Car not started for two years: Advice, In "cold storage" in Michigan Options

[orthobiz]

I'm getting my mint 74 1.8 liter soon, and as some of you may know, I looked hard this winter before I found my perfect ride. Along the way I found out about a car in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned by a fellow who spends the winter in Florida. He's now back in Michigan and is getting ready to sell his car. It's a yellow 74 or 75 (he's not really sure) and it may or may not have some rust ("a little around the turn signals"), etc.

So, now I'm thinking "daily driver" because I've gotten this 914 bug really, really bad this year. What could be bad about having TWO cars???

The problem is he has not started it for two years. Probably has untreated gas in the tank, who knows how much gas. And it was stored in a covered pole barn that is unheated (which means zero degrees in Michigan winter).

Can you just charge the battery and try to start it up? Does the tank need to be drained and the lines changed or flushed or what??? Any idea of how long sitting is "too long?"

Thanks for the advice!

Paul

[BarberDave]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

MY 2 CENTS
Drain the gas, Change the oil, Charge the Battery
Try and start it ,it just may fire up,if not start to check out Why.

Come here and ask any questions, there is a wealth of 914 knowledge around
here . Good Luck Keep us informed
Dave

[RoninEclipse2G]

to be safe I'd drain the tank, inspect the hard lines and replace the rubber fuel lines and filter. that old and stored in cold winters the battery is probably nothing more than a dead core. check the battery cables for corrosion too. if it had oil, I would change that too and prime the system by cranking the engine without fuel or spark. any other suggestions guys?

[jd74914]

if it had oil, I would change that too

If it doesn't have oil I'd be scared (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

Anyways, 2 years isn't that long a time. I would do like everyone says and put some fresh gas in, get a new battery, and try to start it. First you might want to try turning it over by hand and putting a little mystery oil in the cylinders just to be safe.

[Porsche Rescue]

While two years is a long time, the gas may still be good enough to give it a try. Remove the cap and smell the contents. Smell pretty much like gas? Try it. Smell like something else? Drain it.

[RoninEclipse2G]

While two years is a long time, the gas may still be good enough to give it a try. Remove the cap and smell the contents. Smell pretty much like gas? Try it. Smell like something else? Drain it.

good point, maybe make a little fuel coctail and top it off if it doesn't smell funny,

ingredients:
1/2 small bottle StaBil fuel stabilizer
1 bottle/can of GOOD fuel injector cleaner (chevron Techron/BG44k)
1/2 quart Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant
1 bottle octane booster

mix in 2-5 gallon gas can and fill can with highest octane pump gas you can find, pour in tank, start

[Allan]

I would recommend that before you do anything, at least change the oil, drain and refill the tank, replace the battery, pull the plugs and crank it over a few times. This way you can get a vague idea of how the fuel system handles pressure that it hasn't seen in awhile, and the electricals.

Even after you have determined that the fuel lines, rails and electricals are up to snuff I would then replace the fuel filter(s) before actually starting it.

Once you have it running, I would only take it out for a few feet and test the BRAKES (even if you have a solid pedal just sitting in the car because BRAKES are you friend).

If you get that far I would seriously look into the BRAKES again before seriously driving...

IMHO that is... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[ptravnic]

FWIW - We had a car here in Buffalo, stored in a non heated garage that hadn't been started in 5 or 6 years. Sounds like similar conditions to your car in question:

We didn't fuss w/the gas - it had a quarter of a tank.

We replaced the battery (actually pilfered one from another car, but that's another story).

We cleaned up the distributor & points & took a wire brush to whatever grounds we could see in the engine bay.

She fired up & runs pretty well - even idles down to about 1k rpms. I wish the other cars ran as well as that one!

-pt

[orthobiz]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Some pretty dumb questions (but I really don't know the answers!)

If one drains the tank, where does one rid oneself of the GAS?? Will oil change places, for instance, take it? I have a big portable gas tank for filling our boat.

Come to think of it, what do you do with old oil? Back in the day (like, when I was caring for and driving these cars), I had a Sears oil drainage unit and Sears used to let you bring your old oil in. Now we have a "fake" Sears, filled with lawnmowers, washers and TV's, God help you if you need to order anything, it's like you have leprosy or something.

Paul

[watsonrx13]

When I drained the gas from my tank, I put the old gasoline in the in-laws lawn mower....

You can bring your old oil to FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store)...

-- Rob

[Eric_Shea]

Advice, In "cold storage" in Michigan

Drain the rust. Replace all the floor pans, inner longs, outer longs, front fenders, rear fenders and front and rear trunk pans.

Easy... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(Michigander... I can!)

[orthobiz]

But what's the best way to get rid of old, old gas? Other than dipping torches in it and storming Frankenstein's castle?

Thanks,

Paul

[Porsche Rescue]

I suspect the "correct" answer is to take it to the hazardous waste disposal site. I have done less correct things with it in the past, but not particularly proud of it.

[Pat Garvey]

Advice, In "cold storage" in Michigan

Drain the rust. Replace all the floor pans, inner longs, outer longs, front fenders, rear fenders and front and rear trunk pans.

Easy... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(Michigander... I can!)

Eric,

You forgot to mention checking the Frimmen boots on the Kratz bars! Those should also be re-torqued! (the boots, that is)
Pat

[Pat Garvey]

But what's the best way to get rid of old, old gas? Other than dipping torches in it and storming Frankenstein's castle?

Thanks,

Paul

Hey Paul,

If you storm the castle, be sure to notice the gorgeous knockers on the door (anyone remeber this?).

Seriously, I've got about 4 gallons of 5 year old gas I'd like to get rid of too. Old oil isn't a problem because a local mechanic shops uses it to heat his shop in the winter & will take all I can give him. But gas seems to be different - wants no part of it. Admittedly, I haven't tried very hard to get rid of it & if I had a lawnmower I'd use it there.
Pat

[BarberDave]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Pat:
I have a ans. to your problem of getting rid of your old gas. Bring it up here, i will let you use in in my mower and cut my grass. ( small yard) . As will my son ( 3 1/2 acres ) . That would make a nice Sun. Trip for you. I wil of course provide mowers and liquid refreshment . Thanks in advance Dave

[Bartlett 914]

Getting rid of old gas is a pain. Don't run it down a drain including storm drains. If you have a friend with a Diesel you might be able to put some in his tank (small amounts at a time). Also, it will evaporate. It can be placed out in the open in a cantainer with a large opening. If you pour it on the ground, most will evaporate. What goes into the ground will stay in the ground as a contamination. Last but not lease, pute it in your car a little at a time.

[jonferns]

campfire starter? --JON

[orthobiz]

Pat: Young Frankenstein
Dave: It's MY gas, not Pat's! And Michigan is far enough away that it'd be hard to haul all that gas down to you...

Paul

[VaccaRabite]

To get rid of gas, call your local FLAPS and ask where to drop it, or ask the local garage if they will take it (usually yes, but charge a small fee). Or, put it in a gas can, and drop it off at the local fill up joint, put a sign "free gas" and watch the fight erupt as you leave.

When I drained my tank, I just put it right in my Subaru. It was 2 years old, and the car ran fine.

Zach