SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

So long story short, in September 2012 my engine blew up. That same day that happend I just had filled up the gas tank all the way to full. I'll soon be dropping in my new motor and I have gas in the tank that has been sitting for about 6 months. Thats where my concern comes. Should I drain all the gas out and break in my motor with new gas? It is about 11-12 gallons though ... I read somewhere that I can add a bottle or two of the max octane booster to help up the lost octane levels. This true or not? Any help or good suggestions will be appreciated. Oh and its a sleeved block/turbo application incase if any of that matters.

Dark_Teg

Risk gunking up your injectors and having stuck open intake valves or drain out 40 bux of old, degraded, watered down gas.

That's a tough one.

SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

Haha.. all the above sums it up then. Guess I wont be making a trip to the gas station this weekend to fill up the daily beater

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Siphon that **** out, put it in your daily and add e85

No other way to do it.

Buy a siphon from harbor freight for like 5 bucks.

SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

Thank you sir! Just looked it up, 7.99 for one. Times like this is when harbor freight shines. When crap is needed that you'll probably only use once.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

Siphon? There's a drain plug on the bottom of the tank.

SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

I thought so, but on my old 96 coupe I tried to locate the drain bolt once and the gas tank had this hard protective plaster all over it. I wasnt able to find the drain bolt. Now I have a 00 Si, so I'll take a look down there and see if I can find it.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

Should be in the left rear corner by the LCA.

OneBadTurboCRV

IIRC (as in i don't think it was earlier) the drain bolts in the gas tank started in 1988 Civic/CRX and continued on from there but not sure when or if in the 2001+ they stopped it. I am pretty positive my '13 Si doesn't have one... but my '98 CRV sure does, as well as the many EKs and EFs as well as 90-01 Integras I have owned through the years.

You can drain the gas by using the fuel pump prime out of the feed line - depending on EMS you have you can change the prime duration. In my opinion the easiest way to completely drain the tank is the drain plug and you can control flow with the gas cap.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

That's the reason I put a hose end before my fuel filter. Easy access to dump into a bucket without flowing junk through your filter. Set pump prime to max duration. Key off and on a few times.

SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

Thank you, this makes things a whole lot easier.

Great info.. I've learned something new today. As always, very informative with your posts. Thanks

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

As for a direct answer to the original question, 6 months for blended, 12 months for straight gas. Almost ALL gas sold at the pump now is blended - that's what the "this gasoline contains up to 10% ethanol" sticker on all of the pumps means. I've also read that AvGas and 100LL don't go bad, but I don't know how true that is.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

Honestly, Ive let E85 sit in my tank for up to 9 months and the engine ran fine, street tuned with low boost no problem.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

Same with my 93 octane. Especially if stored in a cool dark garage

m4xwellmurd3r

Im wondering if the unknown amount of gas in my car is good after a year of sitting. Havent opened the gas cap and ive had the fuel line plugged at the filter ever since I pulled the engine.

Guess its worth it to pop the gas cap and take a whiff to see if its started to turn stale

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Ive always had bad luck with that bolt. It was rusted tho

4genaccordfreak

Same aswell, 6 harsh months of winter here with 91 Vpower in the tank.

Never really had issues, turn it to low boost and just run it normally until you have some fresh fuel. Worst I get is some popping, slight missing on idle, nothing noticable while driving. Today's fuels have enough detergents in them to keep the system clean.

If your fuel system remains sealed (ie. no disassembly, no gas cap open, no system leaks etc.) the fuel shouldn't degrade that quickly, especially if it is good quality gasoline/e85.

KevinEF7

Vpower

A little fuel stabilizer scare you guys? I use that stuff whenever its going to be sitting 3+ months

madblkscientist

I've heard of people using seafoam to keep fuel good over long periods of time and also to bring bad fuel back to life but honestly I had fuel in my work van sit for a year and a half while I was abroad working but before I leave and I always top my fuel tank off with 87 without putting stabilizer while it's a good idea to but my pops always told me that as long as the tank is full there's and the no open fuel line (sealed fuel system) fuel shouldn't go bad for a long time and he also said a fuel tank with a quarter tank gas will go bad faster than a tank that is full because of the oxygen in the tank and the alcohol in the fuel so always store it with a full tank

blackeg

ive always used the drain bolt. i think its 33 ftlbs on that bolt 17mm id be careful not to over torque/strip it. sitting since '12, i think you just found some extra gas for the lawnmower


what about leaded gas, same length of time as unleaded pump?

SiRCiviC94

If you did not stabilize the gas it's only good to drive around on. No redline nothing. 2 years is different then it's gotta go 6 months no big deal

SilverEK96

iTrader: (11)

Since my car has been down I havent opened the gas cap at all. The gas in my car is from Quik Trip, 93 octane. I've never had any issues with a bad batch of gas from them. Guess this time around I can switch over to Shell V-power or Cheveron gas. My plan was just to do the normal break in process, cycle the oil through the 2 to 3 times required. Then drive to my tuner, its about 10 miles away or less and have him break it on the dyno. Though as Dark_Teg stated, why risk gunking up my injectors and such. Also with the break in on the dyno and possibility having bad gas dosent sound like to good of an idea.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

It won't matter be it the V-power now or later. For this length of time its better to simply burn it off through the break in process since you'll be changing plugs, fuel and other mechanical items before tune anyway.