I got water in my tank

**Burger** · 13th June 2009, 10:32

Hi everyone.

For some reason, the overflow drain around the lip of my fuel tank has become clogged, and when it rains it fills up with water. When I opened my tank the other day, about half a cup of water rushed into my tank, with me saying "oh shit."

Just wondering what I should do about it. Spoke to bike shop who said they would have a look at it, but I don't want to start it up and ruin some expensive bit on it. I can probably fix the clog problem myself, but I'm unsure about what to do about the water in the tank. I've read about drygas (alcohol) which is what people ordinarily use in situations like these, but want to make sure that I won't break a bigger, more expensive bit by using this.

Thanks.

**yungatart** · 13th June 2009, 10:35

Get hold of some Isopropyl alcohol and pour that in.

**BMWST?** · 13th June 2009, 10:40

methylated spirits does it.Water is heavier than petrol so the water will settle to the bottom of the tank,and the outlet wil be above the bottom of the tank so you wont be able to just drain it out.dont run your tank till empty till you have it sorted.i am not sure how much meths you would use,and how much water (say) a litre would absorb.

**Max Preload** · 13th June 2009, 10:58

If you have a manual fuel tap disconnect the hose & switch to reserve and drain the contents into a clean bucket. Decant the fuel back into into the tank and discard any water. Repeat. Best to remove the tank to do this as you can swirl the contents. I did mine about 10 times with 3L of petrol before any trace of water stopped coming out.

If you don't have a fuel tap you've probably already got water in the carb float bowls (if carburettored) so you may like to drain them (best if the bowls are actually removed for water rather than just using the drain plugs).

As for the cap surround drain blockage, rod the drain through from the top with a malleable wire & blow it out with low pressure compressed air. It's most likely blocked in the rigid metal tube section that passes through the tank before coming to the hosetail and rubber drain hose to the ground.

Edit: Now that I actually pay attention, I see it's a 650R so presumably injected. Don't put any solvents like isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits in the tank - doing that can cause scoring of the injector pins because the lubricating properties of the petrol will be removed.

**CookMySock** · 13th June 2009, 11:07

I agree with Max. I wouldn't be tipping a litre of meths in my tank.

Steve

**Burger** · 13th June 2009, 11:10

Originally Posted by Max Preload

If you have a manual fuel tap disconnect the hose & switch to reserve and drain the contents into a clean bucket. Decant the fuel back into into the tank and discard any water. Repeat. Best to remove the tank to do this as you can swirl the contents. I did mine about 10 times with 3L of petrol before any trace of water stopped coming out.

If you don't have a fuel tap you've probably already got water in the carb float bowls (if carburettored) so you may like to drain them (best if the bowls are actually removed for water rather than just using the drain plugs).

As for the cap surround drain blockage, rod the drain through from the top with a malleable wire & blow it out with low pressure compressed air. It's most likely blocked in the rigid metal tube section that passes through the tank before coming to the hosetail and rubber drain hose to the ground.

Thanks for your help. I've gone out and fixed the blockage, blew some air up the drain hose which cleared it out.

So now I've just got some water in my tank. I'd rather not have to remove and drain it if I don't have to, there is no fuel tap, and it's fuel injected so I imagine it would be a pain in the arse to drain. There is a funny valve where the fuel hose meets the tank that stops it draining if removed anyway.

I'll look into the alcohol solution, I just have to figure out how much to bung in.

**Burger** · 13th June 2009, 11:12

I just saw your reply. So no to alcohol ? Damn. I'll probably have to take it down to the shop then, which is just down the road. Bugger.

**Burger** · 13th June 2009, 11:15

Looking at this page, removing the tank is easy, but as for draining it ?

http://www.brp650forum.com/phpbb3/vi...c.php?f=5&t=25

**Max Preload** · 13th June 2009, 11:18

Originally Posted by Burger

I'd rather not have to remove and drain it if I don't have to, there is no fuel tap, and it's fuel injected so I imagine it would be a pain in the arse to drain. There is a funny valve where the fuel hose meets the tank that stops it draining if removed anyway.

Sounds like it just a vacuum operated valve with a reserve light on the dash then. If the tank is removed you can apply a vacuum to the back of the valve using a length of hose and your mouth and the fuel will flow.

You'd want to also purge the pump too - I do this by powering it directly from the battery with a wire with alligator clips and a paper clip down the back of the pump power connector (to the positive side) and the outlet hose to the injector rail disconnected.

Removing a tank is very simple. I encourage you to do it yourself.

**CookMySock** · 13th June 2009, 11:20

It won't be hard to drain the tank. It will probably have a vacuum tap on it, so attach a hose to the vacuum port and suck gently on it, and the vave will open.

These type of things are much easier once you have had a try and seen that its not so hard. The only hard part will be not scratching the tank.

Steve

**Burger** · 13th June 2009, 11:33

My mistake, there is no valve. The fuel pump is seated into the tank itself. To drain I would have to run the fuel pump like you said, direct from the battery, right ?

**Max Preload** · 13th June 2009, 11:46

Originally Posted by Burger

My mistake, there is no valve. The fuel pump is seated into the tank itself. To drain I would have to run the fuel pump like you said, direct from the battery, right ?

If there's no valve, that's what I'd do to drain it. Prop the tank up, disconnect the outlet hose at the fuel rail and put it into a container and use the pump to drain the tank. Repeat until no water comes out. But I'm a pedantic bastard.

I've had 2 decent doses of water in my tank. See my thread.

**jellywrestler** · 13th June 2009, 12:00

put about a litre of meths in to the tank, its basically methanol which many motors run on quite happily, and hygroscpoic which will absorb the water and dont worry about injectors, sure if you're running straigt meths for alenght of time you may have an issue but the reality is the meths, with water absorbed, will mix with you petrol and be such a small amount you'll never notice.
if you're paranoid fill up the tank at the same time. 1 litre meths to 20 litres of gas 20/1 mix and if you take the water into account youre looking at 50 to 1 mix. ever heard of water injection? no problem running small amounts of water through your motor.
also get apipe cleaner and clean out breather, blowing it out only opens a way it doesn't mean you line is now clear

just get on with it!