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White gas?

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by sanjuandreamer, Aug 31, 2009.

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  1. sanjuandreamer, Aug 31, 2009
    #1
    sanjuandreamer

    sanjuandreamer New Member

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    Capt J asked "What was in the old fuel filters? Was there a lot of white murky looking stuff?".

    What would this be an indication of, water in the gas?
    I recently changed fuel filters and noticed the gas was murky white...I thought it was odd when I noticed it.
    I thought it was the catch container and gas reacting to each other.
  2. K1W1, Aug 31, 2009
    #2
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    If you do have water in your gas, it will have a milky appearance.

    If you put it in a clean and clear container and let it sit for a while the water will settle on the bottom.
  3. NYCAP123, Aug 31, 2009
    #3
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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  4. Pascal, Aug 31, 2009
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    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    water or if you have older fiberglass tanks it could be the resin disolving because of ethanol...
  5. sanjuandreamer, Aug 31, 2009
    #5
    sanjuandreamer

    sanjuandreamer New Member

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    When I purchased the boat both tanks were at empty, I've filled them with new gas and had her running at 3600 for two hours straight then changed the filters

    I'll change the filters again next couple weeks.
    Tanks are alunimum.

    I've seen water in gas before except it was in "bubble" rolling around at the bottom of the fuel.
  6. Capt J, Aug 31, 2009
    #6
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Milky white is water in the gas and debris that have been stuck to the side of the tank for many years that the ethanol has dissolved. I would keep an eye on fuel filters and keep draining them often and hopefully you'll get through it fairly quickly. I have noticed that a marine fuel system treatment for gas with ethanol has been helping a lot with the ethanol induced problems.
  7. NYCAP123, Aug 31, 2009
    #7
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    The more I think about it water in gas should not be milky white. That's how it looks in oil and diesel. Gas should just lay on top of water. Your boat's vintage is new enough that it should not be and hopefully isn't ethanol dissolving the tank. My guess would be that's a gas additive or stabilizer that has settled. You should be able to burn it off with little effect.
  8. Fishtigua, Aug 31, 2009
    #8
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the fuel we buy from the pumps has changed?

    I have never sold so many fuel filters, addatives(we are agents for Grotamar), fuel pump parts, injectors, seals, diaphrams and other related parts.

    We have a Racor fuel scrubber in the yard and its in use almost every other day. Customers are bringing in jars of slimey fuel more than ever.

    Where I work we get a good cross-section of boats from Northern Europe and those from the Med or the States heading north (Duty-free fuel in Europe is coverted).

    In Europe a certain amount of bio-fuel has to be added to gas or diesel by Law (5% in France and other EU countries).

    So if anyone knows someone in the petro-chemical industry who can give an answer, that would be great.

    Having blown a DD 92 V8 due to poor fuel, I worry for others.
  9. Capt J, Aug 31, 2009
    #9
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I've seen a lot of milky white gas/water. I think it is caused by the water being partially mixed with the gasoline in the fuel filter and kept suspended. When you pour it into a gas jar it does eventually settle and seperate into water on the bottom and gas on top. (maybe it needs air to settle and can't in a sealer fuel filter, I don't know).
  10. NYCAP123, Aug 31, 2009
    #10
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Thanks Cap. Guess I've just been lucky enough not to have that pleasure. Always just had it in the racor.
  11. sanjuandreamer, Aug 31, 2009
    #11
    sanjuandreamer

    sanjuandreamer New Member

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    I'll drain them a couple weeks from now in to glass jar and see what happens.