drive it
Old Gas
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Old Gas
I have had my Corvette in garage for the winter without starting her up. I was wondering if that was bad, and how long can gas sit before its bad and what do I do about it. I don't want to screw anything up on her. I want to make sure that if I sell her I won't have fuel problems when going for a test drive with a potential buyer. Please help. 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: state of insanity
Gas usually turns in about 3 months , unless you have added a fuel additive such as stay-bil and that can extend to maybe six months. smell the fuel,if it has the kerosene smell,get it out. if not and the tanks not full ,head straight to the nearest gas station and fill up with the highest octane they have. next ,get in your vette and drive. and don't forget to put on the big vette smile as your driving. cruise and enjoy.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 605
Likes: 2
From: Queen Creek Arizona
i have ran 17 year old gas in my 80 camaro and it was fine it just stalled and you could smell the old gas. i would not recommend doing that but your gas should be fine just add a little fresh gas and run the old gas out
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
I think it's a function of how full the gas tank is. If the tank is just
about full, there's nothing for the gas to react with. My '87 gets its
usual workout at Christmas to go to Tucson (2000 mile round trip) to
see my mom. It's pretty much sat all year with a full tank, no problem.
This year bad tires and a bad master cylinder kept it in the garage at
Christmas, but that's all fixed now. We drove it out to dinner Tuesday,
no problem.
I just went out and pulled the gas cap. It smells like gas, not
kerosene after pretty much sitting for 16 months. I'll be driving it to
work sometimes to run the gas out and get a fresh tank in before we
drive to Tucson in June for mom's birthday (big milestore).
If you have a quarter tank, there's less gas for the bad stuff to react
with, and more volume for air and humidity in the tank. And, changes
in atmospheric pressure will pump air and humidity in and out of the
tank.
about full, there's nothing for the gas to react with. My '87 gets its
usual workout at Christmas to go to Tucson (2000 mile round trip) to
see my mom. It's pretty much sat all year with a full tank, no problem.
This year bad tires and a bad master cylinder kept it in the garage at
Christmas, but that's all fixed now. We drove it out to dinner Tuesday,
no problem.
I just went out and pulled the gas cap. It smells like gas, not
kerosene after pretty much sitting for 16 months. I'll be driving it to
work sometimes to run the gas out and get a fresh tank in before we
drive to Tucson in June for mom's birthday (big milestore).
If you have a quarter tank, there's less gas for the bad stuff to react
with, and more volume for air and humidity in the tank. And, changes
in atmospheric pressure will pump air and humidity in and out of the
tank.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 106
From: Austin Texas
Actually, it's a function of the fuel in your area and what grade is in the car.
Super (in Texas) has ZERO ethanol in it. The other grades do. If I have Super in the tank, I have no problems leaving it over the winter.
Fuels with ethanol break down and leave varnish deposits. Injectors are the worst areas for it to cause problems...sticking and such.
IF you used fuel with ethanol, fill it with super and some injector cleaner and drive it. I'd use the cleaner for a few tanks...just to ensure they are cleaned out.
Super (in Texas) has ZERO ethanol in it. The other grades do. If I have Super in the tank, I have no problems leaving it over the winter.
Fuels with ethanol break down and leave varnish deposits. Injectors are the worst areas for it to cause problems...sticking and such.
IF you used fuel with ethanol, fill it with super and some injector cleaner and drive it. I'd use the cleaner for a few tanks...just to ensure they are cleaned out.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 106
From: Austin Texas
If they are gummed up then it is because the fuel degraded and left a sticky deposit on the pintle/seat of the injector.
So some of them could randomly stick open or closed based on that.
Some injector cleaner will certainly help...
