Fuel contaminated with water - France

[yeoblade]

Just been reading of a few unhappy drivers complaining of breaking down after filling up from a French garage, water contamination. Then a few more have chirped in saying it's happened to them before in France too.
Anyone here had the problem? Also is there a water dump valve on the fuel filter on Fiat 2.3 130 BHP X250.

 

[trevskoda]

If you get water in the tank, stop for a day and let settle, then syphone of from the bottom of the tank, some marine shops sell a product which helps by breaking down water and also stops the bug which grows in tanks not used much, if you dont clean out the water the bug will start to grow.
If tank is low syphone it all out and let stand in a drum, you can salvage the top 80/90% leaving the water behind, do also drain the fuel filter.

 

[Snapster]

Never heard of anyone getting contaminated fuel in France, it’s certainly not happened to us and we’ve been travelling around France since the early ‘80’s and lived here for 9 years. None of our friends have either. If would be helpful if these unhappy drivers listed the garages or at least the areas they bought contaminated fuel.

 

[witzend]

Also is there a water dump valve on the fuel filter on Fiat 2.3 130 BHP X250.

On my x250 the filter drain is white & on the rhs half way up the filter bowl needs a screw driver to undo it when you undo it you need the ignition on and the fuel is then pumped out the bottom of it.
40k with mine only on French diesel never seen any water when I've changed the filters

 

[Rumour]

We have travelled around France for years in motorhomes (last 9 years) and cars. We are not as well travelled in France as some, but looking at my logs, we have completed around 65,000 miles (including the journey to and from home to the train/ferry). Never have had a problem with the fuel, except one time at Tesco in Wellingborough!

 

[trevskoda]

Water also happens when a half filled tank sweets in cold & hot days, the moisture in the free air drops out and sinks to the bottom of the tank, thats why boat owners keep the tanks full over winter or changable weather, they also add a bottle of fuel stabalizer as I mentioned before.
You can also get a water trap which just sits aaat the bottom of the tank and captures water.