Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Just trying to make that shit stretch
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR) – Drivers making a pit stop at the Rodeo Corner Convenience Store in Guthrie early Wednesday experienced a different kind of ‘pain at the pump’: the station was mostly deserted after complaints of water found in the gas tanks at the fuel stop.
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Every fuel tank has water in it, every one, ever, no exceptions. Underground storage tanks especially. When fuel is delivered and dropped into the tanks or a gas station the water at the bottom gets stirred up for 30 minutes or so. If fuel is dispensed during that time, some particles of water will be picked up by the pumps. The dispensers (the things above ground with the hoses that most people call the pumps) each have a water blocker filter that will remove water as the fuel is dispensed. When the filter reaches maximum saturation (and it takes very little water to get there) a film inside the filter breaks and a plastic ball is released that blocks the fuel until the filter is replaced. The filters can be bypassed or tampered with but you better not get caught doing that or you won't be a fuel retailer anymore. So, generally, commercial fuel dispensers will not dispense water. The technology has advanced some since I was in the business but not a whole bunch. It used to drive me nuts when people came into my shop and bitched cried and moaned that I had water in my fuel and it fucked up their car. I have no doubt that still happens every damn day to fuel retailers everywhere and it's impossible to convince a few people otherwise but that's the way it is. If you have a fuel tank, there is water in it, but the chances that it came in with fuel that you purchased at a retailer are mighty slim.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matthew. I did not know about the filters and the shutoff.
DeleteI know impirically of multiple examples to the contrary. Gas stations that, for years, consistently dispense substantial water with their fuel. Often as high as 4%. You can pump into a carbouy and see it within minutes.
DeleteThey're just adding extra O2 to your tank. Never get gas for several hours following a tanker visit; your vehicle tank will look like the bottom of your glass after drinking Schlitz beer.
DeleteI was speaking from experience as opposed to impirically.
ReplyDeleteThey will have to pump out the entire tank. With the 10% ethanol fuels you generally get two phases when there is water in the tank. Unfortunately the separation is not absolute. You have a mostly water and ethanol with some gasoline on the bottom. The top layer has mostly gasoline with some water and ethanol. The ethanol is used as an octane booster. So if you just pump out the bottom layer, the fuel on top will still be saturated with water, and the fuel will be sub-octane.
ReplyDeleteI worked in a fuels and lubricants testing lab for 30+years. Retired 3 years ago.
Uncle Dave.