Stale fuel

[Pond]

It is starting to bother me that my Z3 (2001 3 litre) has 3/4 tank of petrol in that I have no idea of it's age.
I have had the car for a year now but have no idea how old the fuel is. It was stored before I bought it, but don't know for how long. Judging by the MOT history I deduce the fuel is around two years old, but could be three.

The car starts and runs fine, on the odd occasion I fire it up.

So my question is...is there a finite timescale for stored petrol in a fuel tank to go 'stale'? IE for some of the elements to evaporate enough to make it problematic for the engine and or fuel pump.
I have spent a lot of money and effort replacing all the serviceable items in the engine, ready for when it runs again. I don't want that work to be ruined by rotten fuel.

 

[AntStark]

Personally I’d drain it and put some ethanol free stuff in

 

[Toby]

Personally I’d drain it and put some ethanol free stuff in

This - as its probalby got standard fuel in it - E10

 

[Pond]

Personally I’d drain it and put some ethanol free stuff in

But there is around 10 gallons of fuel in there.
A) how to get it out?
B) what to put it in?
C) what to do with it assuming it have bought 3 jerry cans?

I would like to pour it on my next door neighbours' garden and flick a match over but don't think that would help!

 

[AntStark]

Have you not got another car you can use it in..mixed with fresh petrol it will be fine.

 

[Pond]

Have you not got another car you can use it in..mixed with fresh petrol it will be fine.

I have an F31 up for sale in the next day or so, I could decant it into that. A full tank of petrol always looks good on the advert.

 

[Ianmc]

If you are worried, there are companies who specialise in removing fuel, normally when people put derv in petrol tanks or visa versa. Personally, I would fill it up with fresh fuel and press on!

 

[elevensies]

old fuel pulls water (condensation buld up in tank) and with the evaporation process leaves a gunky sticky residue in the lines and injectors.

High compression engines will usually start and run, but its pilling all the crap with it.

Just go buy a 5lt can of super unleaded and drop that in for the time being if you cant drain it off.
In my experience the best thing is drain it buddy

 

[GZed]

I have an F31 up for sale in the next day or so, I could decant it into that. A full tank of petrol always looks good on the advert.

You’ve answered your own question - win/win ( for you at least……)

 

[Pond]

You’ve answered your own question - win/win ( for you at least……)

I couldn't do that.

 

[Mazza]

I emptied the donor car I had by syphoning it out with some clear tubing down the filler into the bottom of the tank.
did a gallon at a time and it didnt take that long to do.

 

[Pond]

I emptied the donor car I had by syphoning it out with some clear tubing down the filler into the bottom of the tank.
did a gallon at a time and it didnt take that long to do.

Is there no gauze in the filler neck of the Z3 then?
I thought there would be.

 

[Mazza]

not in mine

 

[Jasn]

I've managed to pump stale fuel out via the filler neck. Finding a responsible way to dispose of it is a bigger problem.