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Water in fuel truck will not start

Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 82,000 MILES
I poured a five gallon gas can of what I thought was gasoline into my truck turns out it was water. The truck was running while I poured it in and it shut off. I removed the gas and water. Poured heat into my tank with fresh new gasoline, made sure there was no water left in my spark plugs and my truck still wont start. What else do I need to do to fix this?
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Sunday, May 12th, 2019 AT 8:31 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

If you are sure you have removed all the water from the system, including taking out the spark plugs and cranking the engine to eject the water out of the spark plug holes (this will prevent breaking internal engine parts from a condition called hydrolock), then I would give a squirt or two of starting fluid into the air breather to give the engine help in starting. It might run rough for a little bit as the water gets out of the system, but that should work. It might take multiple times of starting fluid to get it to start. Please get back to us with how it goes.

Thanks,
Alex
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Sunday, May 12th, 2019 AT 10:01 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
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  • 7 POSTS
Okay, thank you. Would it be beneficial to run premium or 92 non ethanol fuel to compensate for any water that may still be in there?
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Sunday, May 12th, 2019 AT 11:31 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Not really. 87 octane and 93 octane gas have the same flammability. The higher octane rating deals with it's ability not to sponstaniously combust under pressure. 87 octane gas will output the same amount of power as 93 octane gas. 93 octane gas is to be used on higher compression engines, or turbo charged or supercharged engines where compression rates are much higher than a normal engine, or when your engine is experiencing detonation or "knock".

Thanks,
Alex
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Sunday, May 12th, 2019 AT 11:50 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I tried what you said with starter fluid it barely runs. But without starter fluid it will fire, but shut down immediately. Should I keep trying the starter fluid? Or is there something else I should do?
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Did you get all the water out of your fuel tank?

Thanks,
Alex
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes made sure all water was out of fuel tank, even bought new spark plugs and shes still having issues. I'm still having to spray starter fluid to get her started. But it seems to work better when mass airflow sensor cleaner is used. But as soon as I step on the gas, she shuts off again. Any thoughts? Air leak? I'm stumped on this one. About to go try it again.
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 8:23 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

When you turn the ignition switch to "run" do you hear your fuel pump come on for a couple of seconds?

Thanks,
Alex
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes and shes running barely now, out on a test drive and shes running rough. We plugged in the code reader and shes misfiring on cylinders 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. I think shes in limp mode now because she wont go over 35. Could we possibly need new coils?
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes the fuel pump is doing its job. I just want to say thank you for all the help and advice it is greatly appreciated!
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 9:17 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

No. The misfires are going to be because you still have the residues of the water contamination. Once all that is flushed out of the system I'm thinking you are going to be fine. One thing you might want to try would be to either clean up your spark plugs or get new ones. Water shouldn't hurt them, but it couldn't hurt and new spark plugs is never a "bad" idea. Another you might try would be to run a bottle or two of fuel injector cleaner through the system and if you haven't already done so maybe a new fuel filter.

Thanks,
Alex
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 10:43 PM
Tiny
JULIEDOWELL30
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Did buy new plugs and installed them today. Was all jazzed thinking all would be good, but was quickly disappointed. Isn't the fuel filter in the tank? I know it was in my Tacoma. And fuel injector cleaner, next on my list
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Friday, May 17th, 2019 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello again,

How is your vehicle running? On your vehicle there is no fuwl filter except the sock that goes on the bottom of the electric pump in the tank so I wouldn't worry about replacing it. I'm relatively certain that a little water isn't going to hurt it. Please get back to us we are interested in how things are progressing.

Thanks,
Alex
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Friday, May 17th, 2019 AT 4:23 AM

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