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If the gas was a ethanol blended gas as most gas is and the water is more then .5%, then it is in phase separation and all the fluid at the fuel pump will be water/ethanol. It just depends on how much water but once settled the engine aint gonna start.
Doesn't seem like a likely culprit as it was a pretty sudden onset of the issue. Plugs don't typically go from performing "as normal" to that in short order.
Where does this issue sit currently? Key in ignition, turn to run, gauges "sweep" as normal? Turn to "Start" position, and engine rotates, but doesn't fire or fires poorly/idles poorly and dies? If it fires and poorly idles, does it respond to throttle input? Or if it doesn't fire, tried WOT (wide open throttle) during cranking to enable "flood mode" response from engine control? Any change to cranking with that?
What I mean w/o saying, which is why I did Top ref Mom and Pop is U just never know what people, organization, company will be amenable to hearing what you have to say and maybe willing to assist. When I ran a gas station way back when, we "sticked" the tanks twice a shift and after delivery and if their was evidence of "water" above a level, that tank was shut down. This was back in the 70's, before all the computerized stuff, where everything was done with a "stick", and chemicals on the stick and all measurements (fuel level/amounts), were converted using a chart. It was standard: any evidence beyond 10 gallons on end of stick, and that grade was shut down till MX came out. Now they use dual stage filters, and computer stuff, etc.,. but really depends upon location, how new place is, how old, MX done, etc. All the above IMHO...
Well, not to turn this into a fueling station thread, but some of the "old way" is used when using some of the new. Water finding paste is still utilized with the stick in various scenarios. There are even some older stations that do "stick only" readings. I've worked with enough major oil companies to know that the water problem can and does occur across the board from brand new built stations to 50 year old locations. It happens at the independent locations just as much as national brand major oil locations. Filters are as reliable as the station operator. A filter will bypass if it has enough water reactivity and has reached it's water "holding" capacity (which is VERY little), allowing water to transfer to end user (your truck tank). Part of the reason why I always tell people, "if the dispenser is running slow, stop the flow". Get away from it! It may be a totally separate issue. But if it's slow because of a filter, there's a reason.
They absolutely do. My uncle had that job his entire life, what a sweet gig man. It is the division of weights and measures here in CA, yes under the ag department, and they test gas stations all the time for weights measures and quality and they do take complaints. I imagine every state has one of these. But first my guess the op is gonna have to verify. I don't know the process for getting repairs though, we never discussed that. His favorite thing was catching gas stations who cheated, lol. That was back in the day, I imagine now it would be harder, but back in the 80's he had some stories.
IF I see slow running fuel, I immediately stop and run. IF I see a truck making a fuel drop or just finished I bypass that place also. Spent too many years dealing with fuel issues/quality when I was a kid. Learned something out there pumping fuel, LMAO. My deceased wife worked at a station connected with grocery store and she knew the guy who did the pumps and tank MX for this area. She also knew by way of intel which stations in the area had MX done on a regular basis. Those to this day are the only places I get fuel in town.
If a station was properly built, there are safeguards in place that negate having to run from an actively dropping fuel situation. The STP (submerged turbine pump) is set at a height as to prevent picking up tank bottom slurry/water for this reason. Also, stations should have in place, a drop tube assembly that the transporter is dropping fuel through, into the bottom of the tank. This drop tube is cut angular, with the widest portion of the opening facing away from the STP intake, again, to prevent pulling in slurry/water during a fuel drop. The drop tube discharge is set lower than the intake of the turbine, facing away from the turbine, in an effort to minimize picking up anything unwanted. Poor service practices throughout the life of the station usually end up with drop tubes and turbines being improperly height adjusted, or not faced properly, overriding these preventative measures. I've been involved in many of the resulting disputes. The last effort at preventing the contaminants from entering a customer vehicle lies in the dispenser filter. Each product is filtered at each dispenser (dispenser consisting of 2 sides of a "pump"), traditionally. These are normally a minimum of a particulate filter gauged at 10 micron for gasoline/ethanol blends and 30 micron for diesel. There are variations of the filter that include particulate and "water alert". The water alert could be a simple reactive media that constricts the pores of the filter upon the introduction of water into the product. This results in a slow flow condition (various things can cause slow flow, but typically filters "alerting" to water is the culprit). There is also a type of water alert filter that uses a check ball, adhered to the inner base of the filter cavity, that release the check ball once water dissolves the adhesive. The check ball locates into what would be the flow path of the gasoline and stops the flow, resulting in a dead-stop vs. slow flow. Check ball type filters are rarely seen any more as they are cost prohibitive for station owners. There are more advanced filters that are phase separation sensitive as well. Cim-Tek and Petroclear are the preferred brands, but numerous companies make a fuel dispenser rated filter.
I doubt that, and I would not mention that if I was him anyhow.
If you don't, start using Top Tier gas.
U are way toooooo knowledgeable for this Humble Boird, but U definitely know yer stuff. Good info.If a station was properly built, there are safeguards in place that negate having to run from an actively dropping fuel situation. The STP (submerged turbine pump) is set at a height as to prevent picking up tank bottom slurry/water for this reason. Also, stations should have in place, a drop tube assembly that the transporter is dropping fuel through, into the bottom of the tank. This drop tube is cut angular, with the widest portion of the opening facing away from the STP intake, again, to prevent pulling in slurry/water during a fuel drop. The drop tube discharge is set lower than the intake of the turbine, facing away from the turbine, in an effort to minimize picking up anything unwanted. Poor service practices throughout the life of the station usually end up with drop tubes and turbines being improperly height adjusted, or not faced properly, overriding these preventative measures. I've been involved in many of the resulting disputes. The last effort at preventing the contaminants from entering a customer vehicle lies in the dispenser filter. Each product is filtered at each dispenser (dispenser consisting of 2 sides of a "pump"), traditionally. These are normally a minimum of a particulate filter gauged at 10 micron for gasoline/ethanol blends and 30 micron for diesel. There are variations of the filter that include particulate and "water alert". The water alert could be a simple reactive media that constricts the pores of the filter upon the introduction of water into the product. This results in a slow flow condition (various things can cause slow flow, but typically filters "alerting" to water is the culprit). There is also a type of water alert filter that uses a check ball, adhered to the inner base of the filter cavity, that release the check ball once water dissolves the adhesive. The check ball locates into what would be the flow path of the gasoline and stops the flow, resulting in a dead-stop vs. slow flow. Check ball type filters are rarely seen any more as they are cost prohibitive for station owners. There are more advanced filters that are phase separation sensitive as well. Cim-Tek and Petroclear are the preferred brands, but numerous companies make a fuel dispenser rated filter.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled forum
