Best solution for old gas
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 152
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Best solution for old gas
I'm helping a friend with an 89 5.0 EFI that I think has stale gas.
It had been sitting for 2-3 yrs before he bought it. It was running when it was last parked.
The tank was nearly empty and he put a few gallons of fresh gas in the tank.
It will turn over fine with the starter but won't fire or even sputter. I used a timing light and it has spark. The fuel pump runs for the normal second or two and then shuts off - so I think it has fuel pressure.
I'm thinking all the lines and filter have old gas/varnish or water in them. Since the engine wont fire I don't know if the old junk will push through so the new gas can make it to the injectors.
What is the best way to flush all this out of the tank and fuel system? A new fuel filter is a given, but it would be nice to get this thing running without having to tow it to a shop.
Thanks
It had been sitting for 2-3 yrs before he bought it. It was running when it was last parked.
The tank was nearly empty and he put a few gallons of fresh gas in the tank.
It will turn over fine with the starter but won't fire or even sputter. I used a timing light and it has spark. The fuel pump runs for the normal second or two and then shuts off - so I think it has fuel pressure.
I'm thinking all the lines and filter have old gas/varnish or water in them. Since the engine wont fire I don't know if the old junk will push through so the new gas can make it to the injectors.
What is the best way to flush all this out of the tank and fuel system? A new fuel filter is a given, but it would be nice to get this thing running without having to tow it to a shop.
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
I would diconnect the fuel line at the carb try to get the pump to pump the old gas out into a gas can. once you get the old gas out of the lines, put fresh gas in the tank and pour some into the carb see if it will start. Also change the fuel filter. If there is water in it add some rubbing alcohol to the tank. Hope this helps.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Lake of the Ozarks, MO
I'm in the exact same situation with an '88 F150 I just purchased. Was running when sat, now won't fire at all. Cranks like a mother, though.
Starter fluid sprayed in the intake has it running just fine, so I'm pretty sure it's in the fuel, which is at least a couple years old.
I too was planning on swapping the filter, and maybe seeing if I could get the pump to help evacuate the tank. The tank is nearly empty, so worst case, maybe I could just fill up with new fuel to dilute the old stuff.
Which still leaves me with nastyness between the fuel filter and the injectors.
Ideas?
Starter fluid sprayed in the intake has it running just fine, so I'm pretty sure it's in the fuel, which is at least a couple years old.
I too was planning on swapping the filter, and maybe seeing if I could get the pump to help evacuate the tank. The tank is nearly empty, so worst case, maybe I could just fill up with new fuel to dilute the old stuff.
Which still leaves me with nastyness between the fuel filter and the injectors.
Ideas?
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 3
From: Graham WA
Evacuate the old fuel even though it's FE
If the ether in the intake doesn't fire or allow the engine to keep running, then, you still need to be rid if the old fuel.
Even though it is a "FE" engine, the idea of taking the fuel line loose at the engine and evacuating (pumping) the old fuel into a container is still a valid idea. You would need a longer piece of fuel line to do this safely. Have a fire extinguisher handy in case of fuel spill and a spark.
Even after pumping the lines dry, you would still have old gas in the fuel rails above the injectors. You could pull the fuel rails off and discard as much as possible that fuel as well, making space in the rails for new fuel to get to the injectors.
Put everthing back together and clean up any spilled fuel and make sure all the fittings are tight to the rails. Add some fresh gas to the tank and crank it a bit. RECHECK for fuel leaks. You don't want a fire.
Use some ether again, as suggested above, to give it a boost at firing.
Hope this helps. Let us know what the final solution was.
Even though it is a "FE" engine, the idea of taking the fuel line loose at the engine and evacuating (pumping) the old fuel into a container is still a valid idea. You would need a longer piece of fuel line to do this safely. Have a fire extinguisher handy in case of fuel spill and a spark.
Even after pumping the lines dry, you would still have old gas in the fuel rails above the injectors. You could pull the fuel rails off and discard as much as possible that fuel as well, making space in the rails for new fuel to get to the injectors.
Put everthing back together and clean up any spilled fuel and make sure all the fittings are tight to the rails. Add some fresh gas to the tank and crank it a bit. RECHECK for fuel leaks. You don't want a fire.
Use some ether again, as suggested above, to give it a boost at firing.
Hope this helps. Let us know what the final solution was.
Last edited by E30tdf; Jan 9, 2007 at 10:01 PM. Reason: clarity
