What steps should I take? My main concern is the gas. The car has been sittng for about eight months. I have not moved it or started it. How long does it take for the gas to go bad?

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1989 Trans Am, 305 TPI 5-speed, T-Tops(love 'em),4-wheel disc, 3.73 posi

 

if you took the time to put stabilizer in the gas and had a recent oil change all you should have to do is start it up. If not I'd suggest at least changing the oil and see if you can get it to run. Generally you shouldn't have a problem unless you let the car sit for over a year.

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Drew
The lone Thirdgenner of the Apocalypse
predatorman@hotmail.com
My Website
87 Iroc
91 Formula 14.3@98mph
91 RS Convertible
91 Firebird V6FOR SALE!
92 S10FOR SALE!
98 Grand Am GT

 

Thanks for the info. I did'nt know about the stabilizer. Now I know for next winter!

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1989 Trans Am, 305 TPI 5-speed, T-Tops(love 'em),4-wheel disc, 3.73 posi

 

Gasoline drops 1 octane a week, I think I was told that once. I would drain the fuel and start fresh. The gas could also sludge up if left too long and that could play havoc with the fuel pump and filters. I know gas is expensive, but it's a cheap replacement in comparison!

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87 IROC 350 TPI with less than 10k original miles
www.users.uswest.net/~smoyer/iroc.htm

 

I store my 82Z28 every winter. I remove the battery in the fall. Since the car is stored away from home I change the oil once I get it home. I make sure that when I go to start it in the spring that I do not touch the gas pedal and then crank the engine over to try to get the oil moving. Once I notice that there is some oil pressure I stop cranking. I pump the gas pedal a couple of times then start cranking again. The engine fires up and I let it idle for about ten minutes. Then I drive the car gently until I get home. I have never had problems with the gas going bad. But then since I get about 15 mile to the gallon I do not have to wait to long for my next fill up

 

In the fall, I change the oil, fill the tank (keeps out moisture), put Gas Stabil in the tank, and disconnect the battery. Since it's on a concrete floor I park it over a plastic tarp to hold back the moisture that comes out of cold concrete. I throw in a combination of moth ***** and Bounce fabric softener to keep out vermin (stinky as heck but it's a convertible so it airs out quickly in the spring), cover the car and walk away.

Five months later, I uncover the car, reconnect the battery, put in some isopropyl dry gas to absorb any moisture in the tank, and change the oil again. I remove the stinky stuff too. I then put the top down and go for a drive to air out the smell.

For short term (ie. less than a year) storage this has worked for me. Some of this is probably overkill but it's a ritual for putting the car away in the fall, and it reacquaints me with the car in the spring.