Dealing with old gasoline

[my59]

Thanks-
I like the pipe cleaner action- makes me think a brass bore brush cut down tied onto the wire might be useful as well.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'83 MB 300CD, '89 MB 190 2.6 5 speed, '93 Volvo 240, '68 Volvo 144s and yeah, '01 NB turbo

[55reasons]

[Vanhag]

[cdennisg]

[my59]

My bug sits all winter long every year and has been doing so since I got it. It sits for maybe 5 months at a time; I've never had an issue with gas- but I also use a lead additive in the gas, which I think has some effect on the gas.

Nothing I own sits for more than a winter at a time without being driven or run.
_________________
my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'83 MB 300CD, '89 MB 190 2.6 5 speed, '93 Volvo 240, '68 Volvo 144s and yeah, '01 NB turbo

[The Gonif]

Thanks for all the information everyone! I learned a lot reading through your replies. It sounds like I should drain and replace the gas, and I'll add some carb/fuel line cleaner, too. And replace the fuel filter. And I'll look into checking the state of the fuel lines for gumminess/degradation, but that might be above the scope of my know-how.

As far as the type of gas, well, I live in Southern California so it's just whatever gas they had at the station 1 1/2 years ago. I don't own a lawnmower and we're not allowed to burn leaves here, but there is a hazardous waste disposal facility not too far away so I'll pay them a visit.

Thanks again, you guys are great.

[KopfenJager]

Most problems with ethanol gas come from old gum and crud in the fuel system that gets cleaned out by the ethanol. It is a corrosive. New cars almost never have problems because the are still clean. Most new engine problems are from people who let there boats or lawnmowers sit all winter with fuel in thebowl. You should not let ethanol gas sit more than a few weeks the ethanol starts to fall out of the fuel and obsorb water that leads to scaling on metal surfaces. If the car was parked and the carbs were not run dry, than you most likely have gum and varnish in the carbs as well as other nasties, BUT if she runs it will most likely clean itself out. If the car starts, than mix in some new fresh fuel, and a fuel systom cleaner like chemtool and run til almost empty, then refuel. Also adding a little stabil helps bring back old gas. But we are talking months here not yrs. You can store fuel without ethanol for yrs in airtight drums and adding stabil helps with this also. Storing gas in a vented gas tank is not a good idea. You should start and run the engine atleast every 3-4wks to keep things moving.

[Major Woody]

Vanhag, don't despair. I will be the first to step upon the soapbox:

"There is nothing wrong with two year old gas."