Long term storage causing stale gas, does no favors

[fleming442]

Horse pucky! There's something else at play here.

 

[pontiacgp]

This is 90 days non-E. Don't let it sit...
It's a bike but still has to come all apart to get the carbs off. My 71 corvette with a brand new tank on the other hand, looks just like this! with rust in a galvanized tank! I put fuel in both at the same time after cleaning the carbs on the bike the first time. Id rather drain it all out and fill with mineral spirits if it were going to sit for a few months. Let a small shallow bowl of non-e fuel sit on your bench in the open for a day and look at it. Also, I have a small motor mechanic friend that had people come test fuels. Non-e had 5% ethanol... I'm thinking about keeping a few 5gal cans of aviation fuel for everything but my daily drivers. View attachment 128008

I have never had any residue in the carb when leaving it with real gas for longer than 3 months

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Make sure your premium fuel is coming from a reputable station. I filled the Cutlass up with premium at shell station right before I moved last year. 3 months later car wouldn't start. Cant be the fuel, its 3 month old premium, but it sure smelled stale.

Drained the tank, refilled, runs great.

 

[slofut]

Horse pucky! There's something else at play here.

😆
Well I wish you could help me narrow it down! I've been dealing with this for several years. One summer abt five years ago, I cleaned 20 something carbs in about 4 months time. I think everything I have has a dang carburetor! Maybe even the wife!
But I see this all the time, and very often. My nephew txt me three days ago with his 4 wheeler the same way, been sitting abt 3 months. SW Ga, high heat, high humidity, fuel tanks just rain moisture here. The Corvette and the bike are both inside my shop building! I'm open to solutions other than cleaning carbs!.

 

[slofut]

I have never had any residue in the carb when leaving it with real gas for longer than 3 months

Is real gas non-E? Not trying to be a jerk.

 

[pontiacgp]

Is real gas non-E? Not trying to be a jerk.

yes, it's non ethanol. I have a friend who repairs small engines, he likes ethanol, says it makes him lots of money

 

[fleming442]

I'm thinking some sort of electrolysis, but that's not likely over various vehicles.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

One of the causes for Ethanol gas going bad is exposure to moisture in the air. Most cars, even G bodies use closed gas tank venting through a EVAP system that keeps moisture out. My original 87 tank has zero rust in it thanks to closed venting.

Now my old 46 Farmall tractor, I have had gas go bad in its tank several times now. Unlike my Regal, the Farmall has open venting through its gas cap, which lets moisture in and cause havoc with the fuel system. Most lawn mower engines also have open venting that lets moisture into their gas tanks. At least the Farmall is easy to work on by design. Just disconnect the fuel line and let in drain into a can.