"Ran When Parked"-Bad gas?

[Jeff Ivan]

I have not been able to drive my '51 Plymouth as much as I would like to lately, but I keep the battery charged and start it up at least every 2 weeks. I was going to move it to the spot in the driveway where I park it for the winter, and cover it up. It runs and idles fine, but hesitates badly when I try to back up the steep hill. It had approx. a half tank of gas that I put in only about 6-7 weeks ago, and the gas is already gone bad. I know that is the problem because I went out and got 5 gallons of premium (93 octane) gas and put it in and now it runs OK. I'm sure this has been discussed here before, about the new formulation of gas going bad in less time, but this seems ridiculous that it goes bad so quickly. The past 4 winters I have parked it with a full tank to keep down the condensation, and added a bottle of fuel stabilizer, plus the other winterization tricks (oil in cylinders, park on wood blocks,etc.) The gas has always been OK come Springtime in the past. What do you guys think, should I top off the tank now and have a full tank of bad gas in a couple months? Do you think the fuel stabilizer will still work on this new gas like it did in the past? Or should I just let it go as is and drain it out in the spring, and use it for firestarter in my brush burning pit? What are some of you guys who must park your cars outside for the cold weather months planning to do this year? THANKS =Jeff=

[Plymouthy Adams]

I started and ran a car that had been setting for 4 years ...same gas..while it may not have been at peak, it did not fall on its face though...smelled like hang however. Gas going bad in four months..not likely in my book..I take my car out about once or twice a year and I guarantee you you would never know it by either listening to it or driving it..it is a warmed over engine with a pretty radical cam..maybe by adding the gas to the tank you troubled the waters so to speak and moved the settled area of condensation..

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

I had a lot of trouble years ago with an Olds that had so much scale and junk in the tank that it would sometimes block the pickup line and cause the engine to stumble, even die. Have you cleaned out your tank at any time?

[Chester Brzostowski]

I had a lot of trouble years ago with an Olds that had so much scale and junk in the tank that it would sometimes block the pickup line and cause the engine to stumble, even die. Have you cleaned out your tank at any time?

For what it is worth I agree with both Tim & Nile. Gas doesn’t go bad in a couple of months and I have had gas sitting for over a year and still had no problem with it. I think the suggestion about cleaning out the tank may be a good one.

Just my 2 cents… Chet...

[BobT-47P15]

Jeff,,,,if you are backing it up a steep driveway, that may be shifting the junk or moisture in the tank.

[Brad Lustig]

Another thing you might want to do is check the timing. If premium runs OK then you might be too far advanced in your timing for regular gas. When I first started my Dodge years ago before I knew any better I put some new gas (probably about 5 gallons) in with the old gas (also about 5 gallons) which had been sitting for about 10 years at the time. It took a while, but it actually did start up and run fine.

[Tim Frank]

I have never experienced gas going bad that quickly either. In fact as far north as PA, or in Canada where I am from, gas does not go off as quickly or foul carbs as badly as it does farther south.

I agree with the suggestion of fuel system debris and/or timing.

[Jeff Ivan]

Thanks everyone. My timing is set OK, and the tank does not seem to have any debris in it. It was replaced by the previous owner with an OE-type tank just before I bought it. I took out the drain plug once and there was no gunk in it. I think maybe I will wait until spring, and check the fuel line in the tank. Isn't there a screen or filter on the fuel line inside the tank similiar to a modern car? I still do believe that there is a problem with the shelf life of the gas sold in this area. Most of my grass cutting I do with a diesel engine tractor, but I also buy a 5 gallon (plastic) can of gas every year to use in my push lawnmower for trimming. I also use some or most of it to mix the fuel for my weed-eater, hedge trimmer,chainsaw,etc. and I have noticed that they all seemed to run a little worse towards the end of this season also. Maybe I am going senile at nearly age 49? Like some of you guys said, I have also had cars and trucks sitting around for a couple years with old gas without much problem in the past. I rarely ever buy a cheap brand of gas if I can avoid it. I don't bad mouth any products unless I have personally had a problem with it, but I will say that I will NEVER buy any gas from a Sheetz convenience store chain in this area again, unless out of desperation. This is not the gas in question at this time, but I have had problems with Sheetz gas in my Jeep and my Dakota almost as soon as I put it in the tank, so not a coincidence here. Since I work night shift most of the time, sometimes I have no choice but to go to Sheetz because they are open 24 hours, and get a couple gallons to hold me over until the next day, or payday. I appreciate the replies from everyone here. Some people have told me the problem is that my car is just unhappy being parked outside in the weather all the time, and that everything will be fine when I get a new garage built! THANKS =Jeff=

[Guest Roadrunner]

I also doubt very much that the gasoline went bad on you. Your timing may be fine at Idle but I would look at an timing advance issue. Either a vaccume advance or mechanical (flyweights in the dist.) I don't know which advance your car has or both. The other thing I think is a loss of fuel. Low fuel pressure. Clogged venturi or jets in the carb.

Will the engine race in nutural or does it fall on its face then too?

I would look at the timing still.

Steve

[Gary Manes]

You may have missed a thread a couple of months ago about the drop in the quality of gasoline after Katrina.

The shop I use has had a number of cars coming in because they were running "funny." The only problem turned out to be water in the gas. The owner told me I should add "dry gas" with every fill-up until the quality improves.

The only one of my cars that has reacted in an obvious manner--so far--is my 1999 Honda. It idles very poorly periodically if I forget the dry gas.

[Normspeed]

I've used dry gas in my boat tank and used Sta-Bil in the boat tank as well. Haven't yet run into a bad tankful even when the 24 gallons didn't get turned over for 2 years or more.