Water in fuel tank

[J11HNK]

Hi, I recently noticed my 2000 996 C2 cab had developed a missfire, thinking back to its last fuel stop, I remembered finding it very difficult to fill without the pump cutting out. The following week I noticed the petrol station was closed to have new tanks installed. I spoke to a colleague who lives in near the petrol staion who told me that there were rumours that the previous tanks had been contaminated with water.

The missfire was more frequent when the tank was getting empty so I fueled up (at a more reputable source!) but the missfire is still present, it seems worse in traffic but disappears under more heavy load.

Should I persist by refuelling & hence diluting the contamination or do I need to drain? If so any ideas on the easiest way to drain the tank.

Any help gratefully appreciated. JK


Migration info. Legacy thread was 86695

 

[HRobinson]

IMO I would definately get it drained. If there is adequate water (if that is the cause) to cause a missfire you run the risk of injecting a slug of water into your cylinder. Unfortunately this will neither burn or compress and could cause your engine to hydraulically lock. Not good. I am not trying to scare you to death, as it is highly improbable due to the amount you have been using it but it would be prudent to have the tank drained and the filter changed. I have seen the result of the above in a car that was driven through a ford (river thing) a bit extreme i admit but so was the result!

Migration info. Legacy thread was 86698

 

[HRobinson]

I bet i am wrong though! and its the airflow thingy!!!


Migration info. Legacy thread was 86701

 

[Parts]

Take it into an indie or OPC if you are worried - they will tell you if it is the MAF air sensor. Mine went a while ago, but it felt more noticable under load.

If they can't find anything with the engine it may be the fuel - suggest this to them after they have checked it out.

Better safe than sorry!


Migration info. Legacy thread was 86712

 

[Tiptronic]

check the air flow meter first, and then failing that change the fuel filter and drain the tank.

could be a coil lead breaking under load, I had it on an old 996 I had years ago


Migration info. Legacy thread was 86715

 

[Seagull]

If in any doubt, get it checked out. You don't want your engine destroying itself at £10k or more plus labour, even if you can sue the filling station - that could take months or even years, meanwhile you're severely out of pocket.

Hopefully though, it's only some minor niggle.

I did avoid the obvious one - ooops wrong hole
Petrol in that one; water in that one


Migration info. Legacy thread was 86784