Well, I've learnt something today and it's a usefully lesson, too.

Jeepers, what a forum!

This is the reason why I suggested on the 'Suggestions' thread that I thought the 'O/T' thread deserved a forum heading of its own - each O/T thread could then follow it's own path without being interrupted by other 'Off-Topics' being thrown in at random. Who'd have thought that such a fascinating topic such as painting (as opposed to respraying...) a 2CV would end up here?

I can't wait for the new painting, Old Nail. It's absolutely fascinating seeing how it's developed - something I'd otherwise not give a second thought to.

O-N i cant remeber reading it (sorry if u mentioned) did you get your car fixed ok

No James it's still stuttery. I have an inline fuel filter fitted so it wasn't grit or dirt in the carb, the car does still run so I'm going to use all the petrol up then refill it. It's on empty now so I'm running around with a jerry can in the boot. I think it was liquid (Beer before drinking - or after!) they put in, I just hope it wasn't sugar.

DA I'm conscious that this is ostensibly a 2cv forum, so I don't want to permanently stray too far from talking about our old cars even in this thread, but when there's nothing to report 2cv wise there's perhaps no harm in putting up the odd post about another subject rather than posting nothing at all. That way the forum still gets traffic, and those that bother to read what I post might find something of interest there, a win win situation.

Besides, this next painting won't take very long to do. You'll be surprised how bish-bash-bosh they are given that they sell for many thousands of pounds each - the real ones that is - not mine.

have you had the carb off, to check whats in the carb, because what id be concerned about, if you run the car out, and theres a consiberable amount of piss/bear in the tank, then the pump will suck it through, and youll pull over (armed with the jerry can) and you happily put it in, but if the carbs full of piss and water (as the pipes to carb would be also) then the fuel isnt gonig to get through, then youd be stuck at the side of the road with a dead engine, and youll have to have the carb of anyway. that would be my concern,
if it was me? id have the carb of anyway, clean all jets out, and what i tend to do is when you take the float chamber off (remeber ive never taken a 2cv carb off only outboards) i always put the contents into a clear container so you can see whats in there, water wise etc,
but like i said, you might be ok, but if it were me id have the carb of before going anywhere!
again, in outbaords, as soon as the engine dies (its always water in the fuel) you should get to it as soon as (the salt correds the carbs innerds) and buggers it
sorry for that aray of useless information
good luck

Old Nail, I doubt anyone on here would tut tut at your digressions!

Funnily enough, I was toying with suggesting what James has above - removing the top of the carb, perhaps even in situ, and having a looksee in the float chamber. Mind you, if you drop a screw down t'intake you might say some bad words. In which case, don't forget James suggested it first...

Or, feed a thin tube into the tank and suck (er, using a pump) the contents from the very bottom to see if anything's sitting there; beer, being pretty much all water will, I guess, be easily visible under the withdrawn petrol.

I understand there are fuel additives that can be used to dissolve small amounts of water present in petrol - am I thinking of acetone? Is it safe to use?

I've never heard of such a product for clearing up water in fuel? Acetone evaporates very quickly so is good for cleaning brushes after the turp's stage. Once they're clean, a quick dip in acetone and they're dry again in seconds thus ready to use, can't see that happening inside a petrol tank though?

The reason I'm not so gung-ho about taking the carb off at the moment is that I don't have a gasket to refit it together again, and I hate stuff being held together with red hermetite where a proper gasket should be. The last time I undid the float chamber I ruined the gasket by pulling the lid off, it just tore apart.

I know I'm likely to have to do that job eventually, but for now I have adopted the stance of ignoring it 'till it goes away.

Wasn't methylated spirits the recommended additive for dealing with water contaminated petrol?
Although it seems that with changes to the composition of petrol in the UK, that doesn't always work nowadays.
< http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ ... tm?t=32700 >
Other sources suggest isopropyl alcohol may do the trick, wonder if that's what's added to these gaudily coloured drinks which seem popular with the younger generation...

ken.

i personally would rather remove the water than to add chemicals to remove the water,
O_N if your careful you should be able to remove it without ruining the gasket, ive used feeler gauges to gently convince the gasket away, thus no damage,
my only concern o n is that you run out of fuel somewhere and end up with a carb full of piss and the fuel cant get through cos piss wont pass through the carb

the other option, as D A suggests, suck the fuel out, i would go for taking the pipe of at the front of the nearside chassis leg, and drain it into a tank, let gravity do its 'thang

Seems eminently sensible to me.