Where has all my alky gone?
- Thread starter Timbuick
- Start date
I recently went thru the same thing. Turns out my alky pump was leaking. The weird thing is some days it would leave evidence that it was leaking, and other days not so much. I found it by looking up under at the pump and saw what looked like some seepage. A rebuild of the pump fixed it. 
Not sure if this will help or if you've chceked here but it can't hurt to try.
Not sure if this will help or if you've chceked here but it can't hurt to try.
Another thing is you can use washer fluid as it has a dye in it.
Like all things car related.. you let things sit in liquids.. they go bad quicker than using them. Oil picks up moisture, brake fluid picks up moisture, the methanol picks up moisture, tires get flat spots, etc... When you normally put some miles on the car and bring things up to temp the moisture evaps..
Thats the #1 problem buying low mileage cars.. Cars are not wrenches in a tool box. If they have fluids.. those fluids need to be moved around.
Get some methanol contaminated with fuel.. that pump will start to leak in a few weeks. Even if its brand new.
Let us know what you find..
Like all things car related.. you let things sit in liquids.. they go bad quicker than using them. Oil picks up moisture, brake fluid picks up moisture, the methanol picks up moisture, tires get flat spots, etc... When you normally put some miles on the car and bring things up to temp the moisture evaps..
Thats the #1 problem buying low mileage cars.. Cars are not wrenches in a tool box. If they have fluids.. those fluids need to be moved around.
Get some methanol contaminated with fuel.. that pump will start to leak in a few weeks. Even if its brand new.
Let us know what you find..
Razor, i'll check as suggested, but I have to say that the car had been in regular use and i'd been using lots of boost and topping up frequently. At that point I thought I was getting through too much. Having left it for longer it there is clearly a problem.
Is there a rebuild kit for the pump? Being over here in the UK I need to plan ahead!
Is there a rebuild kit for the pump? Being over here in the UK I need to plan ahead!
Tim, first lets see where the problem lies.. then make corrective decisions. What type of alcohol are you using?
If its methanol, it should be fine.
Windshield washer fluid would be the easiest as its blue.
OK guys, here is what I found today.
Put the car on the drive and looked under the pump. Alky is pouring out from the lower part of the pump;the black plastic section.
Razor, you mentioned that alky and gas/petroleum don't mix.
I'm pretty sure I picked up a gallon of gas for a car I was selling. Although i used all the gas it could be that any residue left in the can mixed with the alky and shot the seals. Just being honest.
Is there a a seal kit I can buy to put this right?
Thanks.
Put the car on the drive and looked under the pump. Alky is pouring out from the lower part of the pump;the black plastic section.
Razor, you mentioned that alky and gas/petroleum don't mix.
I'm pretty sure I picked up a gallon of gas for a car I was selling. Although i used all the gas it could be that any residue left in the can mixed with the alky and shot the seals. Just being honest.
Is there a a seal kit I can buy to put this right?
Thanks.
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