Gas too old?
 

Finishing up an engine out clutch project which spiraled into a horrible case of "whileyourinthereitis"... Since I'm about done, I sent the injectors out to be refreshed by RC and then realized the gas in the tank is from August. Do I need to drain it and put fresh in? I don't want to mess up my newly cleaned injectors. FWIW I always use high quality fuel but still...

I don't know what it's like in the USA, but here in Germany, according to the petroleum companies, gasoline has a shelf life of at least half a year, regardless of whether it contains ethanol or not (5 or 10%). I assume it's the same in the US. so no problem.

Thomas

August will be completely fine

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Worst case, just change the fuel filter
Cheap insurance

If it has been stored indoors, and not experienced wide temperature variations you should be fine. The biggest worry is water condensation if it is gasohol. Maybe top it off with fresh gas from a can, and drive it.

It should be fine.

Well crap...I just found a pic on my phone with the muffler off....FROM APRIL! I guess I'll be draining the tank. Not looking forward to that.

Don't panic! Even if the fuel is a bit older than 6 months - from my point of view there's still no need to drain it. Todays fuel detoriate above a year of storage. It hangs together how much fuel is in the tank, how's percentage of ethanol, works the tank ventilation, temperatures and even humidity. The only thing is the fuel begins to loose igniteability the longer its not consumed...so you can an octane booster for feel better...

any benefit to some sort of additive before I start it up? Other than octane booster. I put 92 in since that's Premium in Dallas.

On a side note. Am from Dallas too. Have a silver targa. Come do say hello if you find me


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Comments are contrary to anything I’ve heard. RV aka ethanol free is good for 6 months and ethanol breaks down after a month. I also use seafoam once a year to clean up the fuel system.

No worries, it will be fine. An extreme example: My friend bought a running project car (66 Chev 6 cy) which then sat in his garage for 7 years before he unloaded it. He put a battery in, couple of pumps on gas and it started up with no issues. I never would have believed it possible had I not seen and heard it for myself.

Use the opportunity to put some Seafoam in the tank. Run it to empty-ish and change the filter.

With old fashioned fuel without ethanol absolutely possible. Since ethanol came in, the mess has begun...

Thomas

I've experienced problems with carbs after sitting for a month with 10% ethanol. Fuel injection is a lot more tolerant of sitting because the system is sealed from the gas tank to the injectors. Still, I don't like to let cars sit becuase crap does happen to the fuel after enough time.

Go for a good long hard drive, get down to the fuel low light coming on, then refill with fresh gas. If you run into problems, put some Techron concentrate in it and continue driving. Otherwise, drive it regularly.

Strongly agree. 6 months is fine. Tons of us park our cars for 4 months over winter. Run some Sta-bil, Seaform or Liqui Moly fuel system cleaner, run the car down to empty, fill it up fresh.

I can have gas sit for a year of more with ethanol and carbs, I use sta-bil and or seafoam and or Driven carb defender. Add the right amount and the fuel is fresh for two years. I always am sure to empty the tank on the car within one year, and run it through my daily driver. Never had an issue with fuel since I started adding the fresheners. I can not get non ethanol gas either.

My 2 cents

Good idea to run the tank close to empty (leave a gallon in) fill it up add seafoam and rinse and repeat, once you are close to a gallon again, fill and add seafoam. Stabil or Driven injector defender, then you should be good for close to two years. I always try to cycle my gas through in 6 months though.

Buy a battery powered siphon, lots easier than draining. Pull some out and add non ethanol.

Way easier: Open fuel line at the fuel filter, put a hose on the open end coming from fuel pump into a canister and let the (jumpered) fuel pump do the job....

I also recommend to use fuel stabilizer on every fill up.

Thomas