/RVs with large tanks.
Following the advise of my tuneup man I generally add 4 0z of MMO and 4 oz Sta-ble per ten gallons of fuel in my vintage vehicles to eliminate/minimize problems though out the fuel delivery system.

[blucar]

Took a quick look through my pix files, found a pix of a Super Easy Siphon Hose.
A modern version of the ever faithful Oklahoma Credit Card.



'

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by blucar

Took a quick look through my pix files, found a pix of a Super Easy Siphon Hose.
A modern version of the ever faithful Oklahoma Credit Card.



'

[Pete]

If you know anyone that runs a real race car and burns methanol for fuel, they usually have small amounts left over after racing and will give you a pint or so.
This stuff works better than any type alcohol you can get at the drugstore for purging water from a tank. Just pour it in and go drive for awhile. You won't even know it is there as far as operation.

Another thing that will work just as well but you have to be EXTERMELY cautious in acquiring it unless you know someone or are in the business, is straight moonshine from the still.

[cmbrucew]

Pete
They got a Cinch mountain in Washington?
Bruce

[Pete]

Originally Posted by cmbrucew

Pete
They got a Cinch mountain in Washington?
Bruce

Classified info.

[38convsedan]

Have you considered running your car off an auxilary gas can with fresh gas?

[Robert/Texas]

Thanks for all of your thoughtful and helpful suggestions.

I’m quite sure that I don’t have an ignition problem because I get a good spark when cranking the engine with one of the sparkplugs removed. Also, I had the distributor repaired by Charlie Schwendler and the coil rebuilt by Skip Haney a month or so before my health problems occurred. The condenser was replaced then too.

I plan to remove the drain plug from the carburetor when I can get my great-grandson to come and help me. Then I’ll drain the fuel pump too, but I’m concerned about removing the plug from the 86-year-old gas tank, so I’ll try to siphon the gas out and refill it with a few gallons of fresh gas and a bottle of Heet.

This will most likely take some time, but I’ll report back as soon as I can.

Thanks again for your interest and help, Robert.

[Robert/Texas]

I wrote that I would report back so here goes.

My 16-year-old great-grandson volunteered to help me with my car. We started yesterday morning. The first thing we did was to double check the ignition system. Again, we got spark through the #7 plug, so we tried but failed to get the engine running with starter fluid. Next, we tried to remove the drain plug from the carb, but it wouldn’t budge so we removed the carb and fuel pump and drained them.
Next, we removed the drainplug from the tank and drained around 8 0r 9 gallons of gas from it. The gas was nearly odorless and colored reddish yellow. We blew the old gas out of the fuel line and reinstalled the carb and fuel pump. We filled the tank with 5 gallons of 93 octane e-free gas with a red bottle of Heet added.
The engine fired up quickly with the help of some starter fluid and we drove the car about 5 miles with no problems and went out to eat lunch at around 2:30.

[5851a]

Sounds like a good day.

[38convsedan]

Yay!!! It’s wonderful your 16-year old great grandson helped out!! And I’m thrilled you solved your problem! Glad you get to enjoy your ‘37 Fordor!

[john in illinois]

Glad you got it going. I am 80 and know it's a blessing when things work out.

John

[bssmnbll]

We need to make our grand kids JUNIOR MEMBERS!!