DIYbanter - View Single Post - How did water get in my mower carburetor?

wrote:
I have a push mower with a Tecumseh 3.5 HP Four Cycle engine. It's
about 5 or 6 years old. It is a very basic mower without all the
bells and whistles, which is just how I like them, (lightweight). It
has always been very reliable and started on the first pull. Late last
fall it seemed to be getting hard to start, but I used it one more
time and put it in the shed for the winter. I poured a little gas
stabalizer in the 1/4 tank of gas that remained.

I got it out last week and it would not start. It had good spark but
would not even pop. I sprayed a little gas in the air cleaner and it
started for a second. I took the hose off the gas tank and cleaned
it. Still no start. I finally pulled the bowl off the bottom of the
carburetor to find it full of water and things were getting rusty and
clogged. One full can of spray carb cleaner and a rag to wipe away
the rust in the bowl, and it started right up and runs great again.

My question is how in the heck did the water get in there? Yes, the
mower sits outside at times, and has been rained on. However, I
ALWAYS replace the gas cap immediately when I add gas. The gas tank
is plastic and has a plastic cap that threads about 3/4" over the fill
hole, and closes tightly. There is no vent hole or any hole in the
cap, or in the tank. No one else uses the mower. So, how in the heck
did the water get in there, and the whole bowl was full of water. I
tend to wonder how much more was in the gas tank, so I drained it and
refilled, and added some "HEET".

My only possible thought is that it could have possibly leaked into
the air cleaner, since that air cleaner is a plastic snap on piece of
**** that tends to fall off every so often and never fits well. I
might be wrong, but I think that any water that would leak in there
would go to the engine, not the carb bowl.... (I think)?

Does anyone have an explanation or suggestion?

I guess next fall I will have to add HEET to all the gas powered stuff
before storing it,,,,

Frank

God is alive and well in Iraq

Two common sources:

Water in the gas you are buying.
Water sucked into the tank from the tank respiration while sitting.
All tanks must have a vent of some type. As they sit idle air is drawn
in and pushed back out with temperature changes.
Tanks should be either empty or full if it is going to idle for a long
time. Partial fills are subject to accumlation of water because of
this.

Harry K