How Fast Does Petrol "Go Off?"

[catman]

Hi all, a neighbour has a Ford Ka, was running fine, but has been standing since August last year.

Just tried starting it with a fully charged battery and jump leads, but it just turns over. I just wondered whether the petrol could be the problem?

I thought that it would take longer than six months or so to go off, so maybe the problem lies elsewhere, such as gummed up injectors etc?

Tim

[RegMolehusband]

The lighter elements in petrol can evaporate quite quickly leaving it less combustible. Pumping some fresh petrol through could do the trick.

[catman]

Hi, thanks for the speedy reply. She did put some petrol in it yesterday, but I don't know whether it was from a petrol station, or was stored.

Maybe some easy start would help.

Cheers

Tim

[HumbleJim]

You could try whipping the plugs out, heating then on a gas flame and refitting them.

[catman]

Hi Jim, thanks for the reply. I thought that died out years ago! We live in flats, so a bit difficult to do. I hope that she hasn't damaged anything, as the top end and bores would be bone dry after six months.

The weather wasn't great today, so I wasn't inclined to spend too long on it. Hopefully I can have a proper look soon.

Cheers

Tim

[Faxo]

Be careful when 'whipping the plugs out' on an old Ka, as they seize in, and snap in the head

Ideally better to wArm the engine 1st, but obv you can't do this!

[jon-]

My KA has run on petrol older. If there was more than a few litres in the tank I'll be surprised if that was the cause of your issue.

[jagracer]

Try some easystart

[catman]

Are they taper seat plugs on these then? I know that she had it serviced early last year and it was running fine when she last used it, so I'm guessing that it's something basic.

That's why I was asking about the petrol. It didn't show any signs of life at all. I'm glad that the plug problem was mentioned, as that would have been on the to do list.

Cheers

Tim

[750turbo]

HumbleJim said:

You could try whipping the plugs out, heating then on a gas flame and refitting them.

Then burning your fingers trying to refit the beggars

[veevee]

Prime the fuel pump. Usually a button/pump somewhere under the bonnet.

[aw51 121565]

There wil be a high pressure electric fuel pump somewhere (in the tank?) and this should be heard to "whine" for a few seconds when the ignition is initially turned on, possibly followed by an audible click from wherever the relays live as this pump then shuts off (don't start the engine, just turn the key to position II and listen ).

Is this happening?

[catman]

Hi, I had jump leads on the car to give it maximum cranking power, so I was in my car while she tried to start it.

I don't know about the pump, I'll have a listen next time I have a look!

Thanks

Tim

[Pints]

The fuel pumps on Fords are prone to failure. It happened to my brother's Fiesta last year after standing for quite a while.

[gforceg]

I would add, if you can run an extension lead to the car, take a hair dryer to the air intake and carbs/injectors. Make sure distributor and leads are bone dry too.

With recent weather, damp will be a big problem.

[quiraing]

Have had similar probs with a sit-on lawnmower and also with chainsaws.

A squirt of WD40 vapour down the open carb throat often gets things going. Don't flood it. Beware though, WD40 is highly flammable.

[HumbleJim]

750turbo said:

HumbleJim said:

You could try whipping the plugs out, heating then on a gas flame and refitting them.

Then burning your fingers trying to refit the beggars

Works for me

[McWigglebum4th]

Any way of stopping petrol going off?

i have a generator which was an utter pig to start due to old petrol

I have changed the petrol and it now starts but i would rather not have to change out the fuel every 12 months

[N Dentressangle]

McWigglebum4th said:

Any way of stopping petrol going off?

i have a generator which was an utter pig to start due to old petrol

I have changed the petrol and it now starts but i would rather not have to change out the fuel every 12 months

You need something like this stuff:

http://www.wynnoil.co.uk/products-wynns-fuel-syste...

Plenty of other brands available.

[S0 What]

veevee said:

Prime the fuel pump. Usually a button/pump somewhere under the bonnet.

Good idea IF it was a diesel but it's not
As said listen for the pump priming, modern petrol goes off in a few months and can gum up the pump and or injectors.
You can (iffy method) free off a gumed up pump by reversing the polarity for a moment but i'd only try that with it out of the car !
There's no distributor on a KA just a coil pack and they are a known weak point as are seized plugs but the heating trick may not be a workable idea on modern plugs, one soakining in fuel can ruin them, i allways chanage plugs nowdays rather than heat them but a clean will get them sparking enough to get a rough running motor, a total not start is "usually" down to more than wet or fouled plugs ?