water blocking fuel filter?

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- bruce56
  
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posted
11 years ago

Sat, Feb 9, 2013 3:38 AM

My car was lacking power. Idle was sweet, but above about 2000 RPM would begin spluttering. I had checked a few things, then got under the car to change the fuel filter. When I disconnected it, water trickled out of the filter, but hardly any petrol. Now I am curious: are filters designed with some paper that swells when wet with water, to choke off the flow of water further into the injectors or engine? I could not see what brand the filter was, as it was coated with so much dirt. The car is an older model designed to run on unleaded 91. BTW, I added some methylated spirits to the petrol tank after replacing the filter, to take care of any more water in the tank. Was cheaper than draining nearly $100 worth of fuel. Engine now runs fine.

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- Paul in Houston TX
  
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posted
11 years ago

Sat, Feb 9, 2013 4:03 AM

Not that I have ever heard of. Diesel trucks sometimes use water blocking filters and most petrol station fuel dispensers use them.

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- jim beam
  
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posted
11 years ago

Sun, Feb 10, 2013 4:45 AM

it's potentially possible if it's a natural paper filter medium, but that's unlikely with synthetic or glass media being much preferred.

my vote would be on the water being too heavy for one of the pumps to lift. and of course, if it /was/ pumping water, that wouldn't exactly help engine operation either.

you need to be careful with something containing methanol - fuel system seals are made to tolerate ethanol, but methanol might not be compatible, particularly if you do that regularly. stick to an ethanol additive and it'll dissolve/purge the water just fine.