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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
The presence of water in the gas tank can damage your vehicle, impacting the engine’s performance and efficiency.

A gas tank is an essential component of fuel-driven vehicles and is crucial to their functioning. Cars running on petrol or diesel need a constant fuel supply from the fuel tank. However, contamination in the fuel tank can cause several problems. Continue reading the article below to learn the symptoms of water in a gas tank.

Short on Time – Here’s a Quick Summary

Water in the gas tank creates several issues, such as rust, and affects the injector and fuel pipeline. Some common symptoms of water in gas tanks include power and mileage issues, check engine light getting on, engine performance issues, difficulty starting the engine, etc.

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Problems Caused by Water in Gas Tanks

Before we discuss the symptoms of water in gas tanks, let’s talk about the problems it can cause for vehicle owners.

Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
There are several ways to get into the gas tank, such as using low-quality gas, water intrusion due to a puncture in the gas tank, condensation, and a faulty top fuel pump.

Here are the problems that water in the gas tank can cause.

  • Poor Lubrication: Water can reach the engine oil and harm the lubrication process of the engine, leading to several engine issues, including damage to the engine.
  • Rusting: Water in the gas tank for a long time can cause rust inside the fuel pump. Water and fuel won’t mix, making the water sink to the tank’s surface, which will cause the rusting.
  • Fuel Injector: Water in the gas tank can cause rusting in the injector and the fuel system, causing the fuel injector to be damaged.
  • Reduce Accelerator Efficiency: High water can cause issues while pressing down the accelerator when driving, making it difficult to drive smoothly and causing speed fluctuations.
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10 Symptoms of Water in Gas Tank

One must be aware of the signs that occur when there is water in the gas tank. In this section, we will highlight the common symptoms of water in gas tanks.

Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Gas and water won’t mix, often causing jolting and sputtering in the fuel tank. Symptoms can become worse while accelerating.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.

Let’s discover the symptoms of water in gas tanks.

1. Power & Mileage Issues

Water presence in the car tank can impact combustion capacity. As a result, it can reduce the motor’s power efficiency, thus decreasing the car’s mileage.

Moreover, an increase or decrease in power can occur due to water in the gas tank. Since the engine is not designed to compress water during acceleration, this can result in the engine losing or gaining power abruptly.

2. Engine Stalling

Engine stalling means the engine has stopped working for several reasons. Water in the fuel tank is one of them. Often drivers who have water in their fuel tanks complain about engine stalling. For instance, the engine can stop working while you are driving, or it suddenly refuses to start. It happens due to combustion and compression issues, which are associated with water in the gas tank.

3. Steam Release

Since the water in the gas tank is entering the combustion chamber or the exhaust system, it can naturally evaporate and make steam come out of your car’s tailpipe. Never confuse this white steam with the smoke coming out when you start your car engine on a cold morning. Due to the water in the gas tank, it becomes more noticeable.

4. Gasoline Smell While Driving

Many vehicle owners might assume a strong gasoline smell comes from the unburned fuel vapor or a simple fuel leak. However, this is only the case. Sometimes you feel a strong gasoline smell. Sometimes it means water in the gas tank.

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5. Check Engine Light

Since modern cars have car sensors for monitoring different car components, so does the engine. For example, if the sensor gets faulty values due to water in the gas tank, it will send information to the engine control unit, store the trouble code and sometimes turn on the check engine light.

6. Water Dripping

Just as the exhaust pipe releases steam due to water in the gas tank. As a result, water droplets might also be released. This can happen due to condensation in the fuel tank.

7. Misfiring or Rough Idling

When water enters the combustion chamber of the fuel tank, it can also cause misfires. Since misfires can cause problems with acceleration, you may also notice rough acceleration due to water in the gas tank. Moreover, water-fuel mixtures and misfires can also cause rough idle.

8. Performance Issues

As mentioned above, water in the gas tank can cause rough acceleration. Consequently, you might feel a stumble or hesitation whenever you step on the accelerator pedal. Rough acceleration will significantly affect the engine’s performance and cause several issues.

