Hello everyone. I have a long story but I will try to make it as short as possible. I am an Apache helicopter engineer and have been so for many years now. In 2005, I was in Iraq with the 101st. Came back in late 2005 and purchases a 2001 Ford Expedition with the 4.6 liter, 2 valve engine. Loved the truck. Always performed my own maintenance. In late 2006, my company wanted me to go to Kuwait to support Apaches there for a year. My company has a parking lot at an airport so my vehicle was always parked at that lot (it's free). It sat for approx. 1 year. When I flew home for vacation, I flew into the airport and attempted to fire it up. Fired up without any issues. Again, love this truck! Drove it about 600+ miles to my parents home. There I took it in to get all the fluids changed out (oil, tranny, diff, coolant, brake) and also changed the battery since it sat for so long. I wanted to put something good into the truck since I knew it was going to sit for at least another 6 months but my pops talked me into just going to Walmart and putting in one of their batteries. Nothing against Walmart and I am not so naive to know that most batteries are all probably made by just a few companies. I just wanted something either original, as I had installed or put in a well known brand for reliability. Regardless, tired of listening to my pops, we went over to Walmart and had them install a new battery. After my visit, drove it the 600+ miles back to the airport, parked it and flew back to Kuwait. 6 months later, back home in the US and went to start my truck. You guessed it- just the "click, click, click". This vacation, I was short on time and did not have the time to jump it or mess around with it. I was super annoyed to say the least. No tools with me, no jumper cables, nothing. And no time. Fast forward to 2016- now. Truck has sat at that parking lot this entire time. Don't ask- its part of my job. I was stuck overseas this entire time in various countries. Now back stateside here at Fort Rucker, I want my truck back. I hired a shipper to ship it from the parking lot at the airport to my parents home in Indiana. Where I plan on wrenching on it and getting it semi-driveable and then have it either shipped to me here in Alabama or rent a moving truck with trailer and tow it down myself. Why did I not just ship it to my home here in Alabama? Well first, my home is in a subdivision and they do not allow vehicles to just sit outside. I have a garage but my driveway is inclined and pretty steep. My wife and I am not pushing a full size SUV into the garage. Get it running in Indiana and then get it here and then I can just drive it into the garage where I can really spend some time with it. I have done a lot of "research" online for vehicles which have sat for many years. It seems 2 things can happen, either it will fire right up after cleaning everything out and swapping the fluids (and battery) or I will be facing the worse with major corrosion from sitting for so long and leaky seals. Matter of fact, I expect leaky seals and corrosion. I have many questions on fluids and maintenance and just wanted to bounce off everyone and hear everyone's thoughts on how to proceed. Maybe I am missing something or forgot about something. Tires will be changes, belts, hoses, most likely brake and fuel lines, fuel all drained out, all fluids replaced, new battery, new plugs and coils. Also got a major mildew smell inside the vehicle so I will be cleaning and replacing everything inside. Why do all of this? It only has 75,000-ish miles and the truck was great when I was driving it. Was getting 21-23 MPG on the highways. Ran like a top. Is it smart and economical to keep it? Probably not but it gives me something to do while at the house. Once running, I can drive it to work everyday and keep the mileage off my new car. I will copy and paste on each forum for questions about specific things.
For this forum- Fuels and fuel additives- This one is a doozy. First I drain out all of the fuel and change the fuel filter. Immediately add new fuel to prevent any further corrosion, if I have any (I suspect I will). What fuel additives should I be looking at for this particular situation? Here is my thinking, out loud. Do I even pour in a "water remover" like HEET before I drain? Since you normally add these additives when fueling up, you will have no "mixing" of the chemical and the water/fuel so that would be a waste of a additive. Once drained, do I immediately add something like Sta-Bil where the additive vents and "fogs" up the fuel tank to prevent any corrosion immediately showing up once drained on the fuel pump inside the plastic fuel tank? Or just immediately add fuel. What octane fuel should I use? I have read to put in a high octane in but I do not see the point. Same cleaners in all octanes and the vehicle runs on regular. Any fuel reccomended? I always put in Shell in and will probably stick with it. Additives I have looked into are: Startron Products such as the Fuel Tank Cleaner and the other products. PRI-G, Sentry Fuel Cleaner, K100, etc.
I have obvious problems and concerns in this area. First, water in the lines and tank. Fuel has sat for so long. Pretty positive I kept the tank full before parking the vehicle but its ethonal so I expect the worst. Then the concerns of the fuel varnishing. Believe me when I say, I expect the worst. Worst case scenario is I need to remove the fuel tank, get it professionally cleaned. Replace the pickup and sensors inside, replace all fuel lines, filter, rails, and injectors. Besides the engine needing a complete overhaul (and I am pretty close with that first situation), this would be a worst case for me. I have read some people drain, change filter, and put new gas and the thing fires right up. That would be best case scenario. Completely understand I do not expect that. Just looking at what you guys would do. Also, anything I am missing/forgetting? I normally do not believe in additives but in this case, I am willing to try to help with any cleaning up of the garbage that I expect to be inside the tank and lines. I fully expect to have a clogged fuel filter the first few refills at a minimum.
Should have the vehicle in Indiana by December and around Christmas time when I visit, I will begin these procedures. Just want to put a plan together now and buy the appropriate items I will need.
Thanks in advance everyone and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
For this forum- Fuels and fuel additives- This one is a doozy. First I drain out all of the fuel and change the fuel filter. Immediately add new fuel to prevent any further corrosion, if I have any (I suspect I will). What fuel additives should I be looking at for this particular situation? Here is my thinking, out loud. Do I even pour in a "water remover" like HEET before I drain? Since you normally add these additives when fueling up, you will have no "mixing" of the chemical and the water/fuel so that would be a waste of a additive. Once drained, do I immediately add something like Sta-Bil where the additive vents and "fogs" up the fuel tank to prevent any corrosion immediately showing up once drained on the fuel pump inside the plastic fuel tank? Or just immediately add fuel. What octane fuel should I use? I have read to put in a high octane in but I do not see the point. Same cleaners in all octanes and the vehicle runs on regular. Any fuel reccomended? I always put in Shell in and will probably stick with it. Additives I have looked into are: Startron Products such as the Fuel Tank Cleaner and the other products. PRI-G, Sentry Fuel Cleaner, K100, etc.
I have obvious problems and concerns in this area. First, water in the lines and tank. Fuel has sat for so long. Pretty positive I kept the tank full before parking the vehicle but its ethonal so I expect the worst. Then the concerns of the fuel varnishing. Believe me when I say, I expect the worst. Worst case scenario is I need to remove the fuel tank, get it professionally cleaned. Replace the pickup and sensors inside, replace all fuel lines, filter, rails, and injectors. Besides the engine needing a complete overhaul (and I am pretty close with that first situation), this would be a worst case for me. I have read some people drain, change filter, and put new gas and the thing fires right up. That would be best case scenario. Completely understand I do not expect that. Just looking at what you guys would do. Also, anything I am missing/forgetting? I normally do not believe in additives but in this case, I am willing to try to help with any cleaning up of the garbage that I expect to be inside the tank and lines. I fully expect to have a clogged fuel filter the first few refills at a minimum.
Should have the vehicle in Indiana by December and around Christmas time when I visit, I will begin these procedures. Just want to put a plan together now and buy the appropriate items I will need.
Thanks in advance everyone and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
