Does petrol go bad? - Page 3

Joe Harding · Jan 29th, 2013, 10:27

I second that. Our local garden machinery shop has a carb float bowl on display. It is corroded by petrol left in from the Autumn. All that detritis will find its way into needle valves and cause havoc.

chris-oxon · Jan 29th, 2013, 20:47

Reading this thread reminded me that when I lived in Minnesota USA 30 years ago or so, it was well known that drivers needed to be prepared for freezing of water in the fuel lines under the car. There were a lot of products you could buy to add to your fuel tank, mostly alcohol based, to prevent this. Sure enough, one winters night, driving my Plymouth Wagon (6 litres of yank power), it just cut-out and stopped dead in a temperature of zero F (-18 C). Waited 2 minutes, and it restarted without problems (just like a Volvo!). Added a can of alcohol based additive, when I got home, and had no more problems. Scary stuff in that kind of weather. And that was a car used every day at 12 mpg (not like a Volvo!). Also, interestingly, the car seemed smoother and quieter with that stuff in the tank .

Audrey Old · Jan 29th, 2013, 21:26

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that stale petrol smells something like old chip-pan fat. I had to overhaul the carbs of a non-starting Volvo 164 that wouldn't start after a years (indoor) rest, and when all was dismantled on the bench a friend came in and immediately asked where that smell of stale fuel came from.

I used carb-cleaner everywhere, reassembled and pumped as much as poss from the car into jars using the petrol pump (spark plugs removed). Then I added 2 gallons of the highest octane fresh fuel my local garage had, put all back together and it ran fine.

Only my findings - no scientific knowledge!

Paul

Jan 29th, 2013, 10:27	#21
Joe Harding Premier Member Last Online: Today 10:28 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bristol	I second that. Our local garden machinery shop has a carb float bowl on display. It is corroded by petrol left in from the Autumn. All that detritis will find its way into needle valves and cause havoc. __________________ "The more people I meet the more I like my God."

Jan 29th, 2013, 20:47	#22
chris-oxon Junior Member Last Online: May 6th, 2016 15:26 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Henley-on-Thames	Water in fuel Reading this thread reminded me that when I lived in Minnesota USA 30 years ago or so, it was well known that drivers needed to be prepared for freezing of water in the fuel lines under the car. There were a lot of products you could buy to add to your fuel tank, mostly alcohol based, to prevent this. Sure enough, one winters night, driving my Plymouth Wagon (6 litres of yank power), it just cut-out and stopped dead in a temperature of zero F (-18 C). Waited 2 minutes, and it restarted without problems (just like a Volvo!). Added a can of alcohol based additive, when I got home, and had no more problems. Scary stuff in that kind of weather. And that was a car used every day at 12 mpg (not like a Volvo!). Also, interestingly, the car seemed smoother and quieter with that stuff in the tank . __________________ Chris - in Oxfordshire (V70 - D5 185 - MY07)

Jan 29th, 2013, 21:26	#23
Audrey Old VOC Member Last Online: Jan 26th, 2023 12:19 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lancing	I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that stale petrol smells something like old chip-pan fat. I had to overhaul the carbs of a non-starting Volvo 164 that wouldn't start after a years (indoor) rest, and when all was dismantled on the bench a friend came in and immediately asked where that smell of stale fuel came from. I used carb-cleaner everywhere, reassembled and pumped as much as poss from the car into jars using the petrol pump (spark plugs removed). Then I added 2 gallons of the highest octane fresh fuel my local garage had, put all back together and it ran fine. Only my findings - no scientific knowledge! Paul

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