Water in gas can

[gr8fl4porsche]

Left a full 5 gallon jug of gas out in the rain with an open spout facing the stars.
Can't believe it's actually raining -been a long time here in the Midwest.

Can't be sure how much rain got in but it definitely did.

Which option?

1. Shake it up and use it in small equipment.
2. Do the same and dump it in the truck.
3. Add some gas additive which claims to remove water.

[Zeke]

Pour off all you can through a cotton cloth before the water at the bottom starts to come out. Get rid of the rest. You may have to do this twice. The cotton should catch traces of water.

Or use a siphon above the water.

[Joeaksa]

Another option is give it to someone who has a diesel. They will still have to get the water out but if its old or suspect would not risk it in most modern cars. Something with a carb on it yes but not fuel injection.

You can mix a gallon or two with diesel fuel and burn it in a diesel engine. Thats what I do with old fuel that I get from friends who have let a car sit too long. Far better than just dumping it

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Another option is give it to someone who has a diesel. They will still have to get the water out but if its old or suspect would not risk it in most modern cars. Something with a carb on it yes but not fuel injection.

You can mix a gallon or two with diesel fuel and burn it in a diesel engine. Thats what I do with old fuel that I get from friends who have let a car sit too long. Far better than just dumping it

Yeah, a diesel tractor.

From what I know about diesels, the filters are designed to catch water but it does not do the life of the filter any good.

Right or wrong?

[Joeaksa]

Water in any fuel system (unless it runs on water) is no good. Thats why I said "take the water out" or do as you suggested.

I would pour everything into a clear plastic container and let it sit for a day or three. Then siphon the water out of the bottom of the container as best as you can, then there are funnels made to catch water as fuel is poured through them and use one of those to get any you missed.

This is the type I use on airplanes: Models

[nota]

there are separate water traps on most boat diesels
they have a valve on the bottom to let the water out

let the can of gas water sit / settle
DO NOT SHAKE IT UP
pour off the top slowly
I would put the last part in a glass jar to see the water

[peppy]

It makes a good weed killer.

[Erakad]

Take out all the water you can, add the stuff that claims to remove water, use it in the lawn mower.

[hardflex]

pour it into a clear container, the water clearly settles to the bottom. pour back the gas until you're close to the water , dump the rest. I've done this many times with lawn mower gas .

[porsche4life]

^^This plus a bit of additive to bind the water and help it burn....

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Erakad

Take out all the water you can, add the stuff that claims to remove water, use it in the lawn mower.

Wasn't that called HEET or something? That was just ethanol from what I understand. It is a bit of a emulsifier. Gets some water and hydrocarbons to mix.

[flatbutt]

siphon, then add a methanol/isopropanol blend. 5% by volume should do it IMO.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Wasn't that called HEET or something? That was just ethanol from what I understand. It is a bit of a emulsifier. Gets some water and hydrocarbons to mix.

Yup. HEET or Iso-HEET should do the trick after the siphoning technique that Joeaksa mentioned.

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/

Originally Posted by peppy

It makes a good weed killer.

I've heard it works on fire ant mounds, too.

[944Larry]

pour it through a Chamois cloth, if there is such a thing anymore. It will catch all the water.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by 944Larry

pour it through a Chamois cloth, if there is such a thing anymore. It will catch all the water.

This is what old time bush pilots used to do. I still have my chamois from "the old days" and it works very well but it must be real chamois and not the new synthetic crap.

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

This is what old time bush pilots used to do. I still have my chamois from "the old days" and it works very well but it must be real chamois and not the new synthetic crap.

you're right. When I started learning I remember all the pilots that went to Mexico talked about a Chamois to strain their gas through. A real Chamois would probably cost a lot more than can of gas nowadays.

[kanadary]

for 5 gallons of gas is it really worth saving or is the issue how to dump the gas? i would just toss it.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I'll let it settle, dump off the top few gallons and toss the rest.