Old Gas

37chief · Aug 14, 2013

With todays gasoline how long does it take to go bad? My 02 E 450 with a v 10 (motorhome) will not start until I give a little squirt of starting stuff. Then it starts and runs fine. Is there something in the system that senses older gas. The gas in 5 months old. Or what could be the problem? Stan

Dean · Aug 14, 2013

It depends somewhat upon what designer spec gasoline is in your tank but, in general, about 6 months.

Dean

Anonymous-0 · Aug 14, 2013

Had a Windstar van that the transmission was the same as out, but still moved. Kept it around for a little over 2 year's before I got rid of it. Still had the same old original Ethanol gas in it. Started up immediately and run just fine, and loaded it up on trailer. Seemed to have plenty of power.

guido · Aug 14, 2013

Hello 37chief,

It is more likely that your truck has a lazy O2 sensor or a TPS that needs adjusting.
That's my guess,
Try starting it with partial throttle, if it starts chances are the TPS is the culprit!

Guido.

Hal/ Eastern WA · Aug 14, 2013

We have a 99 Ford E450 based motorhome with the V10 gashog. I have found that unless I start it and run it a few minutes about every month or 6 weeks, it will not start right off. After a bit of cranking, it will start and go. If I just start it oftener, it starts right away.

I am pretty sure it has an electric fuel pump, and I suspect that the computer will not let that fuel pump run very long without the engine running. Maybe the fuel drains back into the tank, and it takes a bit of time cranking for the pump to pressurize enough for the fuel injection to work.

So I try to start the motorhome lots oftener than I was for a while. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Frankmn · Aug 14, 2013

Try turning the key on for about 10 seconds a couple times before you crank it. That should get furl pressure to the rails.

36 Coupe · Aug 14, 2013

My father in law had a lawn mower shop.On no start mowers he would drain the old gas out that was 6 months old.A little fresh gas, the engine would start right up.He put the stale gas in his pickup.Old gas tends to be fire proof.The alky gas we get now is worse.

Russ from MN · Aug 14, 2013

I sometimes have gas in equipment with the same gas for over a year with no problems, but all my equipment is inside. Sitting out in the sun where there is an extreme temperature change every day can be a problem. I don't think the gas is your problem.

gene bender · Aug 14, 2013

Arent you supposed to turn the key on and wait a little before starting. I live in Iowa and have been using the 10% blend for many yrs have no problems starting engines that have been setting for months.

Traper · Aug 14, 2013

Gene
Do you have inline gas filter? How many miles on it traper

MarkB_MI · Aug 14, 2013

Actually Chief, that "new" gas probably stays fresh longer than the "old" gas. As I recall, you're in SoCal, which has very strict vapor pressure requirements: a maximum of 7.0 psi Reid Vapor Pressure, April 1st through October 31st. That's the same RVP requirement as for avgas, which is well known for its stability and long shelf life.
California RVP requirements

uncle henry · Aug 14, 2013

i treated some gas in my super a three years ago runs maybe three times a year no problems yet

John A. · Aug 14, 2013

Stan, New gas will go bad in as short as 20 days or less or fuel that will sit for any length of time needs to be treated....Period.,,, car, truck, tractor, lawn mower, weedeater, chainsaw, etc, etc treat the fuel if it is not running pretty quick!
Later,
John A.

pete 23 · Aug 14, 2013

It depends on the temperature and vaporize rating of the gasoline and weather tank is sealed or not. Here in the north it can sit all winter no problem but put winter gas in the hot sun or hot shed and it won't last long weather it has ethanol added or not.

Owen Aaland · Aug 14, 2013

Fuel in my tractors that sit out exposed to the sun can cause problems after 3 or 4 months.

I've also got a couple of vehicles here that sat for more than five years and started right up after allowing the fuel pump to prime for about 10 seconds. The difference is in the cars the fuel system has a sealed fuel cap so the light ends of the fuel don't evaporate off nearly as fast as the tractors. The tractors will run on the old fuel, they just won't start on it unless they are already warmed up.

M-MAN · Aug 14, 2013

I think it's just how lucky you are. Can't be this great gas we have now a day's. If I let either one of my Cub Cadets sit a month I will have to spin them until the battery's about dead before they fire. Found some non ethanol a while back & it's better but still a long way's from what it used to be.

gene bender · Aug 15, 2013

Where do you live that the blend is so bad it goes sour that quick.

Bryan inIowa · Aug 15, 2013

Check fuel pressure .

dej(Jed) · Aug 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 16:13:08 08/14/13) With todays gasoline how long does it take to go bad? My 02 E 450 with a v 10 (motorhome) will not start until I give a little squirt of starting stuff. Then it starts and runs fine. Is there something in the system that senses older gas. The gas in 5 months old. Or what could be the problem? Stan

The military seems to be able to store product indefinitely. I wonder what they know that we don't?

DaninKansas · Aug 15, 2013

I keep hearing about how great gas was way back when - but then I also remember the carbs were always needing adjusting and rebuilt - to the point that 40-50 years ago almost every gas station had an onduty mechanic.

If you are going to store it add some stabil to the gas when you fill it up before parking - the fuel will last a year that way.

Old Gas

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