There is nothing seemingly serious happening, however the truck acts stange staopping and excelerating. Upon coming to a complete stop it seems as though the ABS is kicking in when its not needed. When I come to a complete stop its seems like the brakes lock up. Then when I excelerate from a dead stop it feels like there is water in my gas, but I have treated it with Berryman B12. Also as it is now winter in New England, I put in a bottle of dry-gas on each fillup, about twice a week. Any suggestions.

-Justin

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Nov-02 AT 08:55 PM (EST)]I'd suggest to NOT use "dry"-gas on any regular basis (it WILL dry-rot gaskets and rubber components in your fuel system) - maybe keep a bottle handy (in the truck, not in the tank) if you suspect that you do get some "bad" (watered) fuel, to the point of hard or not-starting or very-erratic acceleration, THEN pour it in - as it is, you've been using it and ARE experiencing problems\trouble. Perhaps, if you really believe you need a fuel additive, they're are some better, cleaning, not drying (ALCOHOL-methanol-FREE) products available. Look for ones that say "will not harm system" (sensors, injectors, etc.) Also keeping the tank more than half-full (when possible) will help prevent condensation.

As far as the brakes, it sounds like, if they're "locking", then the Anti-lock Brake System is NOT working - properly,

You're fuel system should be plenty "dry" now and I think up north you would tend to keep a full or near-full tank of gas anyway in the winter (for the sudden or unexpected blizzard!).

I'd get those brakes checked-out by a PRO.

Best of luck - Glenn . . .

 

If you think your gas is that bad change the station and brand. Major brand gasoline should not have water in it unless there is a problem with the storage tanks which should only affect a single station. Don't use cheap gas and don't use gas-alcohol mixes. Gasohol will give you problems with water, rust, and gasket/seal rot due to the alcohol in your fuel.


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gasohol won't rot out your gaskets, rubber and it won't cause any problems with rust. Myth, Myth, Myth.........

 

Premature ABS? Could it be 0312?

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/tsb/central2.cfm

Jerry

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Nov-02 AT 11:59 AM (EST)]It is an all-too-well-KNOWN-FACT, that ALCOHOL, in ANY form, has a de-hydrating (drying) effect on ANYTHING it comes in contact with. The only question(s) is\are how much (%-pct.) and how often (contact is made).

Think not (or think otherwise), try soaking some rubber or other gasket type material or ANY other components (hoses, seals, whatever) in a container of any of the variety of types of alcohol - depending on the percentage (of alcohol) and the length of time you allow for your "test" - there WILL be, at least, degradation of said material - time allowed - the product will cease to exist, or again, at the very least, not be able to funtion in the manner for which it was itended, to seal, seperate, protect - whatever.

Products (materials) are made to "resist" certain chemical's - however they are not (yet) - to the best of my knowledge - made chemical-PROOF, again, at least not for distribution in the mass-market.

Remember the Space-Shuttle tragedy in Jan. `86 - I could be wrong, but I believe the disaster was due to a con-tracted (from cold) RUBBER gasket, seal or ring, that cracked (I suppose from "flexing") and caused leakage. If temps.(variances) can do that, certainly strong chemicals, especially mixed chemicals, can, will and do cause erosin, rot and eventually FAILURE.

Glenn... PS - Thanks Jerry (`97RangerXLT)!

 

We are not talking about pure alcohol. We are talking about gasohol. Gas with an alcohol content of 15% or more causes problems with gaskets but since gasohol is only 10% it has been tested to cause NO damage. Gasohol has been a tested a used product since the 70's.

As far as rust goes....

Gasohol will remove the rust from the gas tank but that is really only an issue with old vehicles. Most newer vehicles have a plastic gas tank and the ranger has a plastic tank so rust is no issue.

 

Original post was in reference to using "dry" gas at EACH fill-up.

NOT recommended by even the manufacturer's of the stuff.