A 2000 Ford Escort has been parked for 3 1/2 years. Car has low miles - about 55K - so would like to get it on the road again. Tires almost no wear but two are flat. Main concern is jellied gas in fuel system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
What To Do About Old Gas In Car
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At 3.5 years I'd just open fuel cap and if it smells bad I'd siphon it and fill up with fresh.. I've had bad gas clog injectors to the point they had to be replaced. Fuel filter didn't catch it. As to the tires I'd look at build date and if they are near/over 10 years old I'd trash them myself. If still reasonably new check for weather cracking. If they've sat for long flat I'd guess they are done as well.
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I'll go over to the car's location this week to siphon the gas. Will a gas additive be required to help push out whatever gunk is in the system, or is fresh gas enough? Also, should I spray something into the cylinders prior to starting?
Thanks to everyone for your replies.
Thanks to everyone for your replies.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
Originally Posted By: Fsharp
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
The berrymans is a better solvent. I'd use that.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
The berrymans is a better solvent. I'd use that.
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
At 3.5 years I'd just open fuel cap and if it smells bad I'd siphon it and fill up with fresh.. I've had bad gas clog injectors to the point they had to be replaced. Fuel filter didn't catch it. As to the tires I'd look at build date and if they are near/over 10 years old I'd trash them myself. If still reasonably new check for weather cracking. If they've sat for long flat I'd guess they are done as well.
This. The fresh fuel will dilute any leftover paint thinner you can't siphon out.
At 3.5 years I'd just open fuel cap and if it smells bad I'd siphon it and fill up with fresh.. I've had bad gas clog injectors to the point they had to be replaced. Fuel filter didn't catch it. As to the tires I'd look at build date and if they are near/over 10 years old I'd trash them myself. If still reasonably new check for weather cracking. If they've sat for long flat I'd guess they are done as well.
This. The fresh fuel will dilute any leftover paint thinner you can't siphon out.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Fsharp
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
The berrymans is a better solvent. I'd use that.
+1
Originally Posted By: Fsharp
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
The berrymans is a better solvent. I'd use that.
+1
Originally Posted By: Fsharp
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
Agreed with this.
Also true that Berryman's B-12 is better value, and product, than SeaFoam.
+2
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
Agreed with this.
Also true that Berryman's B-12 is better value, and product, than SeaFoam.
+2
Get a sample first. If it has changed to a red / brown color and doesn't smell like gas at all, you need to remove it. You can disconnect one of the lines under the hood and run it to a gas can then jump the fuel pump relay to make the pump run all the time. Run it just until empty, but don't let the pump run dry.
You post on the board and you let gas sit in a car for 3.5 years, shame on you.
Originally Posted By: focused
A 2000 Ford Escort has been parked for 3 1/2 years. Car has low miles - about 55K - so would like to get it on the road again. Tires almost no wear but two are flat. Main concern is jellied gas in fuel system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Why has the car sat? Is it your car? Is it the one in your sig line ??
A 2000 Ford Escort has been parked for 3 1/2 years. Car has low miles - about 55K - so would like to get it on the road again. Tires almost no wear but two are flat. Main concern is jellied gas in fuel system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Why has the car sat? Is it your car? Is it the one in your sig line ??
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Originally Posted By: focused
A 2000 Ford Escort has been parked for 3 1/2 years. Car has low miles - about 55K - so would like to get it on the road again. Tires almost no wear but two are flat. Main concern is jellied gas in fuel system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Why has the car sat? Is it your car? Is it the one in your sig line ??
The owner was unable to renew his drivers license, so the car sat. He recently passed away, so I would like to get the car back on the road again, either for me or for someone in need of reliable transportation.
My focus has no sense of time - doesn't realize how old it is. It has 192,000 hard miles on the meter and keeps asking for more.
Originally Posted By: focused
A 2000 Ford Escort has been parked for 3 1/2 years. Car has low miles - about 55K - so would like to get it on the road again. Tires almost no wear but two are flat. Main concern is jellied gas in fuel system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Why has the car sat? Is it your car? Is it the one in your sig line ??
The owner was unable to renew his drivers license, so the car sat. He recently passed away, so I would like to get the car back on the road again, either for me or for someone in need of reliable transportation.
My focus has no sense of time - doesn't realize how old it is. It has 192,000 hard miles on the meter and keeps asking for more.
Be very careful jumping the pump. Fuel pumps need fuel to cool them. If you could rig a siphon on the fuel line that would be best.
Originally Posted By: Fsharp
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
You guys nailed it! I was only able to locate one Berryman's product - the carb and fuel cleaner - but I added that and 5 gals of fresh gas to the tank. After throwing in a new battery I hit the key and she started in two seconds. There were no misfires and no smoke out the pipe. The car had 51,098 miles and was parked four years, one month. Put air in the tires and they're holding it, but there are fine cracks on the sidewalls.
Right now I could use a leaf blower to clear the layer of dust from the motor.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Fill the tank with fresh gas to dilute it, expect a bit longer cranking time, and drive it.
This, but I'd add a can of berrymans, sea foam or the like to it when I filled it up. 3.5 years isn't too long with a pretty much sealed tank like on modern cars.
Doubtful you can siphon it due to an anti-siphon valve or screen.
You guys nailed it! I was only able to locate one Berryman's product - the carb and fuel cleaner - but I added that and 5 gals of fresh gas to the tank. After throwing in a new battery I hit the key and she started in two seconds. There were no misfires and no smoke out the pipe. The car had 51,098 miles and was parked four years, one month. Put air in the tires and they're holding it, but there are fine cracks on the sidewalls.
Right now I could use a leaf blower to clear the layer of dust from the motor.
Give the underbody a once over or use the leaf blower there too. It seems 'stuff' can accumulate under there.
Armor all the tires to help with them being dried out.
Armor all the tires to help with them being dried out.
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If it sat up for several months to a year or more with today's ethanol gas. DRAIN or SIPHON out fuel.
Add a bottle of B-12 Chemtool, redline SI-1, or Regane Gumout with a half a tank of gas.
Change the car's oil and filter and drive it. It will take a couple of tankfulls to a few hundred miles to help get it back into shape.
Add some StaBil marine formula to the tank before filling it up for a few months thereafter.
Add a bottle of B-12 Chemtool, redline SI-1, or Regane Gumout with a half a tank of gas.
Change the car's oil and filter and drive it. It will take a couple of tankfulls to a few hundred miles to help get it back into shape.
Add some StaBil marine formula to the tank before filling it up for a few months thereafter.
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