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2 year old gasoline in tank - ok to drive?

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Old October 5th, 2014, 3:04 PM
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Default 2 year old gasoline in tank - ok to drive?

Hi all,

I'm planning to buy a used chevy surburban from a family member.
It was owned by another family member who died recently, and had not
driven it for 2 years. So the gasoline in the tank has been sitting
in the tank for the last 2 years.

I called a car mechanic friend, and he said to put Redline complete fuel system cleaner
in the tank, and that should take of issues with the old gasoline. He also suggested to
put fresh gasoline in the tank as soon as possible.

Dose this sound plausible? Will it be ok to drive it to the gas station to get more gas?

The car had a tune up just before said relative stopped driving the car, 2 years ago.
I will of course be checking the hoses before trying to drive it.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Tyler
Old October 5th, 2014, 9:34 PM
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how much gas is in the tank now ?
Old October 6th, 2014, 10:07 AM
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Your friend's advice doesn't sound like the worst advice. Honestly though, if the gas wasn't treated, I would be surprised if you could keep it running long enough on 2 y/o gas for Redline work its way through the fuel system. You could try draining as much out of the tank as you can and then refilling with fresh fuel if the tank is close to full.

Last edited by suburbansr4me; October 6th, 2014 at 11:42 AM.
Old October 6th, 2014, 1:47 PM
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i would drain the gas if a measurable amount and put a can of sea foam in it and fill it with some good gas,and keep putting a can of sea foam in every other tank for a while till the tank is good and cleaned out and then change the fuel filter
Old October 6th, 2014, 3:16 PM
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Just drive it. I have driven cars with older gas than that without problems.
Old October 7th, 2014, 8:23 AM
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Really? On older than 2 year old gas? I want to use the pumps you're using! Around here, I get nervous after a couple months and douse my tanks with stabilizer. I use my cars too often for it to sit that long but on my carbed engines, i.e. garden tractor, 4 wheelers, boat, etc…I have to pay a little attention.
Old October 8th, 2014, 12:08 PM
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Hi all,

The Suburban has only 1/4 of a tank in it. I put in the redline and 2 gallons of fresh gas and let it sit 2 days. Today I will take the battery to get it charged, and my mechanic friend will come look at it tonight.


We tried to jump the battery, and managed to turn it over enough to know how much gas it has. Now it's totally dead again.

So I hope that will be good enough to get it to a gas station and fill it.
Old October 8th, 2014, 12:13 PM
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If it starts, drive it to the gas station and put in what you can, but do not over fill, stop at the first click.
IF you are comfortable with driving the vehicle as is, Id take it on a drive to burn down what you can of the fuel and fill again....
Any fuel additives are up to you, I would be less concerned with the fuel quality and more concerned with how gunked up the injectors would/will be...
Old October 8th, 2014, 3:16 PM
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I would put two or three bottles of Techron in the tank also.
Old October 9th, 2014, 7:10 AM
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Just drive it. I drove my boat w/2+ year old fuel Carbureted 460 baby.


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