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MG MGB Technical - What was in the tank beside fuel

A separate thread explains that the V8 had a leak in the take up pipe inside the stainless tank. The tank had to be changed and the last three gallons pumped out. Well, besides bits on the locking cap broken during the first (of three)attacks here by the London intelligentsia, there were very fine pieces of grit and small but very distinct globules of another liquid which I guess was mostly water.

I had known of the water in the mixed fuel now being forced on us from the threads here and also from small amounts of rust on the injectors. The sight of water globules was an unwelcome reminder of the need for a water absorbant additive in addition to the usual filters.

We have to learn from our own experience but..... FWIW.
Roger
Roger W

On all of the boats that I used to work on, a water separator was standard fitment. It had a dual filtering element. The inside portion captured the water while the outside portion captured foreign matter. My own boat, a 17' outdrive powered by a 120 HP Chevy, would always stall out when approaching a bridge. This happened when I pulled the throttle back to idle. It got so that I could remove the top of the two barrel carburetor and stuff a rag inside to absorb the water. I'd have it up and running in less than five minutes. I finally installed a water separator and put an end to the madness. RAY
rjm RAY

"distinct globules of another liquid which I guess was mostly water"

There was water swilling around at the bottom of my tank when I changed it 20 years ago. Condensation has always been a possibility, especially with vented filler caps as UK MGBs always had.

I'm not sure about water being 'supplied' with the fuel currently available, although ethanol laced fuels do have a greater propensity to absorb water than non-ethanol. But because of that I would expect to see *less* separated water in tanks.

I've not heard of petrol with ethanol at concentrations of greater than 5% (i.e. E10) being made available in the UK yet, fuel companies have said they can meet all the requirements for renewables from the sale of bio-diesel. America has had E10 since the mid 70s in some states, and when I asked recently no one claimed to have had any problems with it in their MGBs.
Paul Hunt

When I worked as head mechanic at a Mobil service station, back in the '70s, we would "stick" the underground tanks on a daily basis. At least twice a month, we'd find the purple clay, on the bottom of the stick, had changed color indicating water in the tanks. This would require calling a special firm to come put and pump the water from the bottom of the offending tank. Somehow, I doubt that things have changed that much. Since my '67 B has a tank drain plug, I unscrew it once a year and drain at least two quarts of fluid from the tank. It helps explain why the tank has lasted forty seven years. RAY
rjm RAY

My '78 B doesn't have a tank drain plug. What would be the best way to drain it without removing it? The car's been off the road for 2 years (restoration work).
Brian Shaw

"What would be the best way to drain it without removing it?"

Probably tilting the car so that a right-hand corner is the lowest point, then siphoning or pumping it out in some way with the bottom of a hose in that corner. Unless the car is imminently going back on the road it's probably easier to remove it. You can check the top for external corrosion then, which is one of the common modes of failure.
Paul Hunt

Many years ago a co-worker told me that the way to get rid of water in the tank, is to, every so often, pour a pint of metho (denatured alcohol) into the tank, before filling. The metho would bind the water to the petrol, filling would then mix it all up, and the water would be slowly expunged through the engine.

Herb
Herb Adler

A drain plug has much to recommend it. Herb - interesting advice - I wonder if "metho" is the same as methylted spirit ? .. and once the metho has absorbed the water, does it mix with petrol ?
Roger W

Methylated spirits is 90% ethanol, so ought to mix with petrol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol#Formulations
R G Everitt

Methyl Hydrate is sold in Canada as Gas line Antifreeze. Used to very common to and a 2oz bottle when filling up in the winter. It bonded with the water and allowed the water to burn with the gas. No used as much now as it can damage the seals on injector nozzles.
K Hawkins

I wonder if "metho" is the same as methylated spirit ? .. and once the metho has absorbed the water, does it mix with petrol

Yes and yes.

Herb
Herb Adler

For what it's worth, I read the label on my bottle of metho, see photo.

Herb

Herb Adler

This thread was discussed between 10/09/2014 and 21/09/2014

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