I'm a slow learner

[Deleted User] · December 2007

There is a chain of gas stations in Socal named Valero. About two years ago I filled my Dodge Dually with diesel at the local Valero and there was so much water in the fuel it got past my water trap and destroyed the injection pump, about $2000 worth of damage. Of course the station owner denies culpability but it was enough for me to quit using Valero, since then I have heard enough horror stories about Valero gas stations to stay away. Well, a couple of weeks ago I forgot and fill up the Hudson. Within a day my fuel filter was plugged solid with a rusty sludge. I thought my boiled out tank was the culprit, and changed the filter which promptly plugged up again. This week a couple of my customers came in with exactly the same complaint about the same station. During our recent rain storms the tanks must have gotten contaminated and I will have the bureau of weights and measures checking the tanks next year but no matter the outcome I will never get gas at a Valero again. Now I have to go out and drain a full tank of fuel, drop the tank and clean it out, or find out what Ed Mueller is getting for his all aluminum tanks and swap it out.

Harry

Unknown · December 2007

Harry,

I feel your pain. I drive past a Valero on the way to my office every day. It is always the cheapest, and today at $3.05 per gallon, I almost stopped. I'm glad I didn't.

Merry Christmas,

Terry

SamJ · December 2007

In the '60's I worked for Spur gas in Ontario, Canada (a discount brand). The huge tanks in the yard had water in them...you could tell how much by the height of frost line. By March the water in the bottom of the tanks would be three feet deep. Naturally, we filled the delivery trucks from the top. They drained off the water about twice a year. That's why I'm very suspicious of Ethanol and Ethanol mix...anybody who's ever had a scotch & water knows how well alcohol and water mix. :eek:

[Deleted User] · December 2007

Yeah, I thought I would get away with it once but now I know, stay away. There is a reason they are selling gas cheaper than everyone else. I'm guessing they are buying contaminated gas that the wholesalers would have to dump otherwise.

Harry

junkcarfann · December 2007

Harry Hill wrote:

Yeah, I thought I would get away with it once but now I know, stay away. There is a reason they are selling gas cheaper than everyone else. I'm guessing they are buying contaminated gas that the wholesalers would have to dump otherwise.

Harry

I don't think wholesalers knowingly sell gas contaminated with water. Many stations buy their gas from the same wholesalers...I have seen the same gas tanker stop at several stations, all of different brands.

Instead, the problem lies with discount retailers who save money by not maintaining their tanks, or sell from from older stations that have old questionable tanks that leak, etc. Just a guess.

[Deleted User] · December 2007

After completely draining the tank it appears to be a combination of water and rust scale from the tank. I drained the tank with an electric pump and had to continually change the filter and then pulled the plug and poured in fresh gas and sloshed the tank. Lots of rust scale with a very fine floating particulate and water. I'll pull the tank and tumble it, then I'll seal it with either aircraft tank sealer or airplane dope. Once it's cured I should never have another problem with the scale. I guess boiling it out didn't do the trick unless this scale came from the dealer, not likely unless they were pumping the very last of the fuel from the tank. I hate having to do the same job twice but at least the second time I'll do it right.

Harry

[Deleted User] · December 2007

Well, the tank is out and the whole of the inside is covered with a fine rust patina. Since it was clean and shiny when I reinstalled it I can only guess there must have been a lot of water in the gas. The rust is so fine it just stays suspended in the gas. The scale must be on the inside top of the tank as I can't see it on the sides or bottom. No matter, I've ordered the KBS tank sealer and will get after it as soon as it arrives. I still think I'll tumble the tank in case the scale is heavier than I think. This will give me a chance to fix the sending unit so that it shows a full tank, the way it's set up now it hits the top of the tank at about 3/4 full. I guess this is what happens when a car sits around for five years with an empty fuel tank.

Harry

Unknown · December 2007

Harry, I buy all of my diesel at a close by truck stop, they pump thousands of gallons a day. The pump filters are changed regularly, I have pulled the filter drain on my truck at the change intervals and found no water no debris.When my truck left the factory 99 they recommended very frequent fuel filter changes. Not really needed if you buy from some where that sells a lot. The real problem with the '98 1/2 up was the lift pump which sucks fuel from tank and pushes it thru filter to the injection pump which further pressurized it and dristributes the diesel. If you don't have 9 psi at wide open throttle loaded at filter you will be buying an injection pump. At idle you should see 12 to 14 psi at filter. MoPar had a problem with them, mine was replaced under warrantee- first replacement was a dud didn't leave dealers. I am now trying the Bio Diesel mix, seems like motor is a little quieter maybe picked a little more power. Lou Cote

[Deleted User] · December 2007

Lou;

My 92 Dodge only used this model of injection pump for about 6 months then they changed it to the current pump. There was so much water in Valero's diesel that it got past the water separator and filter and got into the injection pump. No one can rebuild it and I can't find a suitable replacement. Currently I have a pump off an 88 on it that works fine at speed but smokes up a storm at idle. Now I have a tank that was contaminated by bad gas in my Hash. Just need to seal up the tank now and then no more Valero gas.

Harry

Unknown · December 2007

Is that the chain thats owned by that moron Cezar Chavez in Venezuela ?

[Deleted User] · December 2007

Ron, I don't know who owns the chain but I'm sure they are buying fuel at a greatly discounted rate or they couldn't keep their prices so much lower than everyone else. Two bad experiences now with their fuel tells me not to chance it again. I let the gas I drained yesterday in a glass and it still has suspended color in it. The gas is rust red. I beat on the top of my tank to see if I could dislodge more scale but nothing comes off so I'm pretty sure everything in my tank came from Valero. They must have completely removed the filters on their pumps as some of the chunks are pretty good sized.

The contaminant in the tank seems to be a combination of mud, rust and scale. I'm sure glad my first filter was working, this stuff would have plugged up the carburators big time.

Harry

Unknown · December 2007

Harry maybe its time to take a sample to the appropriate authorities, with CARB upset about tailpipe emissions etc; there should be some recorse. All cars need clean fuel to run properly especially newer vehicles. On that pump for your truck sounds like someone has shimmed up the fuel pressure/volume section. More fuel =more power in some folks minds too much is just right. You could look in one of the Diesel truck magazines someone may be able to repair the old/new one. Cummins used a simular pump on its big diesels 855 cu in and up . Happy Hudson Holidays Lou Cote

[Deleted User] · December 2007

Lou; I have some of the top diesel guys in Socal checking all over the US for a pump that is appropriate for my year and model, it's all based on the numbers on the pump. There isn't a pump to be had or a rebuild kit. I know, I've been on this for two years. I'm thinking now I have to go with a different engine I have available to me. Although I think it doesn't have the intercooler on it. I still have a cup of the gas that I took at about 2pm yesterday and it is still red and muddy looking.

Harry

I'm a slow learner

Comments

Categories

In this Discussion