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does fuel "gel" up?

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Old 09-29-2010, 07:15 PM
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Car: 86' IROC-Z....and 5 other 3rdgens
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does fuel "gel" up?

ok i have an 85' berlinetta 2.8 auto. ALL original and factory, with 49,320 miles on the digital dash. anyways the engine had a knock when i baught it (ladys grandson hot rodded it for 1 week) and they put it up for sale and i snaged it for a great deal.

but since i wasnt able to fix it immediatly after i baught it (been in college and had to worry about my 4 other camaros first) and it ended up sitting for an additional 2 years after i purchased it.

well i thaught id go ahead and get started on it. but now its a no start, and relized it didnt have any fuel according to the guage. so i put 5 gallons in it and the guage didnt budge. when i take off the gas cap, it smells like spoiled gas (sour, fruity smell). so then i checked fuel pressure and got nothing. so fuel pump isnt kicking on.

i think the 2 year old fuel gummed up the fuel pump and the sending unit (hence why the fuel guage didnt rise).....is this possible???? and what can i do to uncease it?
Old 09-29-2010, 07:58 PM
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

The most volatile solvents will evaporate soonest leaving the heavier stuff behind, but 2 years isn't all THAT long to leave it.
Old 09-29-2010, 08:06 PM
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

Isn't that a carbureted engine?
Old 09-29-2010, 08:19 PM
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z and 1988 Iroc-Z
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

Originally Posted by Apeiron
The most volatile solvents will evaporate soonest leaving the heavier stuff behind, but 2 years isn't all THAT long to leave it.
But leaving the fuel in there for so long can start eating away at the fuel pump and can in essence clog it up as well. Thats why most people who are going to leave a car sit I recommend atleast going out and starting it up at least once a month to keep the stuff warm and from going bad.
Old 09-30-2010, 04:33 PM
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

yeah i usually start them up every once in a while when im not using them. but i couldnt with the berlinetta because it was at my dads house an hour away for the 2 years it sat. and i realy didnt like the idea of starting it up anyway when the rod is just hammering in there.

and no its mpfi 2.8

iv tried putting about 4 gallons in there and shaking the car side to side to see if it could loosen anything up, but no luck.

guess the tank is getting dropped now along with the engine pull...

especially sucks because that could have all been avoided!
Old 09-30-2010, 04:53 PM
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

Did you try hitting the bottom of the tank with a hammer? Sometimes the shock will knock it loose.
Old 09-30-2010, 08:00 PM
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Re: does fuel "gel" up?

yeah i tried that too. it just sucks using that technique on 3rdgens because the tank us above the rear end and exhaust. i was only able to hit the corner of the tank that you could barely get access to.
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