Monday, May 12, 2014 - 05:26 pm, by: David Eberhart(Orphan)
Hey guys,
My UZZ31 has been sitting in the garage for a little over 12 months and I finally got off my ass and finished everything up and it is ready to be turned over. I remember it only having 5-10L of fuel in it when I originally took it off the road and I didn't think to empty the tank or anything at the time as I was only planning on having it off the road for a couple months. I put a few litres of fresh fuel in before I thought about the old fuel and the gauge is currently showing 1/4 tank but who knows how accurate that is at this point. It won't give me a fuel level reading when I press the fuel button as the car is not running
What is good practice regarding old fuel? I have some fresh fuel ready to go but I wasn't sure if I needed to drain the tank or do anything else before filling it up and turning it over. I thought I'd ask before potentially causing myself some easily avoided problems. If I do need to drain the tank how do I do that? It could be an issue as the air sus has let down enough I can't get my jack (non low profile) under it. If draining is required can the tank be removed without being able to get under the car? From the boot it looks like it is held in by 4 large bolts but I have no idea if there is anything on the other side or underside of the car.
Monday, May 12, 2014 - 05:57 pm, by: Matthew Salkeld(Munkymatt)
Should be fine, soarer tank is pretty well sealed... Consider being gentle with it and topping up with fresh fuel. If you can't start it or it runs like ass even once warmed up, then it's time to dump the fuel. It also means your fuel tank vent system is toast.
Monday, May 12, 2014 - 08:13 pm, by: Robert Day(Lexsmaz)
As mentioned it should be fine, if you want to take off the fuel filler cap & have a bit of a sniff inside & if it smells off sort of like cats piss, top up straight away, otherwise no dramas & at worst as has been said it Might be hard to start but unlikely ..
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 12:24 am, by: Robert Day(Lexsmaz)
I have started quite a few cars now that had fuel that Was at least 12 months old & one a while back now that was years old !! & it stunk too & it still started, so 12 months old should be fine ..
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 07:44 am, by: Dave Rose(Sand_groper)
you were lucky Robert ,when we were importing Soarers /Skylines that had been in the JP auctions for months then put on a boat after sitting on the docks for months, they were so hard to fire up .
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 10:49 am, by: David Eberhart(Orphan)
I tried it this morning. Started without any effort. I just let it idle and warm up to chew through the old fuel and I will top it up with fresh fuel before driving it or giving it any revs.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 04:48 pm, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
good to hear its sorted...
i could understand years ago when carbies where still dominant that leaving fuel for a while would affect its starting. two strokes are apparently the same
but modern cars will just dump as much fuel in there as necessary to get it started. if worse comes to worse just pour a few litres of the high octane stuff in there
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 07:44 pm, by: Robert Day(Lexsmaz)
Hey Dave, maybe those Soarers & Skylines from the Jap Auction's could have been partially flooded ?? lots of Cold start up's without ever warming up properly & so still on fuel enrichment mode, I have seen it happen on quite a few cars over the years, a common case is when people start up their car back it out of the garage to wash it etc & then start the car up to just drive back in & just turn it off & then they go to start it the next day & its flooded & wont start ..
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 08:16 pm, by: Matthew Salkeld(Munkymatt)
fuel lasts quite a long time in a sealed environment... mostly fuel goes off when the tank is open to atmosphere. Also, the rate of fuel fouling has nothing to do with octane rating; 91 will not be harder to start after sitting than 98.
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