Storing Petrol

Interesting. In our experience the main problem with little used engines is the 'gumming' up of carb parts ie the jets and needle jet. More exaggerated in two stroke engines. If you don't use your genny very often it's worth having a fuel cut off and either running the carb dry or tip it over so the fuel runs off the float overflow. We don't use 2 stroke over a couple of weeks old in our race bikes and always drain the carbs after use.
 
Indeed interesting and thanks Bill.

I have recently emptied the petrol from my boat's petrol tank and replaced it with fresh. I have also added a stabiliser which should extend the life as the boat will not go out too much over the winter. The old fuel I will use in the lawnmower as it's much cheaper to replace a mower than an outboard and I can't think of anywhere to dump the old petrol safely.
 
Four stroke generator and two stroke boat engines I have always run carburettor dry before storage. Good Idea to add inhibiter to tank if leaving for extended period.
 
I do have a generator for my van but have hardly used it, but it would start straight away because it runs on lpg from the barbecue point. I had all manner of problems with other so called petrol devices as the fuel is not petrol anymore but the volatiles are mainly ethanol and it evaporates off and gathers water to itself within weeks. The gas stays good, even diesel will go off or grow moulds after a time but longer than petrol by years.
 
a citroen years ago I lent my friend my runabout a C3 hdi he returned it with a full tank,following day I set off drove 4 miles car played up low power cutting out in traffic decided to return home for other vehicle broke down got it towed home ,took it to local diesel garage injector tips blown.Reason diesel had emulsified would not compress .Transpired he had 25 litre plastic drums in his shed he had for some time this was his way of thanking me for the loan of my car cost me £700.Moral dont use old diesel.
 
I have always used a fuel stabiliser, when storing outboards and jetski for the winter, instead of emptying the tank, I then start the engine for about 10 minutes to make sure the fuel mixed with the stabiliser has got into the carbs, never had a problem with carbs gumming up come spring when I start to use them again, I also start the engine up, remove the airfilter that sits on top of the carbs and stall it by spraying fogging oil into the top of the airflow to stall it. I also take the spark plugs out and spray a fogging oil into each cylinder and just give it a quick turnover to get the oil in the bores before refitting the spark plugs, they are usually stored over the winter for 4 months and nether had a problem.
 
We found an old ford escort in a garage last year car was not started or moved for about 8 years put key ignition nothing flat battery so bought a £40 one stuck it in turned engine over started after about 7 8 turns and it ran fine it showed a half tank of fuelI drove it home and it never missed a beat must have been rocket fuel. 24000 miles on clock

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Wully said:
We found an old ford escort in a garage last year car was not started or moved for about 8 years put key ignition nothing flat battery so bought a £40 one stuck it in turned engine over started after about 7 8 turns and it ran fine it showed a half tank of fuelI drove it home and it never missed a beat must have been rocket fuel. 17000 miles on clock

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That’s a great buy. Older Fords have rocketed in value. There was a time when petrol lasted years, but what we buy now contains much ethanol, giving it a very short shelf life and rotting many components on older vehicles.
 
Bill I keep rescuing old cars over the last five years I’ve had 2 escorts and a nice old cavalier Sri 130 but I should have made money on them but ended up giving them away to cover my own costs after getting them through mots and tidying them up a bit
 
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AVGAS lasts for years as it is real petrol and not magic fluid, best sealed and in a barrel will remain usable for a long time.
 
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Wully said:
We found an old ford escort in a garage last year car was not started or moved for about 8 years put key ignition nothing flat battery so bought a £40 one stuck it in turned engine over started after about 7 8 turns and it ran fine it showed a half tank of fuelI drove it home and it never missed a beat must have been rocket fuel. 24000 miles on clock

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I would be replacing brake master cyl and rear brake cylinders,laying that long the crank or g/box seals may die never mind the exhaust blowing soon.
 
I thought AVGAS was used in aircraft.

Our company had a light aircraft and it's what we radioed for whenever we bumped down. I remember that in the 70s in West Africa, MrShell brought it out in sealed drums and we had to hand pump it into our tanks.

Didn't know it was suitable for cars.
 
trevskoda said:
I would be replacing brake master cyl and rear brake cylinders,laying that long the crank or g/box seals may die never mind the exhaust blowing soon.
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Pal of mine took it trev he’s a ford nut been a mechanic for years i Just gave it a clean up he changed everything you mentioned for buttons but the funny thing was i took it for an mot and passed without doing anything not even a bulb
 
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