Accidentally left petrol cap off and it rained....

[finglas]

Hi everyone,

I very stupidly left the petrol cap off a small 4 stroke 11hp engine that is on a mini 360 excavator. I had the cap off for maybe 3 days and it did not rain much but it did rain a little. What i would like to know is, do i now have a big problem on my hands or will the engine run alright? I would appreciate any advice and possible solutions.

Thank you,

Jamie

[AdamIndy]

I'd just drain the tank and refill with fresh fuel. Afterwards, PUT THE PETROL CAP ON.

[battered]

+1 for this, and check the fuel that comes out for water. If none, use it. Small agri motors like this are tolerant of such things, the worst thing it will do is stop working or refuse to start. My money says you could just run it and assuming it starts it will keep doing so.

[finglas]

Thanks folks I appreciate the advice.

Theres actually not that much fuel in it at all. I took the cap off then went to get fuel and got side tracked. Then realised a few days later. total rookie move! but thankfully doesnt sound like too much of a problem.

Thanks again folks appreciate the help.

jamie

[hidetheelephants]

AdamIndy said:

I'd just drain the tank and refill with fresh fuel. Afterwards, PUT THE PETROL CAP ON.

What he said; if there's a drain plug in the tank drain a bit of fuel off and check it for water.

[227bhp]

Won't these run on diesel?

[brrapp]

Any mini digger I've ever used has had a glass fuel bowl on the fuel line so you can see and drain off any contaminants on the fuel. I've never seen a petrol powered one but I'd imagine they'd have similar as this type of machine tends to get refuelled using all sorts of tins, jerry cans, barrels etc and are therefore quite prone to contaminants.

[battered]

brrapp said:

Any mini digger I've ever used has had a glass fuel bowl on the fuel line so you can see and drain off any contaminants on the fuel. I've never seen a petrol powered one but I'd imagine they'd have similar as this type of machine tends to get refuelled using all sorts of tins, jerry cans, barrels etc and are therefore quite prone to contaminants.

Oh, so that's what it's for. Makes sense, for a working engine that gets abused.

[finglas]

Thanks again everyone.
Ill have a look for the glass fuel bowl on the line. Definetly runs on petrol. I know the engine has been changed from original so perhaps that is why? Its also really very old now!

Thanks very much again

Jamie

[tapkaJohnD]

RedLine, STP, and probably the other usual suspects sell water dispersants for fuel.
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=water+in+fuel&tbm=...

John