HHR L4-2.4L (2010)
Fuel: Testing and Inspection
Alcohol/Contaminants-in-Fuel Diagnosis
Alcohol/Contaminants-in-Fuel Diagnosis
Diagnostic Instructions
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Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle (See: Testing and Inspection/Initial Inspection and Diagnostic Overview/Diagnostic System
Check - Vehicle) prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
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Review Strategy Based Diagnosis (See: Testing and Inspection/Initial Inspection and Diagnostic Overview/Strategy Based Diagnosis) for an
overview of the diagnostic approach.
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Diagnostic Procedure Instructions (See: Testing and Inspection/Initial Inspection and Diagnostic Overview/Diagnostic Procedure Instructions
)provides an overview of each diagnostic category.
Test Description
Water contamination in the fuel system may cause driveability conditions such as hesitation, stalling, no start, or misfires in one or more cylinders. Water
may collect near a single fuel injector at the lowest point in the fuel injection system and cause a misfire in that cylinder. If the fuel system is
contaminated with water, inspect the fuel system components for rust or deterioration.
Ethanol concentrations of greater than 10 percent in nonblended gasoline or greater than 85 percent with E85 blended gasoline for flexible fuel
applications can cause driveability conditions such as hesitation, lack of power, stalling, or no start. Excessive concentrations of ethanol used in vehicles
not designed for it may cause fuel system corrosion, deterioration of rubber components, and fuel filter restriction.
Reference Information
Special Tools
J 44175 - Fuel Composition Tester
System Verification
The fuel sample should be drawn from the bottom of the tank so that any water present in the tank will be detected. The sample should be bright and
clear.
If the sample appears cloudy, or contaminated with water, as indicated by a water layer at the bottom of the sample, perform the Particulate
Contaminants in Fuel Testing Procedure.
If alcohol contamination is suspected, perform the Alcohol in Fuel Testing procedure.
Alcohol in Fuel Testing with Special Tool
1. Test the fuel composition using J 44175 - Tester and Instruction Manual.
2. If water appears in the fuel sample, clean the fuel system.
3. Subtract 50 from the reading on the DMM in order to obtain the percentage of alcohol in the fuel sample.
4. If the nonblended gasoline fuel sample measures more than 15 percent ethanol, or if the E85 blended gasoline fuel sample measures more than 91
percent ethanol, add fresh regular gasoline to the vehicle's fuel tank.
5. Test the fuel composition.
6. If additional testing indicates that the ethanol percentage is still above 15 percent for a nonblended gasoline sample, drain and replace the vehicle's
fuel. Refer to Fuel Tank Draining (Non E-85) (See: Fuel Tank/Service and Repair/Procedures/Fuel Tank Draining (Non E-85))Fuel Tank
Draining (E-85) (See: Fuel Tank/Service and Repair/Procedures/Fuel Tank Draining (E-85)). If additional testing indicates that the E85 blended
gasoline sample still measures above 91 percent, continue adding fresh, regular gasoline until the ethanol content is 85 percent or less.
Alcohol in Fuel Testing without Special Tool
1. Using a 100 ml (3.38 oz) specified cylinder with 1 ml (0.034 oz) graduation marks, fill the cylinder with fuel to the 90 ml (3.04 oz) mark.
2. Add 10 ml (0.34 oz) of water in order to bring the total fluid volume to 100 ml (3.38 oz) and install a stopper.
3. Shake the cylinder vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
4. Carefully loosen the stopper in order to release the pressure.
5. Re-install the stopper and shake the cylinder vigorously again for 10-15 seconds.
6. Put the cylinder on a level surface for approximately 5 minutes in order to allow adequate liquid separation. If alcohol is present in the fuel, the
volume of the lower layer, which would now contain both alcohol and water, will be more than 10 ml (0.34 oz). For example, if the volume of the
lower layer is increased to 15 ml (0.51 oz), this indicates at least 5 percent alcohol in the fuel. The actual amount of alcohol may be somewhat
more because this procedure does not extract all of the alcohol from the fuel.
Particulate Contaminants in Fuel Testing Procedure
