Hey guys.

Just abit of advice would be nice really.

My parents went on holiday (in the UK) in their 2005 1.2 petrol polo.

They got really low on fuel and there was only one petrol station nearby. So having never heard the name of the place before (Bata? Beta? Something like that) they decided to brave it, just this once.

Since they filled up its been cutting out. Never fully stalling, but the revs will randomly slowly drop (mainly under load going uphill) with complete power loss. It will come back to normal if the clutch is pressed and throttle pressed, but then it does it again shortly after.

Suspecting the fuel to be the problem, he filled up with shell V power soon later, hoping that would help.

It didnt seem to though. So they struggled home with a car of 4, and a whippet, and lots of luggage, over a few hours with a car that kept not delivering power.

We changed the fuel filter tonight. Emptied the old one into a bowl and sure enough you could see the water settled ontop of the petrol.

Put the new filter on. Its a little better, but still keeps hesitating.

Any ideas? Or will it just pass in time if decent fuel is used?

Sorry for the long post!

Cheers

when it looses this power, is it misfiring?

Nope it seems perfectly smooth, it just loses power and becomes unresponsive until the clutch is pressed and the throttle is pressed.

Its strange tbh mate.

Worth trying a bottle of Wynnes dry fuel.

A what what?

*goes away and googles*

A what what?

*goes away and googles*

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/wynns-dry-fuel-325ml

Cheers!

Ill nip to halfords n get a bottle of that then.

Its worth a try!

Its got mum so worried about driving it that shes trying to persuade dad she needs to buy a brand new Mini Cooper. Hmm.

Cheers!

Ill nip to halfords n get a bottle of that then.

Its worth a try!

Its got mum so worried about driving it that shes trying to persuade dad she needs to buy a brand new Mini Cooper. Hmm.

Ohh no don't let her do that :(

Ohh no don't let her do that :(

Haha. She loves em. I think it might result in that anyway tbh.

They just seem a lot of money for what they are. I might book a test drive n see what the fuss is about tbh.

1.5 litre turbo, 3 cylinder on the cooper. 136hp. Cant be bad can it.

That same engine is capable of 220 odd bhp apparently.

I think you'll find petrol will settle on top of the water.

I think you'll find petrol will settle on top of the water.

Does it really?

I know kerosene/diesel goes to the bottom and water goes to the top, and presumed petrol would be the same.

Crap. Does that mean it was about 80 percent water then? Crap.

I don't think any petrol car would run on an 80% water mix.

 

Best thing you can really do is drain the tank 100%, but it sounds like it might have already processed the crap fuel?  Now just a case of probably changing / cleaning out the whole injection system.  As said, some kind of additve should help hopefully.

I don't think any petrol car would run on an 80% water mix.

 

Best thing you can really do is drain the tank 100%, but it sounds like it might have already processed the crap fuel?  Now just a case of probably changing / cleaning out the whole injection system.  As said, some kind of additve should help hopefully.

Nah. Obviously not haha. Would the filter help separate the water and petrol though? And hold back the water?

Yeah its already been processed. Had half a tank of esso premium since then too.

Hmm. A halfords trip is in order isnt it.

Let this be a warning anyway guys. Dont put that crap in your car!

I'd be looking at potentially reporting the place the fuel was obtained too.  They might be adding water to the tanks as a bit of a con!

I'd be looking at potentially reporting the place the fuel was obtained too. They might be adding water to the tanks as a bit of a con!

Hmm. Must admit. I thought we had higher standards than this in the UK.

maybe theyre just old knackered tanks though? Theyre underground arent they?

Perhaps worth reporting though mate, yeah. If he can remember where exactly it was haha.

Im sure we wont be the only person suffering whos filled up there.

Water is denser than kerosene/diesel/petrol so is always at the bottom of any combination, why do you think they put water drain screws on the bottom of some fuel filter assemblies/carburetors.

Edited 11 August, 201411 yr by MicMac

I may be getting confused here.

I think you're right, yeah. The water goes to the bottom and the diesel/kerosene/oil goes to the top.

Ah i can never remember which way round it is haha. Been ages since iv syphoned the water out of a leaky keresene tank.

All iv done for the last 3 years is natural gas lol.

But yeah, copper tube on the end of the hose pipe, put it to the bottom of the tank, then syphon until water comes through.

So it must be the fuel on top. Yeah.

Silly me! Refreshing my memory now! Haha.

I may be getting confused here.

I think you're right, yeah. The water goes to the bottom and the diesel/kerosene/oil goes to the top.

Ah i can never remember which way round it is haha. Been ages since iv syphoned the water out of a leaky keresene tank.

All iv done for the last 3 years is natural gas lol.

Lucky worst part of the job I find

Lucky worst part of the job I find

Just edited that mate! Haha.

Whats the worst part? .

Siphoning and draining the oil tanks!

Oh it is!

The boss i used to work for used to insist on manually sucking on the hose.

I'm not sure which health and safety law this does contravene, but its bound to be atleast one.

A lung full of keresene soon puts you off your dinner.

Oh it is!

The boss i used to work for used to insist on manually sucking on the hose.

I'm not sure which health and safety law this does contravene, but its bound to be atleast one.

A lung full of keresene soon puts you off your dinner.

Ahh we use siphon pumps which is rather tidy A lot of the tanks we deal with usually have quite a low amount in them to drain which is always good!

Lucky bugger! Thats the posh version . Haha.

Some of the tanks around here can have a fair amount in. And of course the tank outlet is just above the bottom. So its the cause of a fair few break downs and resulting in knackered fuel pumps.

I shall get my OFTEC one day. Its just getting the gas safe thats meant me leaving it for a good while and getting the hours in on natural gas

Glad to have jogged your memory.

Wouldn't want you to look silly in a group conversation ;-)

Even Scotty cannae change the laws of physics!

Glad to have jogged your memory.

Wouldn't want you to look silly in a group conversation ;-)

Even Scotty cannae change the laws of physics!

Oh dont worry. Im a professional at making myself look silly sometimes haha.