Water in my 1996 406 pls help!

[lozz]

yes go in from top it will be safer all round.

destroy them rivets and cover will come off, you can always bond it back on with sikaflex or silicone.

get some plaster's out and put to one side just incase.


have you got access to syphon pump?

petrol don't taste nice through hose pipe.

[406owner2]

Thanks Lozz

i still have no idea what it looks like after removing the cover, will there be a hole where i can stick in a hose or will i syphon on the pipes that i disconnect ? i don't have a siphon, so i guess i'll be getting high on petrol.

Will this method remove all the water, or would it be better to drain in from underneath the car ?

perhaps one can blow some hot air into the tank to get any remaining moist to dry out ?

(sorry kev already explained that a hose needs to go in thanks kev)

[lozz]

Are you sure theres only water in the tank if so have alook athis [picture of your ive marked.

note the Tabs ive highlighted push these in and pull pipe off the filter./
get a fuel can ready.
also some old rags or something to soak up any spillage.

Capture.PNG

cut the cable tie and angle the filter downwards so you can capture it into container.
afair bit shouid come out -once its finished draining put ign on (don't start car) and see if lift pump pushes the rest out.

Mindyour eyes and skin for any splashes.

[jasper5]

I agree with lozz on this, this is the safest way to remove the water/fuel that is left in the tank.

The only thing I would do slightly different is to take off the outlet pipe off the filter and drain it from the filter, that way you get the stuff from the filter as well....maybe add a section of pipe to reach your bucket....I would also take out the spark plugs and turn over the engine using the key.

[406owner2]

Lozz thank you that sounds like it would drain it better than going in from top an syphoning, i think i'm going to try that.

I just want to know, i know safety is a nr 1 priority, so i want to do this and am going to do it, but want to do it safely, so what i'd like to clarify is the following:

Why is it so dangerous ? There is fuel in the tank, i put in 1 litre of fuel after i put in the 500ml water by accident, and the the ignition was on for a while and i cranked the engine after i had done that.

What i want to know is,

1. Is the risk related to anything that might cause a spark on the outside of the vehicle as the fuel/water is being drained ? ie cigarette but oor a spark coming out of nowhere from the outside ?

Or

2. Does it have something to do with switching the ignition on ? ie petrol fuel fumes for some reason getting into contact with the ignition source, if so, how likely would that be, given the fuel being drained at the back of the car and there being a lot of fumes at a petrol garage when turning the ignition at a petrol station where nothing bad ever happens ?

[lozz]

ithink if iwas 100% sure it was all water,
id just go for the pipe on fuel rail,. not sure if these are on pushfit pipes tho.

fuel rail.PNG

anyone else know. Jasper5?

[406owner2]

I agree with lozz on this, this is the safest way to remove the water/fuel that is left in the tank.

The only thing I would do slightly different is to take off the outlet pipe off the filter and drain it from the filter, that way you get the stuff from the filter as well....maybe add a section of pipe to reach your bucket....I would also take out the spark plugs and turn over the engine using the key.

thanks Jasper, could you tell me where i would i find that, isn't it the way lozz described, as the silver object is the filter ?

And i would be draining water.petrol from the pipe as well as the silver object filter? that now hangs downward after i cut the zip tie shown in my pictures ?

[jasper5]

The way the filter hangs down may be the outlet pipe just make sure it's the one that comes out the filter to the front of the car...I wasn't sure which way round the photo had been taken that's why i mentioned outlet pipe.

lozz, it might be best to do the draining from the filter like you said, the fuel rail pipe might be a bit hard to get at.

I mentioned cranking the engine to get the pump working and a faster flow.

[lozz]

good point mate,

iwas just thinking of a way to clear the line's.
but as you say clearing out from filter shouid do the job.

ibet it sounds like a spitting cat for a few mins once its cleared and she fires up

[jasper5]

Yeah, might start a bit spluttery!

[406owner2]

The way the filter hangs down may be the outlet pipe just make sure it's the one that comes out the filter to the front of the car...I wasn't sure which way round the photo had been taken that's why i mentioned outlet pipe.

lozz, it might be best to do the draining from the filter like you said, the fuel rail pipe might be a bit hard to get at.

I mentioned cranking the engine to get the pump working and a faster flow.

Thank you both so much for the help so far ! I have taken off the day tomorrow to try and fix the problem so will be starting tomorrow morning when its daylight here in south africa.

To Jasper, i added another picture so it can make more sense for me, did you mean rather pull the pipe on the right hand side of the filter shown in the picture below, rather than the left one ?

Also where should i look for the pipe at the fuel rail, if that would work even better, i'd sure like to give it a shot.

And thank you, i will crank the engine without the plugs as well, am going to fully charge the car battery tonight just for that purpose. Please hold thumbs for me...

[jasper5]

Yes, the right side to the front of the car.

Look for the pipe going to the fuel rail at the back of the engine compartment or look at the rail where the injectors fit you will see the same type of connector as the fuel filter....might not be so easy to see.

[406owner2]

Thank you,

i will report back tomorrow, i guess if i can pull both pipes off both sides of the filter should i not be able to disconnect the rail pipe near the engine it would be best so petrol can flow out freely both sides and i can try blow out water from the filter ?

Will report back 2morrow thanks.

[lozz]

Becareful with these push fit type fuel conectors don't force them open
also when re-fitting make sure they push back together with a nice click sound,

the preasure in the fuel-lines when car is running is quite high so can bust apart under force if not clipped back right,.

ive seen this happen fairly recently on a Peugeot 407 petrol after an engine transplant, Monkey of a mechanic had fubard the connector
on the fuel rail, result wasn't good,

so be gentle with these,

[GingerMagic]

Just a question - what would happen if 406owner2 decided to fill the fuel tank completely with fresh petrol, so in effect minimizing the water / petrol mix considerably?

I know water doesn't compress and will fubar the engine, not sure if somehow water and petrol 'separate' in the tank and don't mix?