Petrol going off

[Barking Mat]

@stuvy ,

Magnets and fuel lines? Educate me please..

We've some special filters, well they're not filters, I believe they're magnetic black magic things which cleanse the diesel of? I don't know what?

I can see magnets removing ferrous waste, but a good pre filter and filter does that..

I don't honestly know what they do these devices, but they're still there..

I maintain 13 odd hire boats, and half of them have them fitted.

 

[earthman]

Have had a lot of issues in 2 stroke engines. I understood the ethanol they now add was the problem. I have a little 2 stroke that I replaced the fuel hose and filter as they had both rotted in the tank. Forgot to drain last year and same again. The 4 stroke mower on the other hand, same petrol and no problems. The strimmer gets a lot of sunlight but the mower is hidden away so maybe that is the issue.

Yeah, that's what I've heard from a few folk, rotting hoses and gunked up carbs.
I'm using my classic 2 stroke bike at least once a fortnight, all year round, I'm burning through a tankful of petrol at least once a month, I'm hoping that I don't experience such problems.
I think that a 3 month shelf life were mentioned in a reply by one of the fuel giants in an email.

 

[zx9]

Magnets and fuel lines? Educate me please..

It was a black magic /voodoo product sold in the 50's to 70's to improve performance, basically a magnet clipped around the fuel line. If it worked every vehicle built would have had one.

 

[bricol]

Yeah, that's what I've heard from a few folk, rotting hoses and gunked up carbs.
I'm using my classic 2 stroke bike at least once a fortnight, all year round, I'm burning through a tankful of petrol at least once a month, I'm hoping that I don't experience such problems.
I think that a 3 month shelf life were mentioned in a reply by one of the fuel giants in an email.

Yep - the older fuel pipe can't take modern petrol - Lancia integrale have two pieces of hose inside the tank - unless rated for immerison (r10) it rots from the outside - swells up and simply falls apart - and then of course it fails to work very well. and it is/was surprisingly difficult to get R10 rated hose - despite ringing anc checking quite a few suppliers, I kept getting sent R9 - finally found some from a VW specialist on the net. Been absolutely fine since.

 

[bricol]

It was a black magic /voodoo product sold in the 50's to 70's to improve performance, basically a magnet clipped around the fuel line. If it worked every vehicle built would have had one.

This lot used to sell them

http://www.ecomagnets.com/

A mate used to sell them - seemed to rely on recruiting more people to sell them. Never noticed any difference with them on the car - they used to claim more power, more mpg - but I notice they don't sell fuel ones now.

Interestingly though, he used to demonstrate an effect - strike up a cigarette lighter and get you to hold your hand over the flame at a distance you could fell the heat, but not get burnt. Then he used to bring up his cure all wrist magnet to the lighter - and the flame grew taller/hotter and you snatched your hand away as it started to char . . .

 

[earthman]

Yep - the older fuel pipe can't take modern petrol - Lancia integrale have two pieces of hose inside the tank - unless rated for immerison (r10) it rots from the outside - swells up and simply falls apart - and then of course it fails to work very well. and it is/was surprisingly difficult to get R10 rated hose - despite ringing anc checking quite a few suppliers, I kept getting sent R9 - finally found some from a VW specialist on the net. Been absolutely fine since.

I've never heard of this R9/R10 rating to be honest, the hose I bought for my bike is SAE J30, not sure how ethanol proof that is now??

 

[moose]

I am very surprised about the findings here regarding petrol, now personally I have seen petrol that has turned to a jelly like substance in a 4 stroke outboard fuel pipe, I watched the mechanic slice the pipe open, the engine had, been serviced couple months before because of fuel issues, by the same mechanic, he had cleaned and changed the fuel in the tank, and cleaned the jets on carbs etc, and it was running very well, two months (ish might have slightly less), the mechanic was called in and that was when he showed me the pipe. Strangely enough I was talking to a friend during the week, he has three MG's old ones not modern, and fuel problems come up about shelf life etc. I have heard issues happening after a few weeks.

I have mentioned several times that as A hobby we work on canals doing restoration, this includes preparation for earth works and we have go in an clear the site/ground of trees and scrub etc. Our chainsaw operators because they are hobbiest (fully qualified but their normal day job), some have had issues with fuel breaking down. Several of them have starting using an additive that chainsaw company makes, not cheap.

Diesel bug is a big issue, but it takes time, its where the moisture in the tank starts growing a fungus type organism, if untreated this turns into a black sludge, which will block everything it gets in contact with. Hence the reason told to keep the fuel tank when being left say over winter etc, this is to stop the moisture from forming.

Obviously boats can be left a long time especially over winter, but have also heard of horse boxes and campers etc been in storage, after a while starts to be used and is stuck by the bug, there is stuff you can put in the tank to stop the bug.

 

[bricol]

I've never heard of this R9/R10 rating to be honest, the hose I bought for my bike is SAE J30, not sure how ethanol proof that is now??

The "R" number is part of SAE J30 standard - should be more info after it - good explanation here:

http://www.volksbolts.com/faq/fuelhose.htm

I just started my Lancia after 10 months - started fine and ran nicely - well it did after I worked out why the starter didn't work (its buried down the back of the very cramped engine bay - had to move the strut brace to get me hand down the back - turns out there are two small terminals on it that suit the starter solenoid wire - I'd fitted it to the wrong one for the first time in 25 yrs), then why the fuel pump didn't work (I'd disconnected it so I didn't shoot fuel up the windscreen when I turned the ignition on to check something with the engine out . . .again . . ) and then why there were no sparks (finally found a three way plug and socket under all the intercooler, idle control valve and oil return hoses - had to remove more parts to get finger tips ton one hand o the two halves and managed to bring them together, orient them and get them together) - then if fired up instantly . . .

 

[earthman]

I've just seen this ad in a car mag funnily enough.

 

[Sean]

the only hose ive found that actually seems to work is "Gates Multicarburant" some of the stuff sold on the usual scumbags may have all the right numbers pressed in to it but ive found it splitting after a year.

 

[a111r]

It was a black magic /voodoo product sold in the 50's to 70's to improve performance, basically a magnet clipped around the fuel line. If it worked every vehicle built would have had one.

Then there were those 'Broquet' fuel catalysts in the 80's.
Gobs of metals, purporting to be catalysts, to be suspended in fuel tanks, on the basis of a WW2 aero fuel anecdote.

 

[Cobbler]

Then there were those 'Broquet' fuel catalysts in the 80's.
Gobs of metals, purporting to be catalysts, to be suspended in fuel tanks, on the basis of a WW2 aero fuel anecdote.

Have you ever tried one?