9. Difficulty Starting the Engine

The water in the vehicle’s fuel tank will not enable the engine to start efficiently. Since the water inside the car’s cylinder is above the piston, it will not be able to complete a rotation. This condition hinders fuel combustion, making it difficult to start the engine.

This issue also occurred in my Toyota Corolla due to water in the gas tank. On inspecting, I found water in the tank, and the fuel filter wasn’t in good condition too. I took my car to the mechanic and got the issue fixed immediately.

10. Slow Acceleration

Water in the gas tank will slow acceleration or delay the car’s movement. Due to the water, the fuel system will not pump gas into the engine; instead, it will pump the water into the tank, causing slow or poor acceleration.

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Symptoms of Water in the Gas TankEffects of Water in the Gas TankSolutions to Remove Water from the Gas Tank
Engine stallingRustingDrain, clean, and refill the fuel tank
Rough idling or misfiresCorrosionUse rubbing alcohol
Slow or poor accelerationPoor lubrication of engine partsUse fuel additives
Gasoline Smell while drivingFaulty fuel injectorPour a large quantity of octane fuel
Poor engine performanceReduce accelerator efficiencyReplace fuel filter

How to Remove Water from a Gas Tank?

Here are a few fixes that you can do to remove the water from the fuel tank.

  • Replace Fuel Filter: A fuel filter prevents water from entering the vehicle’s engine. However, over time it can lose its efficiency due to the presence of water and let the water enter the engine. Ensure the fuel filter is in good condition or replace it every two years or 30,000 miles.
  • Usage of Rubbing Alcohol: Apply rubbing alcohol to the fuel tank to help absorb the water. Also, rubbing alcohol won’t damage the engine, as it is not harmful. While this is not the best solution to remove the water from the tank, it is a good alternative. However, it is recommended to seek professional health in such scenarios.
  • Using Fuel Additives: You can add methanol or fuel additives to the fuel tank that can remove water from your fuel tank. However, there are better solutions than this if there is a high volume of water in the tank.
  • Add Octane Fuel: Another solution to remove the water from the fuel tank is the addition of octane fuel. Since octane fuel can remove moisture contents from the tank and help keep it dry, adding a large amount to the fuel tank will remove water.
  • Drain & Refill the Gas: The ideal solution will be to drain the entire tank, thoroughly clean it, and refuel it with good-quality fuel. While this procedure can be time and cost-consuming, it will give you the best results.

Conclusion

Water in the gas tank is one of those problems that can’t be seen with eyes. Therefore, vehicle owners rely on symptoms that can help identify such issues before they cause problems, such as engine damage. Some of the symptoms of water in the gas tank include slow acceleration, engine misfires, rough idling, performance issues, engine stalling, etc.

Once you sense any of these symptoms, remove water from the gas tank through one of the above solutions, including rubbing alcohol, fuel additives, etc. If you find the problem getting severe, never hesitate to seek professional help from automotive mechanics.

FAQs

Water in your gas tank can cause several problems for your fuel tank and the engine. It can cause corrosion inside the fuel system and injectors. Also, a higher amount of water for a long time can even damage the engine.

There are several ways to get the water out of your gas tank, such as draining the fuel tank, cleaning it, and refilling it with new fuel. Moreover, you can use rubbing alcohol or fuel additives to remove water from the gas tank.

While you can drive with water in the gas tank, a large volume of water will eventually cause problems in your car, such as rough idling, slow acceleration, and engine damage. Therefore, removing the water from the tank is recommended as soon as you find out.

No, gas stations don’t add water to their gas, as this can damage the engine. However, if there is water in the gas, this may be caused due to other factors.

A fuel filter is effective if there is a small amount of water. However, if the water is on the higher side, the fuel filter won’t help, and eventually, the water will enter the engine, causing it damage. Remove the water from your gas tank immediately to prevent damage to the fuel system or the engine.

About Author

Andrew Ray

Andrew is an automotive technician with 10 years of experience mainly in American and Japanese cars, covering everything from routine vehicle maintenance and engine inspections to tire rotation.