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Topic: Old gas in my 75 tank

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems


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Old gas in my 75 tank (1/15)
 8/24/09 1:44pm
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Matteson, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L-48 coupe


Joined: 8/24/2009
Posts: 10

I haven't driven my 75 in about 3-4 years, it has almost a full tank of gas. should I siphon all of the gas out, I get conflicting advice.

Thanks,
Rod


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Rod Woodson
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Old gas in my 75 tank (2/15)
 8/24/09 5:03pm
bio11
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Oklahoma City, OK - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LS5 Convertible,Auto.Targa Blue with Black Interior.


Joined: 4/1/2007
Posts: 432

If it was me...I'd siphon it all out. Probably take the fuel line loose on each end and blow that out also. I wouldn't risk running that old gas through my engine. But that's just me.
My wife say's I'm anal. I think I'm just careful.
Old gas in my 75 tank (3/15)
 8/24/09 6:18pm
dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

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1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!


Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1958

I would drain the tank.  No telling what sea creatures have taken up residents in your tank in the past three years !!
Dan  My wife says that I am anal also.  Not retentive, just anal !!!
dskopp2009-08-24 15:20:02

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Old gas in my 75 tank (4/15)
 8/24/09 8:06pm
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

It's 6 one way, 1/2 dozen the other...
I've had cars sit for longer than that with full tanks, and never drained the fuel to start them up. The '85 has sit a couple of times for that long, with no problems when it was time to fire it back up, although a fuel filter change was warranted. My 'Burban sat for 4 years without starting at all...fired right up when I got ready to drive it again.
Really depends on the quality of the fuel to start with, the condition of the tank, and the environment...where does the car sit? Outside? In? Hot weather? Freezing cold? Humid? Dry? ALL of the above? Was there any fuel stabilizer put in it before it was stored?
Take the cap off and smell the fuel. If it don't smell like gasoline, it might be best to drain/refill. If it still smells like gasoline, I'd say fire that puppy up, and go for a ride!
If you're that concerned, drain it, and use that fuel for your lawn mower/tractor, so it won't be a total waste.


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Old gas in my 75 tank (5/15)
 8/24/09 8:47pm
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

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#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4420

I had mine in much longer than that, I just topped off the tank and garaged it. It started and ran fine. Do like Joel says and sniff it.......Rolling On The Floor Laughing
 
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Old gas in my 75 tank (6/15)
 8/25/09 8:21am
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HOWELL, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.


Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812

I'd change the fuel filter and crank the motor of a few seconds and let her pump a little fuel into a jar from the fuel line going into the carb. The fuel sitting in the tank is in far better shape than what's sitting in the lines. Crack the carb linkage and see if fuel is squirting into the manifold to make sure your carb isn't varnished up from old fuel sitting. Also, check all your rubber fuel lines before doing anything farther than a trip to the 7-11 and back.
 
When I bought my 69 super sport, it was sitting for 7 years. We did the things mentioned above and she fired right up! Thumbs Up (we pulled a couple of plugs too to make sure that they weren't fouled as that could lead you to think bad fuel, but in fact, you got no fire in the hole!!)
 
Good luck!! Thumbs Up
LukesVette2009-08-25 05:22:19
Old gas in my 75 tank (7/15)
 8/26/09 1:24pm
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Matteson, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L-48 coupe


Joined: 8/24/2009
Posts: 10

Thanks everyone for your help, I have decided to empty the tank and start off with fresh gas. Better safe than sorry, I have a new fuel filter (I also ordered a new set of rubber hoses). I'm towards the end of rebuilding the brake cylinders, so doing one more job won't hurt.

Rod


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Old gas in my 75 tank (8/15)
 8/26/09 7:12pm
crazcorkath
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columbia, NJ - USA

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1964,1972,2000


Joined: 3/14/2002
Posts: 133

I would definitely drain the tank and also flush the lines
Old gas in my 75 tank (9/15)
 8/26/09 7:41pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

Vette(s):
72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784

Was the tank full full all the way to the filler opening or 3/4 full. what happened to me was I kept getting rust sediment at the bottom of the tank, Idrained the tank and flushed it and it would be clean for a while but the sediment would return, the bottom and sides looked good accept for the seditment, I took a teliscoping shop mirror and with a flash lite  pointed it towards the up side of the tank and found rust had eaten through the protective galvanizing and it was rusting through, what happens if the tank is not kept really full and the car sits is moisture builds up in the tank and hangs from the top of the tank and rots it if not drive now and then...Thumbs Down anips2009-08-26 16:43:23
Old gas in my 75 tank (10/15)
 8/31/09 2:08pm
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Matteson, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L-48 coupe


Joined: 8/24/2009
Posts: 10

When I got a flash light and took a closer look inside the tank, I saw that it was not full. I siphoned out about 7 gals of old gas. The inside of the tank looked very good, no rust sediment that I could see. I actually think the old gas was in pretty good shape, it didn't smell foul and wasn't discolored. My garage isn't heated, but it is attached to the house and fully insulated and doesn't get humid at all. I changed the fuel filter, inspected the rubber fuel hoses (they looked good also, so I didn't replace them), put a fresh batch of gas in the tank and cranked her up. Of course I flooded the carb because I didn't change the old battery (I had it connected to a jump starter, so I thought it was fully charged) when I turned the engine over too many times Confused. I let her sit while I bought/installed a new battery and she fired up right away.

Rod


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Old gas in my 75 tank (11/15)
 8/31/09 6:13pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

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72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


Joined: 8/9/2002
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Old gas in my 75 tank (12/15)
 9/2/09 3:59pm
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Lake Oswego, OR - USA

Vette(s):
1972 Steel Cities Gray T Top. Original Owner, Original Paint and Interior. The running gear has been rebuilt. only 250,000 miles on the clock..


Joined: 10/17/2003
Posts: 553

You should also use the "Blue" STA-BIL ETHANOL- GAS TREATMENT FOR ETHANOL  

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Old gas in my 75 tank (13/15)
 9/2/09 4:45pm
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HOWELL, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.


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Posts: 6812

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Old gas in my 75 tank (14/15)
 9/2/09 10:09pm
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA

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1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!


Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424

Keep in mind the mid 70s cars had a rubber bladder in the tank, that prevents a lot of rust problems.
Old gas in my 75 tank (15/15)
 9/4/09 3:24pm
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Matteson, IL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L-48 coupe


Joined: 8/24/2009
Posts: 10

I didn't see a rubber bladder in the tank, it looked like bright metal on the inside. I wonder if it is the original fuel tank.....Hmmmm.  Did all production 75's have the bladder inside?

Rod


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