I parked my 'cuda with a full tank of gas in the fall and then life got in the way! My issue is that the car has sat for 9 years and obviously the gas is bad. Any suggestions on where to go next. I would like to get the car running again, but need to know the best way to go about this. Brand new gas tank when parked if that helps.
TIA,
George

[quote]I parked my 'cuda with a full tank of gas in the fall 9-YEARS AGO and then life got in the way![/quote]


EDIT missed the 9 YEARS thought I read 9 MONTHS. 9 years is a whole different issue and as said get rid of as much as you can before even trying to start it. Wonder what your carb is like at 9-years??? Should be easier than a '92 Lebaron to go through the filler tube and drain as much as you can.

Get rid of half the tank, a full can of SeaFoam and a refill with the best premium you can find and you should be all right. Just make sure when you get it fired up, run it long enough (at least half an hour) to get the SeaFoam into the engine. A stuck intake valve from bad gas is a real bummer.

9 year old gas....I would get out as much as possible. Then refill with quality premium and an additive.

I would drain it completely and remove it so you can flush it out real well with lacquer thinner, be very careful using that, no smoking or sparks or electric impacts and then let it dry for several days and put it back in and fill with all new fuel and go enjoy, change the fuel filter also

A quick whiff at the filler neck will give you a pretty good clue as to what you're dealing with. If it reeks of varnish drop the tank and get it cleaned. if it's rusty get a new tank. 9 years is a LONG time but if it was sealed up and not exposed to air etc. you might get lucky

As long as there is no dirt or rust It will still burn/ run. I would pull some out, save it, top it off and run it. Then use up what was pulled,on next top off. I got a car running that sat longer than that (outside) smelled like chit but ran fine.

Suggest calling your local hazardous waste facility.

As most said, I would want to drain as much out, remove the fuel line from the fuel pump, and use air to blow the fuel line from tank to pump clear (maybe put some cleaner material in the line first) . . . all that being said, I had a buddy that had his 71 fury, sitting for 8 years - not sure how much fuel in tank, but he just put battery in car, with a high amp battery charger on it, and cranked and cranked it till it started . . . actually ran fine ! I was amazed !! . . . seeing how you had tank FULL, that probably would help with keeping water out . . but never know . . . I would not want to chance it, and certainly would drain and clean fuel system.

I have done extended storage twice. One car 12 years, the other 13. I did nothing to the fuel in the tank. Both started fine and ran fine.

Drain it. Take the tank out and clean it well. Flush the system. Check the hoses for dry rot. Carb and fuel pump are also suspect. Don't pump gas into the crankcase, flood the engine or leak gas all over the intake..

9 month old pump gas is weed killer. 9 year old gas, even more so. Don't even try to get it to start on that.


Or you can go get a can of starting fluid, detonate it to life, and hope for the best.

Lot's of varying opinions as usual
I'll ask a question? DO YOU FEEL LUCKY ?
AS i said earlier, a quick smell at the filler neck will tell you a lot. I have had a few customers over te years that came in with bent valves, pushrordss etc. due to varnished fuel

well, it is possible that 9 year old gas is better then the stuff they are selling at the pump these days. Really!

The sniff test would be the starting point, it either still smells like gas, or it doesn't. If it smells like varnish, get rid of it. If it smalls like gas, I would be tempted to get a little out of the tank (not much) and put it onto a cement driveway, away from everything, and throw a lit match into it and see if it would burn. If it burns, I might be tempted to use it. If it doesn't burn, it all goes away. Drain the tank, blow out the fuel lines, and empty the carb and blow out the passages. Start with fresh gas.

If you are unsure after reading all the comments here, drain the tank, blow out the fuel lines, empty the carb & blow out all the passages. Its probably not worth taking the chance it still might be OK.

How do you all get rid of old leaded race gas?

I do not want to use it in modern cars or yard equipment.

I use it burning brush.

Talk about coincidence. I just did the same, gasoline that was 16 years old from an old camper I had to scrap. They wouldn’t accept it with a gas tank so I drained it.
Poured it over my burn pile - lit it and it burned like a Hindu Funeral.

The VP 110 with lead i had in a sealed metal 15 gallon drum was like new ran fine in mowers and generator was from 2004.

I would not be concerned about using it in modern yard equipment. The lead won't bother the yard equipment, but if you are that concerned, mix it with modern gas.

Better yet, one might check a few local old car clubs, some of those guys might be really happy to get their hands on real leaded high octane race gas. Guys at a local oval track might like some too, and maybe other drag racers?

I had a mower that had had a messed up carb from sitting woth old gas. I was supposed to fix it for someone. 1st though was new plug and Berrymans B12. I ran it with the old VP 110.with lead. It cleaned the carb in.one grass cutting, so just swapped the filter. All is still good. I did run it in modern equipment no problemo. Not like they have a Cat.