How to Get Water Out of Gas Tank in Car? Learn the Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

Water production in the fuel tank of your car means your vehicle is closer to getting an internal hit. If not taken care of immediately, you should expect your fuel lines, injectors, and the fuel tank to get rusted; even worse, expect it to affect the connected mechanisms, leading to the overall devastation of your classic or modern-day automobile model.

That said, you must now have got an idea of how sensitive your fuel tank getting filled with water is. However, for this very reason, the car expert group brings you a guide on everything you need to know about the water making its way to the fuel tank, what are the symptoms, and how to get water out of gas tank in car.

Let’s start with the symptoms, as it is the first thing that you need to learn to identify the cause your car has stopped functioning or is stalled in the middle of the road. Well, these are two explicit symptoms of the water getting into the fuel tank of your car. Here are more of them:

How does Water get into the Diesel Fuel Tank of your Car,  Boat, and Aircraft?

Learning the reason behind the formulation of water molecules in the fuel tank is crucial as it makes you aware of the precautions you need to take to ensure the problem never repeats itself. Well, there are multiple ways you can expect to see water in your car tank including the condensation, refilling from a gas station that stores the gas underground, not getting a full refill, and a few more, which we will be learning in this guide, right in this section.

 Condensation

The very first reason for water accumulation in the fuel tank of your car is condensation, which is the process of the gas converting into liquid, and that could happen due to the variations in temperature. That’s obvious, your car is made to withstand harsh temperatures to a certain intensity, but as the temperature increases, your car becomes vulnerable to the damage.

Such is the case with condensation. When you park your car in quite warm or highly-humid environments, the chances of water appearing in the fuel tank of your car increases, and it even formulates upon frequent parking in the same spot.

We realize you are looking for a solution, and there is only one so far, which is to change the parking spot or opt for a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in the environment, allowing for healthy vehicle conditions.

Read More: How to get rid of condensation in engine oil?

Refilling from station with underground-storage facility

Now you’d say that almost all the filling stations store the gas underground, what I am supposed to do, construct a personalized station? Well, that we didn’t say, but there are some stations that have aboveground storage facilities, and that’s what you need to cement the exceptional performance of your vehicle.

There are reasons why we are saying this, and you probably also have understood it by now. The gas stored underground is exposed to highly-humid environments that mix the water molecules with the diesel being pumped into your vehicle. And when it gets stalled while your park your car, the water gets separated from the petrol or diesel, and forms a layer at the bottom of your fuel tank.

The pump, as you know, is bent towards the base of the tank, it sucks out the water first that disturbs many internal components in your car, and later comes the fuel that holds minimal or no impact on the mechanisms. The solution is clear as day, you need to get your fuel tank refilled from a station holding the gas aboveground and not underground.

Related: How to get the moisture out of the engine?

Not getting a full refill

Condensation is dependent on the quantity of fuel in your fuel tank. The lesser the diesel or petrol, the higher the chances of water accumulation. Therefore, we have listed not getting a full refill as an important cause of water formulation in the gas tank. You need to get it refilled per its optimal capacity, as it won’t leave any room for the water; instead, will promote better performance.

Now, these are the most frequent causes of water formulation in the fuel tank, there can be more, like losing encasement of the lid, exposure to running water, etc. Anyways, you have now learned the causes that you can always avoid to ensure not only your fuel tank but the overall mechanics of your vehicle are sound and functioning.

You may also like: Why my car feels sluggish when accelerating?

With that concluded, let’s open a new chapter, where we will learn the symptoms of your fuel tank being occupied with water, not having you deliberating over why your car won’t accelerate.

How would you know if your fuel tank is filled with water?

You don’t have to be an expert to crack on if the fuel tank of your car is filled with water. It is because the symptoms are quite obvious, and vary from how intensely the water affected the internal mechanisms. Here’s when you should predict that water has made its way to the fuel tank of your car:

Your car is not starting

Depending upon the quantity of water in your fuel tank, your car may or may not start. If there is an entire layer of water awaiting its entrance into the combustion chamber, your car won’t start. If there is enough water that it would be a mix of petrol and water entering the combustion engine, you’d sense the sputtering, and eventually, it may result in the startup, but that’s rare.

