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  #1  
Old 11-16-2009, 12:36 PM
BDSDC BDSDC is offline
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H20 issues in fuel.

I seem to be having issues with H2O in tank excessively in my 1996 svx. Causes ruff running, intermittent ruff idling and esp. in 4th gear under low rpms. going up a hill. Using additives helps, but doesn't last long, only a tank or two. Tank seems to seal properly as there is vacuum upon removing gas cap. Any advice would be helpful.

Gas in Connecticut has 10% ethanol and anti-pollution additives. I am running 93 octane.

Doc
1996 SVX Brilliant Red #765 "Gold Digger"
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  #2  
Old 11-16-2009, 12:50 PM
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SVXRide SVXRide is offline
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Re: H20 issues in fuel.

Couple of things:

1. Are you sure it's H2O in the gas?
2. Have you tried changing gas stations?
3. When is the last time you changed your fuel filter? (miles covered since last change)
4. When is the last time you changed your spark plugs? (ditto) -- 4th gear/low rpms/up a hill is putting a lot of load on the engine, which will cause a old/fouled plug(s) to miss...

-Bill
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Old 11-16-2009, 01:11 PM
dcarrb dcarrb is offline
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Re: H20 issues in fuel.

Water in fuel is extremely unlikely. Ethanol shouldn't affect drivability unless something else is amiss. I think the cause of your problem lies elsewhere.

dcb
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Old 11-16-2009, 01:30 PM
BDSDC BDSDC is offline
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Re: H20 issues in fuel.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SVXRide View Post
Couple of things:

1. Are you sure it's H2O in the gas?
2. Have you tried changing gas stations?
3. When is the last time you changed your fuel filter? (miles covered since last change)
4. When is the last time you changed your spark plugs? (ditto) -- 4th gear/low rpms/up a hill is putting a lot of load on the engine, which will cause a old/fouled plug(s) to miss...

-Bill
Changed the following in last 2-3 months, fuel filter, tps (adjusted with volt meter), #5 coil wire (was misfiring), NGK irridium plugs. Cleaned egr system and Valve assembly-air control system. Have used Hess, Mobil, Sunoco gasolines from multiple gas stations.
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Old 11-16-2009, 03:55 PM
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michael michael is offline
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Re: H20 issues in fuel.

Be careful using additives with ethanol, they could make matters worse. Attached is a link with some compatible additives.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...hlight=ethanol
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Last edited by michael; 11-16-2009 at 03:58 PM.
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  #6  
Old 11-17-2009, 10:41 AM
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Re: H20 issues in fuel.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BDSDC View Post
Changed the following in last 2-3 months, fuel filter, tps (adjusted with volt meter), #5 coil wire (was misfiring), NGK irridium plugs. Cleaned egr system and Valve assembly-air control system. Have used Hess, Mobil, Sunoco gasolines from multiple gas stations.
And did it have the current behavior before you did all of this work? Given that you've already had one coil go bad on you, there is a certain probability that others are now going bad. Probably a good idea to check them out (i.e., miss under load is also a sign of a bad coil(s)).

-Bill
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