Starting a car sitting for 18 months

[Intelligent Molecule]

Going to help a friend get his 2006 Focus back on the road that has been sitting for 18 months. Concerned about what the fuel will be like at this point. Dont know the fuel level yet as the battery is dead. Is there something i could add to the tank to improve it from the get go? Add fresh gas to dilute the bad stuff? Or just fire it up as is and see what it does.

Car hit a deer and has some nasty body damage, but was running well when parked.

 

[Cujet]

Crank it up and drive it. I would not do anything at all to it.

 

[Marcozi]

Check the fluids. See if you can get the old gas out of the tank. Fill the gas tank with fresh gas and see if it'll start.

 

[Intelligent Molecule]

Check the fluids. See if you can get the old gas out of the tank. Fill the gas tank with fresh gas and see if it'll start.

How would i do that- any half way modern vehicle Ive had has a restriction in filler tube to prevent a hose getting into the tank,

 

[Kira]

Get a charged battery in it and do post #2.

Even if you remove the old fuel (you may not have to) there's no need to "Fill the gas tank with fresh...". Two gallons will do.
Good luck with your resurrection.

 

[KrisZ]

Rock the car back and forth or sideways to stir the old gas a bit. That should get any water that might’ve collected at the bottom to mix a little with gas. Then fire it up.

 

[ls1mike]

Start it after checking the fluids.

 

[eljefino]

Make sure there isn't a mouse nest in the air filter then hit the key.

Modern cars have EVAP systems that keep gas from evaporating off and going bad.

It will run meh until it gets fresh gas, and the brakes will probably be rusty, so take it easy until you blow the cobwebs out.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Make sure there isn't a mouse nest in the air filter then hit the key.

Modern cars have EVAP systems that keep gas from evaporating off and going bad.

It will run meh until it gets fresh gas, and the brakes will probably be rusty, so take it easy until you blow the cobwebs out.

Not as far fetched as some will think. You are so right about checking for that. Mice just love to homestead in cars for some reason. I have popped the hood on a few of my cars and trucks I had sitting the garage or shop for a spell of months , only to be greeted with mice looking up at me from on top of an engine! SURPRISE.

 

[zzyzzx]

Concerned about what the fuel will be like at this point.

It might be OK as long as it didn't have EVAP leaks. The sealed systems on modern vehicles mean that the gas typically lasts a lot longer when compared to an older style vented system. Meaning it could start and run well enough to use up, or at least dilute with some newer fuel if the tank is empty enough and use it up that way.

 

[cptbarkey]

18 months isnt very long. Get to work!

 

[billt460]

If it's full of oil and coolant, put a new battery in and start cranking!

 

[dishdude]

Fuel would be the least of my concerns, fuel injected cars are very forgiving with old gas. Replace battery, visual inspection and check all fluid levels. Bigger concern - where was it parked? If it was out in the elements, you may have an issue with rotors being rusted, caliper slides frozen, etc.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My truck just sat for 18 months. The gas wasn't a problem. I had to replace 3 ignition coils because the spark plug wells filled with water from the hood leaking and had to replace the rear calipers. The pistons were seized up in the rear calipers.

 

[tmorris1]

Make sure there isn't a mouse nest in the air filter then hit the key.

Modern cars have EVAP systems that keep gas from evaporating off and going bad.

It will run meh until it gets fresh gas, and the brakes will probably be rusty, so take it easy until you blow the cobwebs out.

Good luck checking the air filter with that car. It has a "lifetime" huge foam filter in the quarter panel. Those things run forever. I have one with 290k. Just start it and take it for a drive as long as the fluids are good. Gas tanks are sealed pretty well and fuel injected vehicles will start pretty easy. Burn the fuel out and add some fresh and you will be good to go.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I would be more concerned with a good inspection of the tires on the car that may have developed flat spots or started to dry and crack in some spots. Just like the thing about "it is not good to let a vehicle sit too long," the same goes for tires.