C5 not driven in a long time
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Nashville TN
C5 not driven in a long time
I have been out of town for a very long time and have a C5 that has not been driven in 18 months. I was able to start up the engine and run it for a while about 10 months ago, but I did not even drive it anywhere. I am thinking the gasoline would be bad and I should just have it towed into a dealer and have them drain the gasoline as it sounds complicated to do it myself. Any other suggestions on stuff I should do?
Thanks,
Dan
Thanks,
Dan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: Cumming Georgia
I recently rebuilt my '86 Monte Carlo SS, which had been sitting four years. Because the fuel system doesn't really allow free air flow, the gas was still OK. Not great, but definitely not dead gas. Should be OK.
Tim Glover
Tim Glover
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
How's the battery? It will be completely discharged, maybe beyond recharging, if it hasn't been disconnected and/or on a battery float maintenance type charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTAN CORPORATION or the European CTEK are very popular).
Your fuel could be bad in that amount of time, but it won't do anymore harm to try it. The fuel is already throughout the system anyway. If the fuel is bad, the computer will sense decreased octane and retard the timing.
If the tank isn't completely full to capacity, you might add a few gallons of fresh fuel. The old fuel and fresh fuel will blend. It might not be to full octane level if the old fuel has deteriorated. Again, the computer will compensate.
Drive the car, use up the fuel and fill it up again. Next time you need to leave it for long periods of non use, use STA-BIL in the fuel to keep it fresh. It wouldn't hurt to use a concentrated bottle of TECHRON with the fresh fuel.
Your fuel could be bad in that amount of time, but it won't do anymore harm to try it. The fuel is already throughout the system anyway. If the fuel is bad, the computer will sense decreased octane and retard the timing.
If the tank isn't completely full to capacity, you might add a few gallons of fresh fuel. The old fuel and fresh fuel will blend. It might not be to full octane level if the old fuel has deteriorated. Again, the computer will compensate.
Drive the car, use up the fuel and fill it up again. Next time you need to leave it for long periods of non use, use STA-BIL in the fuel to keep it fresh. It wouldn't hurt to use a concentrated bottle of TECHRON with the fresh fuel.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: Cumming Georgia
How's the battery? It will be completely discharged, maybe beyond recharging, if it hasn't been disconnected and/or on a battery float maintenance type charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTAN CORPORATION or the European CTEK are very popular).
Your fuel could be bad in that amount of time, but it won't do anymore harm to try it. The fuel is already throughout the system anyway. If the fuel is bad, the computer will sense decreased octane and retard the timing.
If the tank isn't completely full to capacity, you might add a few gallons of fresh fuel. The old fuel and fresh fuel will blend. It might not be to full octane level if the old fuel has deteriorated. Again, the computer will compensate.
Drive the car, use up the fuel and fill it up again. Next time you need to leave it for long periods of non use, use STA-BIL in the fuel to keep it fresh. It wouldn't hurt to use a concentrated bottle of TECHRON with the fresh fuel.
Your fuel could be bad in that amount of time, but it won't do anymore harm to try it. The fuel is already throughout the system anyway. If the fuel is bad, the computer will sense decreased octane and retard the timing.
If the tank isn't completely full to capacity, you might add a few gallons of fresh fuel. The old fuel and fresh fuel will blend. It might not be to full octane level if the old fuel has deteriorated. Again, the computer will compensate.
Drive the car, use up the fuel and fill it up again. Next time you need to leave it for long periods of non use, use STA-BIL in the fuel to keep it fresh. It wouldn't hurt to use a concentrated bottle of TECHRON with the fresh fuel.
Good advice.
