1 year old gas in cutlass

[sbcCuttY]

I got a cutlass that has been siting in my garage for about a year..and the gas tank is less than a 1/4 full. what should I do about it? empty it and clean it. or use some of that fuel stabilizer? i'm open to any suggestons you might have..thanks

 

[waggin]

Put a couple of 5-gallon jugs of fresh gas in the tank to freshen things up. That will dilute the older stuff. If it makes you feel better, mix in some gas stabilizer like Lucas (Stabil?) while doing this. Have some carb cleaner handy when you fire it up to spray in the carb; that's where you would most likely have issues. I've run 2+ year old gas many times without problems. That's my $.02.

 

[1evilregal]

fuel stabilizer will be a moot oint, unless the car will be sitting again for awhile...the stabilizer will help the fuel from going stale, and leaving varnish deposits in the system...

+1 on adding new fuel and treatment... lucas has a real good treatment that I use on my own cars...

 

[Blake442]

Some fresh gas and a can of Seafoam and you're good to go.

 

[HurstOlds]

Fill er up and let er rip

 

[madmaxstyle]

yup let 'er buck. If it doesnt run THEN add some good stuff. If it sits parked 90% of the time it should probably be flushed thoroughly before leaving it another year. Don't leave it sit empty. Its worse than if you let the gas go stale in the lines.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would first try to start it and see if it goes. If it does, then drive it a bit to burn some of the gas off before putting fresh in. I will also caution you that fresh gas in an old tank that has been sitting may be a recipe for disaster if the tank is rusty. Ask me how I know... :shock: Be sure you have a fresh fuel filter in the car. You may wish to fab up a new temporary line from the fuel pump to the carb with a clear filter in it to see if anything is coming from the tank. keep the line from heat and vibrational cutting hazards so that you don't fry the car if you do this. On my car I used a giant metal EFI filter and a clear filter after it in line right before the carb to get it going again. When the rust came from the tank, It managed to blow past the old filter I had and clog up the car, necessitating disassembly and a thorough cleaning to get it to run again. So, I advise you NOT to fill the tank the first time around. Instead just buy $10 of fuel and see if it plugs up on the way home to the gas station. Mine barely got me 2 miles before it was running rough. I got it home (4 miles total) and it would not run anymore because so much rust has gotten in the system.