WATER can be deadly to a vehicle in many ways, especially as the contemporary computerization of cars continues.
However, one of the most frustrating ways in which it can render your vehicle immobile may also be the one you’re least expecting, and one undetectable by the naked eye.
One of the worst things that can happen to an engine is running it on contaminated fuel, with watery gas being the most common culprit.
This is typically caused by water entering the fuel system via various means of condensation or infiltration.
A faulty or missing gas cap, a bad seal in the system, filling up from a contaminated tank, or even filling up in high humidity or rain can all cause this.
While most gas stations should be monitoring and filtering their tanks for regular quality assurance, this isn’t always the case, and can lead to customers filling up watery tanks.
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Although impossible to tell in the moment, your car will make it very clear something is wrong once it starts running on that soiled gas.
Your engine will sputter, surge, misfire, or even stall out altogether when it tries running on watery fuel. This could even result in a check engine light coming on, but immediate catastrophic damage is unlikely.
The real danger in running an engine on tainted gas is the corrosion it creates inside the fuel system at large and an engine’s combustion chambers, and the risk of damage over time it presents.
Winter’s arrival also brings the risk of this water freezing in fuel lines, stopping good gas from reaching your engine and effectively freezing it over to the point of being unusable likewise.
It’s likewise best to identify and deal with this problem as soon as possible, and there are a few ways to do this.
A tried-and-true method for veteran mechanics is to smell the gas in car to see if it’s gone bad, identifiable by a sour or stale smell relative to its typically pungent odor.
However, this approach isn’t best for everyone, especially those lacking auto industry experience or unfamiliar with what good and bad gas smells like.
Thankfully, Amazon has the perfect product to help, and it only costs $9.
A jar of Gasoila Water Finding Paste can be used to quickly, easily, and accurately identify contamination in your gas tank.
First, apply some of the paste to the end of a stick before dipping it into your car’s fuel tank.
What happens if you put the wrong fuel in your tank?
Dwanye Saunders, the owner of Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Austin, Texas, said the common mix up isn’t as dire as people think.
He told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview there are things drivers should look out for at the pumps to avoid putting the wrong fuel in your tank, and what to do if it happens.
The first thing he noted is that most gas stations make it very difficult to fill a gas-powered car with diesel. At the pumps, size does matter.
“The nozzle for the diesel pump is usually much bigger than a gasoline pump,” he said.
“So, it’s pretty hard to put diesel in a gas tank, it’s actually easier to accidentally put gasoline in a diesel engine.”
If the wrong fuel type is used, drivers will know right away, as the engine will run incredibly rough before shutting off. When that happens, it’s important to not try and start the vehicle again, as it pushes the fuel further into the system. Forcing the wrong fuel through an ill-equipped engine can cost thousands in repairs, or even merit an engine replacement.
Instead, it’s best to have your vehicle towed to a trusted mechanic, where they’ll begin repairs.
“A good mechanic would drain the fuel tank and flush the lines with fresh gasoline, maybe run some fuel system cleaner through it and it’s usually not detrimental,” said Saunders.
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Be sure to reach the bottom of the tank, as water doesn’t easily mix with gasoline or diesel and could be sitting beneath a top layer of fuel since it’s denser.
After doing so and removing the stick, the paste should change color if it detected any water in the gas tank.
Typically, such products will turn a bright shade of an easily identifiable color like red, blue, green, or pink. Gasoila will turn from mustard yellow to a bright red if any water is detected.
If you find your car does have water in its fuel system, the next step is draining, unmounting, and cleaning your car’s gas tank.
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However, this can be a dangerous and arduous task for fear of creating an explosion or further contaminating the fuel system.
Likewise, any motorists not confident in their home repair skills are best served paying a professional to ensure the job is done right and your engine and fuel system are spared unnecessary damage.
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