Remove Water From Diesel Fuel: Most Efficient Method - Ran When Parked - Car, Vehicle & Truck Guides and Repair Journals. (2024)

Learning how to remove water from diesel fuel tanks would be essential information for you as a vehicle owner because having water mixed with your fuel can have severe repercussions for the other components of your car. Immediate action is required in this scenario, or your fuel pump, injectors, and other nearby filtering components will suffer damage.

While the water might have found its way into your fuel tank for several reasons, you will need to identify the exact cause first to avoid similar inconveniences. If you want to learn how to remove water from the fuel tank safely, look through the following actions to know how to identify the cause of the problem, as well as the solution to it!

How Can You Remove Water From a Diesel Fuel Tank Manually?

You can remove water from a diesel fuel tank manually by getting a hand pump, siphon hose, and kit. Then, you need to remove the fuel filter and drain the contaminated fuel. You must add an additive and fuel in equal quantities and finally fill the tank.

– Getting a Siphon Hose and Other Equipment

You might have to pump your fuel system to remove the excess water from your diesel fuel tank. You can also drain the fuel system instead of pumping it. When you do so, you have to make sure that you get rid of as much excess water as you can from the tank.

It is best if you manage to take all the water out. It is crucial to invest in a siphon hose. When you invest in it, it boasts up to a length that enables you to touch the base of the diesel fuel tank.

If you want to invest, you must add the accurate sum of Diesel 911 to your tank. If you do not have the mentioned one, you can also use any other diesel fuel additive instead of that one. Also, having a siphon kit with you is also essential before you start this project. You should have an additive of your preference and a hand pump as well.

– Drain the Fuel

After you have gathered up all of the required items, you can start the procedure. To begin, you have to drain out the additional contaminated diesel fuel from your tank. To do that, you must remove the fuel filter to drain it.

– Fill up the Fuel Filters

Once you have done as told, you must start filling up the fuel filters. When you fill them up, you have to make a mixture. The mixture will contain 50 percent of the additive, and the other 50 percent will contain diesel fuel. It is vital that both the additive and diesel fuel only stay on at fifty percent.

– Put Back the Filters

After you have made the fuel filters and filled the tank of your car, you have to attach the fuel filters back in their places. Make sure that everything stays in its place and is done correctly. Then, you can sit back in your car comfortably.

– Start Your Engine

Now, once you sit in your car, you can start your engine accordingly. It might begin in a few seconds, so you have to be patient.

How Can You Remove Water From the Fuel Tank With Methanol?

You can remove water from the fuel tank with methanol by using it as an additive. All you will need for this is a methanol base, which you can utilize in an equal ratio to the fuel after you have all remnants of the contaminated fuel from your tank.

– Preparing the Required Tools

You must have the right tools to remove the water from the fuel tank. Remember that this technique will suit those who want to remove small amounts of water from their tank. It will only remove a little water. Now, you will only need a fuel tank additive during this process.

Remember that the fuel tank additive should be of good quality. If you are looking for good results, completing this in winter is best. Doing it in winter will prevent the clogging filter from taking place in the summer.

– Getting a Good Additive

Before starting the process, you need to have a methanol base additive. The additive should provide you with the results that you are seeking.

Make sure that the additive that you get is new and it is reliable. You can begin the procedure as soon as you have the additive in your hands.

– Remove the Fuel Filter

To begin, you first have to go over to the fuel filter of your tank. Once you reach it, you will have to remove the filter. When you do this, it will help in draining additional diesel fuel from the tank. It will also be helpful if the fuel tank is contaminated.

– Read the Additive Label

After you have opened the fuel filter, you have to take the additive label. Now, you carefully have to read everything that is written on it. There will be many important things mentioned on the label.

When you read it, you will know whether or not you have the correct quantity per fuel tank size. Once you get your answer, you can move on to the next step.

– Add the Additive

For the third step, you must take your additive from wherever it is. Now, once you have it with you, you have to go over to the tank of your car. After that, you slowly have to add the additive inside the tank. Make sure not to let any of it spill out of the tank.

– Start the Engine

Once you have added all the additives inside the tank, you must turn on your engine. It is best to do it quickly since the additive will still make progress while you are driving. The additive will go through the filtration system when the diesel cools down. It will remove excess water from the tank or diesel storage system. You can keep driving as you wish and your problem will be solved too.

How Can You Know There Is Water in the Diesel Fuel?

You can know there is water in the diesel fuel by testing it thoroughly. Suppose your engine misbehaves, and there are sudden surges in the vehicle’s power. In that case, it could also mean water in your diesel fuel tank.

– Testing the Fuel

If you want to know whether or not there is water in the fuel, you should test the power in the tank. When you try the energy, you can know whether there is water in your fuel. Now, if you notice that your fuel seems to appear on the cloudy side, it means there is water in your tank.

However, if the fuel does not look cloudy, then it means that everything is fine. When water enters your fuel, it is best to get rid of it immediately, as it could cause further problems.

– Engine Misbehavior

Another sign that there is water in the fuel is that your engine will start misbehaving. When this happens, the motor gets lazy and slow suddenly, and if it manages to start, it starts very roughly. Once the engine starts, it lets out black and, sometimes, even white fumes from the exhaust section.

In other cases, your entire engine might cut out completely when you try to accelerate. After that happens, you cannot move your car at all. It is important to remember that the engine only slows down and starts to spit when the water in the fuel is not flammable.
When the water is not flammable, it cannot burn. Now, when the water finds a way out to the combustion sector, you will notice your engine behaves quite strangely than it usually does.

