Fuel....whats going on?

[Sea Shift]

I was changing my fuel water separator today and like the good home mechanic i dumped the contents into a jar to check for water/crud. Didnt see any separation of water but did see this? Any ideas? Fuel just evaporating and condencing back into the jar? Keep an eye on the condensing drops as they hit the surface. You can see then drop half way down the jar.

 

[Hookup1]

looks like fuel floating on water. Teaspoon some off of top and bottom. Carefully see which one burns.

You have been fighting water in fuel for a long time. What's changed to make the problem go away?

 

[DennisG01]

I can't really see anything happening once the drops hit the surface... but if they're dropping down, then they might be water. Humidity in the air?

How long did you let the jar set? If only a short time, give it at least an hour (without moving it) and then look for noticeable separation

 

[Sea Shift]

You have been fighting water in fuel for a long time. What's changed to make the problem go away?

Whats changed? I replaced the fuel tanks that had 1/4" holes in the top!!! Amazing how much that helps. I'm not having water problems now that i know of. Just havnt seen fuel react this way before when changing the fuel water separators and found it interesting. I let it set and was seeing this. It could well be that on a warmer day when exposed to hair the water in the air is actually condensing into the fuel?

 

[Hookup1]

Whats changed? I replaced the fuel tanks that had 1/4" holes in the top!!! Amazing how much that helps. I'm not having water problems now that i know of. Just havnt seen fuel react this way before when changing the fuel water separators and found it interesting. I let it set and was seeing this. It could well be that on a warmer day when exposed to hair the water in the air is actually condensing into the fuel?

Is your boat in the water and you have run it this season? Or is a pre-launch check of the fuel filter?
Single engine single filter or twin engine two filters?
Which tank did the fuel come out of? The new tank or the old tank?
Where the o-rings on the fuel fills replaced?
What type of fuel? With ethanol or without?
Stabilizer added last fall when boat was put away?

When you pour the contents of the fuel filter can into a container some of the water will suspend in the fuel. It will separate out quickly at first then gradually.

"It could well be that on a warmer day when exposed to air the water in the air is actually condensing into the fuel?" - Nope...not buying that.