This symptom, however, occurs when there is a higher intensity of water in your fuel tank, the lower may blend with the water itself, may generate a bit of hesitation, and the next time when you get a proper, quality refill, you would get rid of the problem.

Your car is producing reduced mileage

It is an understood fact that water has a lower density and so would it sit on the base of the fuel tank, faced by the fuel pump. Now if there are small droplets of water within the tank, you wouldn’t be observing as optimal mileage as you did before, as there would be minimal involvement of water in the gas, causing a disturbance in the flow of the process.

Note that a clogged filter and poorly-tuned motor might also cause a reduction in the mileage of your car. However, per the context of this guide, it should be water doing that and keeping you from driving the love of your life, well, in most cases.

Here is more on the 6 signs of bad fuel pressure regulator.

Your fuel tank is rusty

A Rusty fuel tank is responsible for a range of failures in your car. From permanent ceasing to temporary stalling, if your fuel tank is rusty, you wouldn’t get enough of the problems in your vehicle. And water itself is the cause of that rust on the tank, for there are no chances of corrosion if there is no water in the area.

If your fuel tank is rusty, it means the water has been there for a long time, which isn’t good, and getting surprised on your car still functioning is a bit justified. Now, to get rid of the rust in your fuel tank, you need to get the entire fuel tank out of the car and clean it manually with the cleaners. There is no opposite approach; yes! One would be to have it replaced with the new unit, which isn’t a massive addition to your monthly budget.

You may also read our guide on the best fuel transfer pump in the market, as it might help you empty the fuel tank.

Your car is accelerating and slowing

When driving your car, have you ever felt that instant surge or acceleration in the speed, or that your car slows down when you are sure that everything is working immaculately fine? Well, if you have, you should know that there is a layer of water in your fuel tank that’s somehow blocking and unblocking the way of gas, leading to the unstable performance of the vehicle.

Well, there is one thing that you could do, which is to not panic, but upon inspection, get the fuel tank refilled from a credible gas station that doesn’t store gas underground, but above the ground. It will cause complete eradication of water from the fuel tank and will account for the swift and flawless performance of your vehicle.

Not that you are filling a gas car with diesel as these are the unexpected things that happen when you do that.

Your car has been idle for a long time

Whether your car has been parked in the garage for a long time or it’s been a short while since you left it idle in a high-humid environment, either way, you can expect the accumulation of water in your fuel tank. Also, you might have often observed that people leave their cars switched on for a short period of time, it is not for the same reason, but it helps with the removal of water from the fuel tank of your vehicle.

If your car is not starting after being idle for a while, it may also have to do with spark plugs that you should check for added satisfaction and smooth operation of your car. Let’s now get to the part that brought you here, to this guide, which is how to get water out of gas tank in car.

How to Get Water Out of Gas Tank in Car?

Getting rid of water from the fuel tank of your car is possible in multiple ways. You could take your car to a mechanic or a professional, and ask them to have a look over the condition. You could also have a profound look by yourself by learning the nits and grits of the entire process, or you could follow the instructions that you are about to read, and that we have mentioned in this guide.

Here’s the entire process of how to get water out of gas tank in car:

1. Inspect the fuel tank for a drainage valve on its body. While some vehicles come equipped with the valve, some don’t, compelling you on opting for the alternative.

   However, irrespective of the presence of a valve, you need to empty the fuel tank of your vehicle to get the water out of the tank. If there is a valve, swing it on to empty the tank, and if there isn’t, drain it out manually by using a pipe, as portrayed below.

2. Once you have drained the tank, you should now look for the condition of the fuel filter, which may be damaged due to the water running through it, and wouldn’t have been filtering the petrol off the impurities and granular objects.

