Replacing old gas

[Hilljack68]

A friend of ours lost her husband a little over a year ago. She asked me if the gas in his little sports car should be drained out or if it was still good. The current gas was put in about 15 months ago, with no stabilizer. Also, is there a chance of engine seizure after that span of time? Thanks.

 

[493 Mike]

The fuel will burn but not well so dump it. The engine should be fine for many years with dry storage. I stored my spare 440 for 18 years without even rolling it over. No issues. Run that car's engine after removing the gas from the tank until it stalls out, empty the carburetor/ injection system.
Mike

 

[bandit67]

I bought a dc electric powered fuel pump kit off Ebay. It came several size hoses as well as a hard plastic hose that will reach the bottom of most gas tanks. My old cars have set way too long also with old gas. If it stinks, pump it out. I do think some, if not all , newer cars have metal blocks that prevent using a hard line to reach the bottom of the tank....but mine was purchased for older cars. I say pump it out if possible...

 

[Kern Dog]

Depending on the tune and compression of the engine, it may or may not run with the old gas in it.
California gas starts to go bad within a few months. What evaporates first are the VOCs that give gasoline it's "punch". It will run but not well. It may knock and ping, be slow to rev up, buck and sputter and hesitate.
My '70 Charger sits most of the time. Last year around September, I was having problems with it running really rough at cold start. It ran like it was on 4 cylinders but as it warmed up, it smoothed out but still didn't run right. After some testing, I found that the gas had discolored from a pale clear yellow to a somewhat milky, orange color. I surfed around the internet and learned that when an old car with a ventilated system sits for extended periods, the gasoline does go bad faster than the formulas we used years ago. Newer cars with sealed fuel systems fare better due to there being less chance of evaporation.
Get a cheap $20 electric fuel pump and some rubber fuel line and suck out the fuel. I save bad gasoline for cleaning parts!

 

[R413]

You can take the supply line off at the mechanical fuel pump, and then Connect an electric Pump there to drain the tank.

DO NOT add fresh gas to old gas, it just makes more old gas!

ethanol free gas lasts longer before going sour.

 

[toolmanmike]

Like old food..............."When in doubt, throw it out!"

 

[MoparLeo]

Is the car going to just sit in the garage from now on ? Or is someone going to eventually drive it ? What exactly is this "Sports Car"?
I would recommend to have someone change the oil and after emptying the tank to put in several gallons of non Ethanol fuel if available, add a bottle of Fuel stabilizer and with the garage door open or best yet back out of the garage and run the engine for several minutes to warm up the engine, which will help to prevent the engines seals from hardening and keeps the engine internals free and the bearing surfaces lubricated.
Nothing is worse for a car then to not be driven.
Think of the difference in condition of someone who is bedridden with no exercise as opposed to someone who takes a daily walk. You get the idea.

 

[JimCoronette]

Two tubes down the filler tube(pre 80s).

Touch one to the bottom and put the other end in the catch tank.

Use a rag to seal around both of the tubes.

Blow into the other tube until you get flow.

 

[MoparLeo]

I use an air hose, if you have access to an air tank or compressor.

 

[JimCoronette]

I use an air hose, if you have access to an air tank or compressor.

I normally do too, but in a pinch...

Or if you're a big windbag like me

 

[Don Frelier]

I think it will likely run on what is in there.
Maybe just pull a sample and put in in a glass container then decide.
Seems easier to just drive it if it's licensed.
I'd run it til almost empty and then put new fuel in it.

 

[R413]

Free parts cleaning fluid. Might have a full tank, sports car might get good mileage. So 300 miles later is getting low. LOL

 

[DeltaV]

A friend of ours lost her husband a little over a year ago. She asked me if the gas in his little sports car should be drained out or if it was still good. The current gas was put in about 15 months ago, with no stabilizer. Also, is there a chance of engine seizure after that span of time? Thanks.

Curious, what is this little sports car?

 

[Ranger16]

I agree with Don. I've started my generator with at least 8 year old gas in it and it ran just fine. I'd bet that car will as well.

 

[Hilljack68]

Is the car going to just sit in the garage from now on ? Or is someone going to eventually drive it ? What exactly is this "Sports Car"?

Curious, what is this little sports car?

It's a 2007 Saturn Sky. Only 260 hp, but it's a light car and will get up and boogie. At this point she's undecided if she'll drive it or sell it; she's still stinging from the loss of her husband. Thanks for all the incite fellas. I appreciate it.

 

[493 Mike]

It's a 2007 Saturn Sky. Only 260 hp, but it's a light car and will get up and boogie. At this point she's undecided if she'll drive it or sell it; she's still stinging from the loss of her husband. Thanks for all the incite fellas. I appreciate it.

My condolences to you and your friend.
Mike

 

[69_Coronet]

I have a Saturn Sky Redline as well (260 hp is the turbocharged 2.0 litre Redline engine). Mine hasn't sat that long with fuel in it, but I doubt it will be a problem as my other vehicles have definitely sat that long with no issues. That said, if the owner plans to let it continue to sit without driving it, it is a pretty small effort to drain the old fuel. The Redline version of the Saturn Sky is a great little car (at 3000 lb, it's not all that little), good power and great handling. Overall, a really fun car. Cheers!

 

[Fran Blacker]

I use old gas around a year +/- in my regular car. Fill the tank run it down some add a gallon of old gas. Old old gas goes to recycler. had a can of gas thought it had water in it. Lawn mower wouldn't took it be fixed, guy said water in gas.

 

[dadsbee]

I "hear" that old gas is a wonderful thing for killing grass on your gravel driveway....

 

[myk r sanchez]

It's a 2007 Saturn Sky. Only 260 hp, but it's a light car and will get up and boogie. At this point she's undecided if she'll drive it or sell it; she's still stinging from the loss of her husband. Thanks for all the incite fellas. I appreciate it.

I loved the Sky/Solstice; they're the only non-V8 car I would ever consider driving. Post up pictures if you can...