The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

As some of you may know some sad f*ck*r put sugar into Snowdrop's petrol tank. Cleaning the tank out isn't a major problem (I've drained the tank and got most of the sugar out already) but some sugar has got into the fuel lines.<br>
<br>
What is the best way of cleaning the fuel lines out? Bear in mind that Snowdrop lives outside & I don't have a compressor or anything like that. Somebody suggested that I use carburettor cleaner for the fuel lines. Any other ideas are welcome.<br>
<br>
Also, I've since fitted a locking petrol cap and a fuel filter. The carb seems fine but I've already bought some carb cleaner should I need to clean the carb.

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... omiteuk</A> at: 26/10/06 3:38 pm<br></i>

What about running neat fuel down the fuel line from the engine bay to the tank? Should flush it out OK. Just remeber to collect it at the other end <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Have you got a fuel filter? Should stop it getting anywhere if you have <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>


<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

Can you connect up a spare fuel pump and operate it manually (with your hand on the lever) to clean out the fuel line?<br>
<br>
I have done this.<br>
<br>
Richard Truett<br>
<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

A filter will be no use it will now be in solution, dissolved like. You'll have to distill the fuel to get it clean<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Once you have run a quantity of clean fuel through it should be OK. Or swap the fuel line from one of your other cars; it justs clips into place. For the piston and valve freeing, can I recommend a toffee hammer?

<p></p><i></i>

Sugar doesn't really dissolve in petrol <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Sugar doesn't dissolve in gasoline, as a researcher at Berkeley confirmed in 1994. Forensics professor John Thornton labeled sucrose with radioactive carbon atoms and mixed it with gasoline, then spun the concoction in a centrifuge. After the undissolved particles were removed, the liquid's radiation level was measured to determine how much sucrose had become part of the gasoline. The answer was extremely little: the equivalent of less than a teaspoonful per 15-gallon tank of gas. <hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
<br>
Mythbusters tried it too, it just clogs up any in-line filters. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Instead, sugar poured into a car's gas tank stays intact. While sugar could still cause harm if it reached the engine (but in the same way sand would, by virtue of its being a granular contaminant, not because the sugar would turn into a syrup), even that potential harm is generally prevented by filtration.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

I sit corrected <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p></p><i></i>

Parrafin or deisel is a good solution. You can legally run with an element of mix upto 25% but I wouldn't suggest it on our cars (it lowers the octane rating). It will certainly help with freeing off the fuel pump

<p></p><i></i>

Thanks for you replies.<br>
<br>
Lewis, I already have a fuel filter (fitted after the event) if you read my thread a bit more closely... Reverse flushing sounds like a good idea though and I've already discovered that sugar doesn't dissolve in petrol so it was easy to separate the two. I just siphoned the petrol into a pop bottle and tipped the petrol out leaving the sugar in the bottom of the bottle where it had settled and then rinsed out the bottle afterwards.<br>
<br>
Richard, I do indeed have a spare fuel pump so that's definitely an option.<br>
<br>
slant04, I might just try the diesel option if the flushing doesn't work.<br>
<br>
<br>
To be continued...

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>

Sugar dissolves in water<br>
Water, especially with sugar in is denser than petrol.<br>
Remove fuel tank,<br>
Plug outlet<br>
Add1/2 gallon water, 1/2 gallon petrol, shake violently.<br>
Allow to stand for 1/2 and hour.<br>
Remove outlet bung, drain off 3/4 gallon of fluid<br>
Result, clean fuel tank<br>
(Hammond Innes, Night without end, Fontana publishers, 1959)<br>
I checked this with a mate at work, and it will work!<br>
For the fuel line, flush with water.<br>
<br>
BWJ<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>


<p></p><i></i>

Thanks for that Bruce. I haven't had chance to start the job because of the rain. I can flush the fuel lines no problem thanks to Richard's earlier suggestion of using a spare fuel pump and operating it by hand.<br>
<br>
I'll keep you posted (when this blood rain stops!)

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>

IT WORKED!<br>
<br>
I took the tank out without any real difficulty, followed Bruce's advice and lo and behold, a clean fuel tank! I then flushed the fuel line with clean warm water so its clear now. I'm having to replace the short section of pipe that goes from the tank outlet to the fuel line as the original (and I mean <!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">THE</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--> 1977 original) pipe was way past it. I've already got what I need (£2 worth from my local motor factor) and all being well Snowdrop will now have a sugar-free fuel system.

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>

I've replaced the bit of pipe and ran Snowdrop around the local streets and she seems to be fine. I really need to take her out on the open road to be absolutley sure. A bit more petrol with some Redex might just do the trick...

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>

and a locking petrol cap?<br>
<br>
Glad its sorted now.<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

Scott, that was the first thing I did! I robbed the one off the Toledo.

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>

Snowdrop's defintely fine now. I took her out to the East/South Yorkshire (non) meeting. A good blast along the M62 certainly did the trick!

<p>Toledo Man<br>
<br>
1974 Toledo 2-door (currently a spares car for Snowdrop)<br>
1973 1500fwd (Baby Blue slowly being recommissioned)<br>
1971 1500fwd (spares car for Baby Blue & future donor for the "Stretch 1500" project)<br>
1983 Acclaim HL (Becky, my daily driver)<br>
1977 Dolomite 1300 (Snowdrop my other road going Triumph)</p><i></i>