Ninety-Eight FWD V6-181 3.0L (1985)
Fuel: All Technical Service Bulletins
Fuel - No Start, Driveability, Excessive Alcohol Content
SUBJECT
DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS DUE TO EXCESSIVE
NUMBER: 85-T-17
ALCOHOL IN FUEL
DATE:
March 5, 1985
MODELS/YEARS
ALL MODELS
SECTION:
6C
SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR DETECTING ALCOHOL IN FUEL
Certain driveability conditions such as reduced performance, no start, etc., may be caused by an excessive amount of alcohol in fuel. The conditions may
be due to fuel system corrosion and subsequent fuel filter plugging or deterioration of rubber components such as the accelerator pump and/or air-fuel
mixture leaning effects..
Various types and concentrations of alcohols are used in commercial gasoline. Some alcohols are more detrimental to fuel system components than
others. If an excessive amount of alcohol in the fuel is suspected as the cause of a driveability condition, the procedure outlined in this bulletin may be
used to detect alcohol in the fuel. In this procedure, water is used to extract the alcohol from the fuel. However, this procedure WILL NOT identify the
type of alcohol, i.e., methanol vs ethanol.
The fuel sample should represent the fuel in the bottom part of the tank so that any water, if already present, can be detected. A fuel sample can be
obtained from the vehicle using the fuel return line or a siphon hose. If the fuel return line is used, discard enough fuel to ensure a representative sample
from the bottom part of the tank. The sample should be bright and clean. If the sample appears cloudy or contaminated with water as indicated by a water
layer in the bottom part of the sample, this procedure should not be used. The fuel system should then be cleaned if contamination is evident.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
1.
Using a 100 ml cylinder with 1 ml graduation marks (suggested part Kimble No. 20039), fill with fuel to the 90 ml mark.
FIGURE 1 AND FIGURE 2
2.
Add 10 ml of water to bring the total fluid volume to 100 ml and install a stopper. See Figure 1.
3.
Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.
4.
Carefully loosen stopper to release pressure.
