Old gas... water?

2013 Tacoma v6, I tried to get rid of old gas by dumping it in my Tacoma. It had stabilizer in it and I strained it, but there could have been water in it.

I dumped dry gas and thought to try starting it with starting fluid, about 20 times, but it's not running past when the starting fluid is used up. Will the dry gas work better over night? Do I need to drain the gas tank? I've done that before on my 4runner, not a fun job. Other suggestions?

 

How much suspect fuel did you add to how much good fuel? The methyl hydrate acts relatively quickly, but it can't hurt to leave it an hour or ten. That said, if it's not running at all, that sounds more like it's not getting fuel rather than it's getting bad fuel. Is your CEL on? Have you checked for codes? What happens if you try and run it without ether? Does it crank only, or does it cough, fart and try to start? If you get it started on ether, does it die instantly once the ether is used up, or does it cough and sputter a bit?

 

Never ever do want you did. I fixed more of these than I can count. Drain the tank, add a few gallons drain the tank, add a few. Drain the tank and add 5 gal and go from there..

 

You sir need a burn barrel. Best of luck on the truck..

 

If this is the only thing you did then I’d start there.

 

4 or 5 gallons of new fuel and 4 gallons of old. It runs fine for the few seconds and then burns off the starter fluid and coughs and dies.

Im thinking tacoma mike has the answer.

 

Water will sit at the bottom of the tank. Gasoline will "float".

Just punch a small hole in the bottom of the tank to drain off the water then plug the hole.

In the future, if you want to consume old fuel, then you need to check for water. Never add old fuel to a tank that is near empty. If you do, then immediately go fill the tank at the nearest fuel station. The object is to mix a small quantity of clean old fuel with a LARGE quantity of clean FRESH fuel.

Frankly, your start/run problem may not be caused by the fuel.

 

It ran fine before, so I'm pretty sure it's fuel.

 

I'd try adding some Heet (the yellow stuff) to it and see if that helps.

 

This stuff https://www.goldeagle.com/product/heet-gas-line-antifreeze-water-remover/

 

2 things you can try before draining the full tank.

Shake the shit outta the truck to stir the fuel n water up so its not trying to run on pure water that settles to the bottom. (or jack the truck up at the front as the pumps are at the front of the tank to get the fuel pump into some actual fuel). Once start it drive to the nearest gas station and fill it fully with good gas. run that tank till you are on fumes to get rid of the bad gas as best as possible.

Pull the pressure line to the fuel rail, and use the fuel pump to pump out the water thats in the bottom of the tank.


Next time you want to get rid of water logged bad gas, let it sit for a long time to separate. Then drain the water out of the bottom of the gas can, then use the gas in various other things other than your truck haha.