Year old gas - Will it start?

[S133P3R]

my car hasnt been running for over a year and it died with a full tank of gas . i havent tried to start it because the everything was disconnected, and now its all re-connected and i will be trying to start it this week.

does anyone know if gas goes bad? after how approx. long? Im sure there are some problems with it clogging the injectors but does anyone think it will even start?

I saw some gumout stuff advertised on TV and really wish i had used some .... any insight is welcome. thanks!

[seang]

You should have used Stabil from the onset of letting it sit, but since you didn't, I would just say try to start it. I bought an old Nissan hardbody that had been sitting for two years with the same gas, and I drove it home like that. It was fuel injected.

[jak89]

I am in the same boat, about to try to start a car after 2 years but i'm gonna clean the tank and put a new fuel pump theres all kinda gunk in there.

I would at least look through the fuel pump door in the trunk and see what its lookin like

[S133P3R]

You should have used Stabil from the onset of letting it sit, but since you didn't, I would just say try to start it. I bought an old Nissan hardbody that had been sitting for two years with the same gas, and I drove it home like that. It was fuel injected.

You should have used Stabil from the onset of letting it sit, but since you didn't, I would just say try to start it. I bought an old Nissan hardbody that had been sitting for two years with the same gas, and I drove it home like that. It was fuel injected.

very good to know, thank you. wasnt planning on leaving it so long but next time, there wont be a next time.

[S133P3R]

anyone else?

its been sitting in southern cali, if anyone thinks thats necessary info.

[s14ben]

when i went through the same thing (twice). the first time i disconnected the return line and stuck a long piece of line there and ran it so the old fuel would pump into a big gas can and i used it in my lawnmower.

Second time around I had a brand new Z32 filter that i didn't want to pump through so i disconnected the send line from the top of the pump. Jumped the relay and pumped the old fuel into my frontier (it'll eat anything)

[n240sxfnatic]

Yea should have used stabil, but I bet you it will start no problem.

[Kelbizzle]

The shelf life of gas is alot longer than people think. I've used gas that was years old in a lawnmower. Maybe it was more like a couple. But the mower ran fine. The only concern I would have is about any moisture in the tank. In that case you can use Iso Heet http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx It's a water remover.

[S133P3R]

Yea should have used stabil, but I bet you it will start no problem.

like i said before, it was not my plan to leave it sitting... weekends turned to months, months to a year. it was always "this weekend" then something would strip or break and then need replacement... just be a year long excuse to ride the bus.. lol.

The shelf life of gas is alot longer than people think. I've used gas that was years old in a lawnmower. Maybe it was more like a couple. But the mower ran fine. The only concern I would have is about any moisture in the tank. In that case you can use Iso Heet http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx It's a water remover.

i will be trying that! and its available everywhere, thanks for the link!

[snowyred180]

My Mazda sat for months (almost a year) and it ran fine.

[speedeast]

Heet FTW!!. Gas doesn't really have a shelf life. They say the fuel system will start getting condensation after like 60 days, and moisture can mess some things up. You might have to try a few times to get it to start, but it should run and hopefully burn through the moisture. Unless you left the gas cap off or something crazy like that, you should be good.

Stabil next time.

Yeah, Heet and Stabil are at all the auto parts stores, even Wal-Mart has 'em.

In that case you can use Iso Heet

^THANK YOU! This stuff completely slipped my mind somehow and your reminding me has helped someone else!
Modified by speedeast at 3:18 AM 2/4/2010

[S133P3R]

ill be back with results after the weekend, definitely gonna bring the HEET!thanx nico fam!

[scigro1017]

year old gas will work but you should use stabliser . gas starts to breaks down after 6 months it still run you mite want to change the fuel fiter

[S133P3R]

update!car started after i got the ignition order correct. book said 1 thing, distributor cap said a different thing... idk, it worked as per the caps ignition order.car stays running with no problems or hesitation, but its getting really hot and something is not right.fuel filter was upgraded to a Z32 but i think my pump is weak and may be causing low pressure to the fuel rail. im pretty sure the gas is in pretty bad condition cuz my engine is really loud, louder than normal and its getting little pings after i shut it down. not sure what my timing is like, im sure its off too. im gonna drain most of the fuel and refuel with higher octane.

more updates on this later.

-next on the list is smog... great, damn califartnia!

[ZootedS13]

screw stabil, dont take the risk with your ENGINE just put in new gas bro.

[DuckyD]

Yea dude, drain that gas.

[S133P3R]

raining now, will drain at later date before restarting.