Chevette L4-98 1.6L (1982)
Fuel: All Technical Service Bulletins
Fuel - No Start, Driveability, Excessive Alcohol Content
85-62
6C (VIm)
APR., 1985
Subject:
DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS DUE TO EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL IN FUEL
Model and Year:
ALL VEHICLES WITH GASOLINE ENGINES
TO:
ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS
SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR DETECTING ALCOHOL-IN-FUEL
Application:
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, deterioration of rubber components such as the accelerator pumps 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 as 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 clear. 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.