   Also, the process doesn’t require top-level proficiency, but still, if you find it hard enough to not check by yourself, you may consult with the professional, provided that you will have to slide in a few bucks in their pockets.

3. Now the last step, depending on the magnitude of your fuel tank’s disruption, you’d need to get an intensive look over the fuel lines and injectors, as if you don’t, it may result in further casualties.

   However, you need to go to a professional for the inspection of your fuel lines because it is a sensitive process, and may ruin your vehicle, where you were expecting the goodness.

This is obviously not the only process that you can use to get the water out of the gas tank, there are many of them, including the manual and inspired by the additives. Speaking of the fuel additives here are some of them along with their usage instructions, offering convenient eradication of water from the fuel tank of your vehicle.

How to Get Water Out of Gas Tank in Car using Fuel Additives?

Fuel additives are another method for removing the water from the gas tank of your vehicle. They are formulated with different versatile compounds that not only offer the removal of water but enhance the performance of fuel that you have pumped into your car by protecting it from corrosion and adding to its octane rating, which is one of the pointers how you can choose the best-rated gas for your vehicle.

However, here are some of the best fuel additives that you can use to make your fuel tank water-free, and increase the lifespan of your vehicle.

• Red Line Complete Fuel System Cleaner

 Oh, are you also embarrassed by the proximity of a station that doesn’t sell high-octane gas, and you compulsorily need to get your fuel tank refilled with the same gas. Well, the red line complete fuel system cleaner might solve your problem here, as it helps elevate the quality of both the cycle and fuel while helping you get rid of the corrosion and water in your fuel tank.

As you can read in the name, it is a complete fuel system cleaner, which doesn’t limit to the fuel tank only, but the fuel lines, injectors, and also the combustion chamber. If you often drive your car to extreme engine capacities, you might need to add the red line fuel system cleaner, as it is the part where it performs the most.

The additive doesn’t feature in bigger capacities; instead, a small bottle that you’d need to buy more if your love for the additive expands out, which it will, and we have been a bit proactive here, by notifying you about it in advance.

Get it here.

• Helix 5-in-1 Ultimate Fuel Additive

 The name of the fuel additive might have already conveyed an idea about the performance and have you captivated with the reliable cleaner. Designed for 2 and 4-stroke engines, the fuel additive guarantees the eradication of water from the fuel tank and elevates the octane rating of the fuel by a considerable margin, enough to make you satisfied with the output of your car.

Also, even though the fuel additive is available in multiple quantities, you wouldn’t want to opt for them, as an 8-gallon bottle of this additive is enough to deal with 16 gallons of fuel that you pump into the fuel tank of your car.

Get it here.

• Lucas LUC10013 Fuel Treatment

Being one of the few fuel additives that are compatible with petrol and diesel engines, the Lucas fuel cleaner helps you with the removal of all impurities, water, and sulfur, and enhances the octane rating as well. Moreover, the fuel additive helps your car engine perform under extreme conditions, which is one of the most demanded elements by the car experts, and we, as a car expert group, vouch for that.

It also puts the least amount of impact on the sensitive engine parts, allowing for smooth handling, acceleration, and optimal mileage. However, it is also one of the most concentrated fuel additives, which means you will have to be careful while pouring it into the fuel tank, and also with the environment.

Get it here.

Conclusion

The appearance of water in your fuel tank is more dangerous than you think it is. Your car might even slip out of certain places, give up on multiple components of the fuel system, and decrease its overall efficiency, from a hundred to straight half.

In this guide, now that you have learned the causes that account for the formulation of water in the fuel tank, its symptoms, and how to get water out of gas tank in car in multiple ways, you don’t have to keep up with the decreasing performance of your vehicle anymore.

However, if you are unable to implement these practices by yourself, you should right away get to the professionals and get the job done in the best manner possible.

Otherwise, you’d do more harm than good to your car, which will be the last thing you’d want to face, provided the existence of an already disturbing scenario that won’t let your car be driven the way you want to. By the way, here is what happens if you put sugar in a gas tank.

Related Posts