glass fuel sediment bowl

[Billy 1931 Model A]

My A was running fine, and then just stopped. When I look at the glass fuel sediment bowl, the liquid in there has the color of water. Gasoline has the color of apple juice, doesn't it?
Has my engine stopped because the fuel being delivered is actually water? What would you do?

[Keith True]

Gas is clear.If it is gold colored it is a few weeks old.While you may have water in there,the color doesn't mean it is.Gas hasn't had color for years.Remember Getty?red. Agway?green.Also,if your car quit running because of water the bowl would not be full of it.There would be a line of water with gas on the top.The car would quit long before the bowl filled up fully.

[Joe K]

Sound like disconnect at the carburetor supply and take a sample. You can throw it down on the pavement and see how fast it evaporates.

If you find water, then continue to sample until you don't. THEN dig out the "Christy Dry-Gas" or today's equivalent and add that to your gas tank.

Google AI:

Dry gas is an alcohol-based fuel additive used in automobiles to prevent water in your fuel tank from freezing and causing engine stalling. It works by making the water soluble in gasoline so it can safely pass through the fuel system and burn off during combustion. [1, 2, 3]

Dry Gas is not a bad thing to add with every fill - especially for an infrequently used relatively low compression engine like the Model A Ford. Your tank while sitting will tend to "condense" water vapor from the air which in time can create problems. Dry Gas deals with this.

It may affect rubber hoses or seals used in your gas supply, if you have them.

If your gas tank has been "sealed" with a flowable coating, the dry gas may soften that.

Most purchased gasoline comes automatically with a low level of dry/gas/alcohol/additive for stability in transport and storage.

Joe K

[Trapdoor2]

Originally Posted by Keith True

Gas is clear.If it is gold colored it is a few weeks old.While you may have water in there,the color doesn't mean it is.Gas hasn't had color for years.Remember Getty?red. Agway?green.Also,if your car quit running because of water the bowl would not be full of it.There would be a line of water with gas on the top.The car would quit long before the bowl filled up fully.

I ran a tank full of 80oct. Avgas (red) in my VW once. The red stain showed up immediately on every gasket in the system. The Holley carb I was using just dripped with red. At least I knew I needed to rebuild it!

[old31]

Wow, Keith you must be really, really old! "Remember Getty?red. Agway?green". Wow, what year was that?

I actually remember getting that gas for 25 cents a gallon. I told my son that I used to buy gas for a quarter, and he thought I was kidding.

[Joe K]

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Originally Posted by old31

I actually remember getting that gas for 25 cents a gallon. I told my son that I used to buy gas for a quarter, and he thought I was kidding.

Key Federal Minimum Wage Milestones
Historically, Congress increased the minimum wage fairly regularly to adjust for the cost of living, but that changed in the 1980s. Key historical rates: [1]

• 1938: \(\$0.25\) per hour (introduced by the Fair Labor Standards Act)
• 1968: \(\$1.60\) per hour (its highest inflation-adjusted peak)
• 1981: \(\$3.35\) per hour
• 1991: \(\$4.25\) per hour
• 1997: \(\$5.15\) per hour
• 2007: \(\$5.85\) per hour
• 2008: \(\$6.55\) per hour
• 2009–2026: \(\$7.25\) per hour

I remember $1.25 which is what it was when gasoline was $0.26 per gallon. (About 1964) 9 years old and allowed to mow with a "power" reel mower.

I remember the step change to $1.60. We all thought we were rich!

Joe K

[Keith True]

I bought a new 1972 350 Honda leftover in the winter of 73.I rode it all summer,and could never fit a dollars worth of high test in the tank.I worked at the American station then,but didn't make two dollars an hour.I was in a good position when the oil embargo of 73-74 came around.American did have leaded gas,but most of their gas was unleaded,many years before it had to be.Their low octane unleaded was called Blue Boy then,which was what was called white gas.Could use it in Coleman lanters and stoves.You did NOT want to use their high test in a stove though.We'd almost get in arguements with customers,trying to explain that while the high test was unleaded,it WAS NOT our white gas.I still have my 300 gallon Agway tank that held green gas.I use it for kerosene now to heat a little house out back.Agways diesel was green too back then.Getty gas was red up into the early 90's anyway here in town.

[Bob Bidonde]

Most engine stoppage issues are due to ignition problems. Look into the float bowl. If it has gasoline, the fuel system is not your problem.