Old fuel forgotten

chromebumpers

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
Ok, another failure on my part. One of my cars has a full tank of gas that is from 2 years ago, not sure if the last person that filled the tank used any treatment for fuel and it’s a regular carburetor car if that matters.
My concern, later this week, if there is a break in this heat I want to take this car out. I rebuilt the Rochester carb and plan to reinstall it, so no fuel problems there. It’s not feasible to drop the tank, so my question is:
1). Siphon what I can and refill the tank. PITA!
2). Pour in the tank some sort of treatment (like Heat) to disperse any water that may have separated from the fuel and top off the tank at the gas station?
 
chromebumpers said:
Ok, another failure on my part. One of my cars has a full tank of gas that is from 2 years ago, not sure if the last person that filled the tank used any treatment for fuel and it’s a regular carburetor car if that matters.
My concern, later this week, if there is a break in this heat I want to take this car out. I rebuilt the Rochester carb and plan to reinstall it, so no fuel problems there. It’s not feasible to drop the tank, so my question is:
1). Siphon what I can and refill the tank. PITA!
2). Pour in the tank some sort of treatment (like Heat) to disperse any water that may have separated from the fuel and top off the tank at the gas station?
Click to expand...
Yes Richard.
If you have an old racing electric fuel pump connect it to the the fuel line going into the mechanical fuel pump.
It will draw all the gasoline out of the fuel tank.
 
Maniacmechanic1 said:
Yes Richard.
If you have an old racing electric fuel pump connect it to the the fuel line going into the mechanical fuel pump.
It will draw all the gasoline out of the fuel tank.
Click to expand...

I don’t have any electric racing fuel pump, is there anything cheap and easy from say, Harbor Freight I can use in its place?
 
chromebumpers said:
I don’t have any electric racing fuel pump, is there anything cheap and easy from say, Harbor Freight I can use in its place?
Click to expand...

If you have the time, 1/4 inch line, a lawn mower electric fuel pump will work and can be had from any auto parts house for cheap, or take it off your own riding mower.
 
T-Test said:
If you have the time, 1/4 inch line, a lawn mower electric fuel pump will work and can be had from any auto parts house for cheap, or take it off your own riding mower.
Click to expand...
I know just what you are talking about, I had to replace one on my zero turn. The task now is finding a list of pumps and part numbers to find the least expensive pumps. (Does that make sense?)
 
My car has been sitting for over 20 years. I wonder what that fuel will look like.
I assume tank replacement is a must?
 
I don't/ no longer have the money some do since I can't work any more.
I go my route--you go yours. I'll use mine wisely.

I do occasionally give stuff away.
 
Ok, I really don’t want to make a lot of work for my self for this old gas removal.

What do you think if I just siphoned out as much as I can (the filler neck is behind the license plate at the center rear of the car so not much of a filler tube angle), pour some “Heat” brand fuel additive in the tank and fill it up with fresh fuel.

The carburetor is a non issue because I took it off to rebuild it and I still haven’t reinstalled it yet. Then I can start it up. Safe enough to do it this way?
 
This the 1968 Catalina Convertible Richard ?
It can be done as you stated.
Instead of Heat gas additive I would use 4-8 ounces of MMO.
Marvel Mystery Oil and 10 gallons of fresh gas.
 
don,t assume the tank is trash, without a detailed inspection, I've occasionally seen cars stored in garages with old forgotten fuel,and engines full of old oil
that were drained and the tanks were in decent condition
,(probably the fuel in those tanks that did not contain alcohol blends, and or had MMO ,
and fuel preservative additives added before being stored in na dry shop/garage)

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-with-fuel-in-the-lines-tank.4111/#post-72082


If theres any doubt as too the fuel tanks internal condition in a car that sat for years, drain the tank contents through a paint filter , youll get some idea of its internal condition, then if its removed, from the car,
I generally drop 5-6 feet or 3/8" chain into the tank ,
and manually shake and tumble the chain around ,\
along with a gallon of diesel fuel
and repeat the drain through a filter,
the short section of chain sliding around inside the fuel tank,
and sloshing gallon of diesel fuel, is sure to dislodge and corrosion.
easy to see as the diesel is drained through the filter

5-6 feet of 3/8" chain is heavy enough to knock loose internal corrosion,
but small enough that a short section of cord with a magnet makes it easy to retrieve
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=RC48
ringmagss.png

paintfilter1.jpg

paintfilter2a.jpg
 
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