Posted by Clint Dixon on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 at 6:53PM :
In Reply to: Old Gas posted by EdC on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 at 6:23PM :
The last truck I bought had sat for at least 4 years on a tank of gas. After oiling the cylinders, checking for compression, and priming the carburetor, it started right up. No apparent ill effects in using the old gas. The truck had been started about once a year over that time and I believe driven a short distance once. Before driving it 500 miles home, I drained the tank and the fuel pump. The gas looked and smelled fine. (I also rebuilt the brakes and tended to the radiator, hoses, belts, etc. before the trip of course!) I do not know for sure what all variables effect the freshness and condition of gas. A tractor my grandfather owned sat under about the same conditions and was started regularly for about 5 or 6 years. After that time period, the gas was completely wasted. It was cloudy and smelled real bad. The carburetor was also gummed up.
I would be interested to find out just what the life expectancy is for gas and what all contributes to its deterioration.
Clint
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