So I'm getting my BEC running again and on the road because I've to move house. I'm struggling to get it started at the minute which I'm not sure on, I suspect the carbs being gunged or dirty. I seem to recall it doing this when it was laid up however, when I looked in the fule tank I noticed the petrol had turned a rich red colour. This is all the way to the carb floats so I've drained off what was there and put new in but has anyone any idea's what's caused it? Will it affect how easily it will burn?
I had similar with my single seater when left for a few months, I thought it was related to slight decomposition of the red plastic fuel filter but
maybe not...
I've found fuel goes off after 2-3 months and makes it difficult to start until fresh fuel is fully through the system.
Might find that you need to take plugs out and give them a clean too.
We have to use special fuel in our hydraulic pumps on the fire engine (Aspen fuel), to avoid the problems with the fuel"going off" after long periods of storage.
I've heard of red diesel for tax free use in agriculture, but not red petrol.
Would it take much to drain it out and refill with fresh petrol?
My Pinto Indy with a DGV carb wouldn't start after 2-3 months sat still. Gummed up carb and a clean out solved it. Don't recall the petrol
ever turning red though!
I've drained the tank and bowls, changed the filter and drained what I can of the line but flattened the battery in cranking it. The slight red residue is tinting the new petrol a bit. I'll have to strip the carbs I think when I next find time. PITA!
Ali tank or steel tank if it’s a steel tank rust ? Possibly.
Ali tank, black rubber fuel lines and copper fuel lines. Yellow paper filter.
I'm skeptical about fuel going off after a few months. The fuel in mine has been in for around 8 months and the car starts and runs fine.
"I'm skeptical about fuel going off after a few months. The fuel in mine has been in for around 8 months and the car starts and runs
fine."
me too, my car was last driven in sept, when the Mot ran out, and started yesterday, and was fine
Fuel does go off quicker these days but it should be ok for 6 months as for it turning red it’s a bit of a mystery it does get slightly darker when it’s old
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
"I'm skeptical about fuel going off after a few months. The fuel in mine has been in for around 8 months and the car starts and runs fine."
me too, my car was last driven in sept, when the Mot ran out, and started yesterday, and was fine
I've failed MOT's due to bad fuel putting the emissions out, you can even smell it's less strong which isn't so surprising being so volatile. Same applies to lawn mowers etc, best to start the year with fresh fuel
Drained off all I could of the red stuff and put new stuff in. Cleaned one of the carb bowls out (I couldn't loosen the screws on the others!)
and the bowl inlet filter then I sprayed some carb cleaner into each carb and it fired up. It stalled when I pressed the accelerator but it needs
warming up.
I;m still not sure on what caused the red colour though. I'm going to watch the new fuel to see if that turns.