Myth – Condensed water gets accumulated in Gas (Petrol) tank of the vehicle

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Myth – Condensed water gets accumulated in Gas (Petrol) tank of the vehicle

Facts – True and False.

It depends on how much water. Water in fuel tank either remain at the bottom of the fuel tank or remain mixed with petrol in same liquid phase.  It is important to know whether the petrol contain any alcohol or it is alcohol free. Water is almost non-miscible with pure petrol hydrocarbons.

Condensed water will be accumulated slowly in Vehicle Gas tank at bottom  if petrol does not contain any alcohol (Ethanol, Methanol etc).  Many countries now commonly use Petrol mixed with say 5 to 20 percent of Ethanol/Methanol.  Any water condensation happening in fuel tank will immediately be absorbed in such fuel because of alcohol and thus remain in fuel phase and will go out to engine and ultimately out of vehicle exhaust.   Condensation takes place as air gets sucked in fuel tank as the fuel is pumped out when engine is on and also due to day night temperature variation when some air will enter if the fuel tank is not full. Such air will have little moisture depending on atmosphere humidity and water will settle at the tank bottom if the fuel does not have alcohol.
  
Thus if the fuel contain alcohol (Ethanol or Methanol) there is no chance of water accumulation in the fuel tank.   Even, alcohols have a good affinity of water absorption from the air,  such small quantity of water will be easily taken care of since it remain in liquid phase as explained above.  Unless water quantity is beyond a limit and fuel remains stagnant in vehicle tank for few months, there is no chance of water getting separated from fuel.

It is not advisable to keep petrol in fuel tank for a longer period. see the blog  Gasoline shelf life.

Also it is possible fuel tank may ingress some water if Gas station do not follow healthy storage practices and allow water to accumulate in station fuel storage tanks.  Water is corrosive in fuel tank and hence ideally should not enter or remain in vehicle fuel tank.

If fuel does not contain any alcohol, and some water gets accumulated, one can use few commercial liquids available in market for removal of such water.   See link below.

The above is a technical discussion and not individual advise for  removal of water from vehicle fuel tank.  Also it is applicable to Gasoline (Petrol) and not to diesel fuel.

https://automotiveward.com/symptoms-water-in-gas-tank-and-how-to-fix/

https://wheelzine.com/symptoms-of-water-in-cars-gas-tank-how-to-fix-it

Keywords -  Ethanol, Methanol, Alcohol, Gas, Condensation, Vehicle fuel tank, Water,  Gas Station


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