– Sudden Changes in Power

There could also be sudden changes in the power of your vehicle. If you want to check, you should check on the engine lights, and after you check on the engine lights, you should check on the spark plugs. Both of these must be checked when you suspect a sudden change in the power.

If there is a change in the power, you will notice either one of these lights gets dimmer than before. It is also possible for them to turn off entirely if the power is too low. When there is any change in the power, or if the power decreases, it will usually be the result of water in the fuel.

When this happens, the engine will suddenly lose its power. It will then be difficult for the machine to compress the water in the fuel. This will lead to a decrease in the engine’s power.

How Can You Identify the Causes of Water in the Fuel Tank?

You can identify the causes of water in the fuel tank by checking for poor blending or rainwater, which would lead to contamination. If the octane rating of your gasoline is low, it might indicate water presence. Weather changes, rust in the tank, and poor engine power are other indicators.

– Contamination Due to Poor Blending

One of the reasons that water came into your fuel tank could be because of contamination. If you have been using your fuel and it needs to be blended correctly, it could cause much trouble. Most importantly, this can make all of the gas additives polluted.
Besides making the gas additives polluted, it can also be harmful when you have to rid the fuel of unwanted deposits. At that time, the fueling system will show various varnish elements.

– Rainwater Contamination

Another reason that this could happen is due to rainwater contamination. You must remember that rainwater can get into your car’s fuel. If the gas cap or the fuel filter is not in the right place, it would be a way for the water to get in.

You should also check on them to ensure they are correctly closed. It is also extremely vital that you should always observe your diesel tanks for damage. After that, you should carefully check on it and then fill the tank.

– Poor Octane Rating

Another reason could be a problem with the gas station you visit. Most of the time, at the gas station, you are given the incorrect prices of the octane rating of their fuel. The rating could be different from what you are told.

It is important to remember that even if just a few of the points are lower, it could be very harmful. This could have quite a bad effect on the diesel fuel tank. It will mean that your fuel storage tanks are allowing in dirt, water, and corrosion.

All these three things are equally harmful to your car. It is essential to know that even filtration systems of good quality cannot notice this and can get it wrong. For this reason, it is always a good idea to check again for water and contamination inside.

– Rust Present in the Tank

When rust is present in your fuel storage tank, it is essential to remove it immediately. You have to inspect the entire fuel tank to get rid of it. For that, the whole thing needs to be removed so that you can check for rust. Usually, in older machines, this problem is quite common.

Those machines have steel gas tanks built in and are rusted very quickly, especially when they come close to the water. When you start to get rid of the rust, you must see how much the tank is rusted. If the rust is only light, you can clean it up and be done with it.

However, if the rust is quite bad, then you shouldn’t involve yourself in trying to clean it. In that case, replacing your tank with a newer one will be best. Cleaning the tank will be very hard and will take much of your time.

It is also not guaranteed that it will be done perfectly. Now, if you want to know that your tank is suffering from rust, it is straightforward. You have to look over to your tank; if you notice rust on the fuel filler neck, it means it is.

– Poor Engine Power

One of the causes could be due to poor engine power. This symptom is often confused as a fuel filter that has been clogged and is not working fine. It is also sometimes said to occur when a motor has been tuned up poorly. It is crucial to keep in mind that when you burn any such thing as air, fuel, and water, it is very harmful.

This is because this leads to a significantly decreasing engine power output. To fix this issue, you have to go over to the ECU. When you go there, the ECU will fill in more fuel in the system by injecting it. Adding fuel to the system will be painful for your fuel tank and the entire economy.

– Weather Changes

Weather changes can also have a harmful effect. It is important to remember that water condensation can attack fuel tanks. This is because they do not boast any vapor pressure, so when they do not do this, it means that they cannot displace the air.

However, gasoline tanks are different from tanks as they do not have the same problem. When a fuel tank gets hot, the air is forced to leave the tank. This happens since the tank begins to expand. Then, as it gets darker, the tank starts to cool down again.

When it cools down, the air is pulled back inside the tank. It is important to remember that whenever this happens, it causes condensation. The condensation can add water to the fuel in the tank. For this reason, many people prefer to insure their fuel tanks.

Can Removing Water from Diesel Fuel Impact the Efficiency of Catalytic Converters in Diesels?

Removing water from diesel fuel can indeed impact the efficiency of catalytic converters in diesels. Water can reduce the combustion quality, leading to incomplete fuel combustion and increased emissions. When water enters the catalytic converter, it can interfere with the catalyst’s ability to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful substances. Thus, proper water separation techniques in diesel fuel systems are crucial to maintaining the performance and efficiency of diesels and catalytic converters.

Conclusion

Water in the fuel tank is a red alert for all car users, and it is strongly recommended to take immediate action to avoid damage that will soon affect your vehicle’s performance. Hopefully, now that we are at the article’s end, you will know the best ways to remove the unwanted water from your diesel fuel, and

we have also prepared a list of reviewable points here:

• To manually remove water from the diesel fuel, you need to get a siphon kit, hose, and hand pump.
• Then, remove the fuel filter, allowing you to drain the existing fuel.
• Finally, you need to get an additive, measure it in equal ratios to the fuel, and then fill the tank with that.

You can use many methods for removing water from your fuel, all safe and appropriate as long as you follow the instructions properly. Once you have used the aforementioned techniques for water removal, you can get your vehicle back to its optimal condition immediately!