Water in Fuel???

[fishman1342]

Good Afternoon,

I recently filled up our company ram with fuel from a white tank on our jobsite. Immediately after it had a check engine light and was shaking really bad. I added HEET to the fuel because another vehicle that was also filled up got a check engine light (guessing water in the fuel since the tank is now empty and all fuel that was just dispensed was from the bottom) and now it won’t even start at all, just cranks, then kinda starts then dies out. Do you think this could be a fuel issue? What is the best option, keep trying to get it to turn over and burn all the Heet/Water off or is the engine hydrolocked?

 

[Jeepwalker]

Hydrolock is when one or more of the cylinders fill up with water enough so the pistons can't compress (valves are closed) and the engine won't turn over. So if it's turning over, you're not hydrolocked. But as you say, water doesn't burn....water contaminated fuel almost sounds like your issue based on your description. But there's always a chance the fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator (or something else totally) is at fault. To check water in the fuel, have a qualified person/tech, (safely) pump some from the fuel rail gasoline into a glass jar and let it sit to settle out to visually inspect for water. But the question is, how much is in there?? Is it a pint, or is it 5 gallons? And nobody knows w/o looking.

I guess the 'right' way to approach it would be to check codes, ensure there's the right amt of fuel pressure. And if there is, and no glarring other codes (like crank sensor, etc), pump out the rest of the truck's tank of fuel. And/or drop the tank and esure there's no more water in the tank.

Trying to run it until it 'clears up' could take a LONG time ...many miles ..even a hundred miles or more if it's really bad, several containers of HEET, possibly getting stranded multiple times ..and a lot of wated time, depending on how much water is in there. Truthfully from my experience, it's not worth it. Tow it to a dealer or shop, let them pump and/or remove the tank, suck the water out, put in new fuel, and write it off as a company expense. You're at the front end of an oddessy & could waste a lot of time that a shop can do pretty quickly on a hoist.

And if the dealer hasn't fixed the tank support bracket recall, maybe they can kill two stones with one bird.

.

 

[RamInfo]

Company truck? Which engine, gas or diesel? If it’s diesel stop trying to start it and start changing filters and pumping out the tank. If you’re lucky the water hasn’t reached the high pressure pump or injectors, in which case the bill goes up astronomically.

If it’s gas, then you’re probably looking at replacing the in-tank filter and pumping out the swill you put in from that freestanding tank.

HEET isn’t going to solve your issue either way.

Best,
RI