Speaking of Fuel Pumps, What's This?

[Apodman]

We were on ther road with the 280E last weekend driving to Thomston Maine and back. Lots of 75+ MPH interstate cruising, with her driving just as she should.

Parked the old gal Sunday night and she sat until yesterday when I smelled gas all around her. Fuel was slowly dripping for the fuel pump so I got a pan for overnight collection. This morning when I checked her, there was less than 1/2 inch of fuel in the pan, but I noticed for the first time some-kind-of chrystaline deposits hanging like 4" stalactites from the fuel pump(see picture). They are creamy-white in color and look pretty solid, though I was on my way to work (took the Miata),so I didn't poke at them.

I'm sure I have some rotting old gas lines up there as I have replaced some but not all. But what's up with the deposits?

Has anyone seen such deposits formed from dripping gas?

As always, your reflections are appreciated.

Alex

[300SDog]

All kinds of nutty additives in fuel these days, but it might be metal/corrosive even positive/negative electric related...... like the fungus garden that grows on batteries.

[Tomguy]

I've had gas drip, but not that fast. I've never seen anything like that form, though. My car had a very slow drip and sat for 3 weeks or so until I patched that section of the metal rail. Nothing formed at all! That sounds quite odd to me. Bad gas, that's all that comes to my mind!

[pxland]

That might be the strangest thing I've heard. Is it possible that on your road trip you got a plastic bag wrapped up in the pump/filter works.

All I can think of.

Paul X.

[abe g]

could have been water in the gas and froze in that cold maine weather? thinking out loud. Abe G

[Apodman]

I am down to my last few gallons of gas. The deposits are still building and get knocked off everytime I empty the pan. The gas in the pan has a milky quality to it so I am wondering if it has suspended water in it. I'm dumping the questionable gas into my farm tractor with lots of "Dry Gas" in hopes that the old 3-cylinder can burn it.

When things dry out here in the Northeast, I'll drain the tank, put in a new screen and finish replacing the fuel hoses at the pump.

Could the deposits form as a result of a short between the hot terminal and the ground terminal?

Here is a shot of the old gal wanting for Spring cleaning

[pxland]

That is absolutely bizarre.

Did you contact the station where you last bought gas and ask them if this is happening to anyone else?

Paul X.

[abe g]

why do you want to screw up your tractor by using this fouled gas? Abe G

[tosbt]

abe g is right get rid of that stuff, worst it could be suggar and then that would mess everything up.

[GaryF]

Hate to say it but your car may have haemorrhoids !
Sometimes happens to the old-timers when they're pushed a bit too hard along the freeway or up a steep hill !
Got this quote off the Net that might help:
"Haemorrhoids (often known as Piles) are enlarged and engorged fuel vessels in or around the back passage (trunk). These may be associated with pain, bleeding, itching and feeling as if a lump or bump is hanging down"
Have you tried a cold compress ?

Hope this has been some use !

[Apodman]

They were ice crystals formed while the gas dripped into the pan. Apparently the air stayed cool enough under the car to form the ice. There may have been a gas evaporation factor contributing to the ice crystals forming. The day-time temperatures were consistanly in the forties.

Alex

[Tomguy]

I'd definetly drain my tank if I were you (or at least use a good two bottles of drygas)!