its almost time to fire up the mini for the first time in 18 months, now the recon'd engine is in.

There's petrol in the tank, but it's been sitting there for, well, 18 months!

Should I drain and replace before I try firing it up? Or will it be fine?

If it's that old I'd replace it

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Drain it. It ain't worth the risk.

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Poor old victa lawnmowers usually cop that stuff..

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Used to be you could leave fuel that long and it'd be fine, but these days all the good stuff evaporates and you're left with what may as well be 50 RON water...

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

I'd make sure you have a new fuel filter on it as well, cheap insurance.

Hey Aussie,

Could also bleed the old fuel out with some new fuel before you put a new filter on if you do, that way its not coping crap fuel straight away and you would clear the last of any built up gunk and what not with that fresh fuel.

Cheers, Sam

Just drop in some fuel saver, nulon and the usual suspects make it. sure it wont be race fuel but it wont do any damage.

Definitely drop the existing fuel.
Without a doubt or any second consideration.

Using compressed air, gently blow your fuel back towards the tank - take the line off after the fuel filter and go from there.

New fuel - new filter.
No worries!

18 months....its no good Drain it including fuel filter and use the fuel as a degreaser thats all its good for. replace fuel filter and refill tank and I would also replace oil filter and oil also

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Sniff da petty.
A few blokes up Hanra's way might be interested in it.

As gafmo said, use it for parts cleaner!

I would totally agree with dumping it but I had an interesting experience with a ford ute that sat for eighteen months waiting for a another engine.
It started first go with the old fuel, the only problem was the fuel filter was almost clogged with a muddy substance but it still ran alright.
Just before it blew it's head gasket, it had been fueled up with 98RON
and an injector cleaner.
So I think the injector cleaner may have preserved the fuel. When the tank was down to half we topped it up but even before that it still ran ok.

Thought so guys. Will drain it tomorrow.

Might even see if the thing starts up too

I know fuel left in mowers for that long need a carby over haul mainly them victas with there tap left on and the fuel goes like a varnish and clogs the jet

Smell it, stale fuel smells disgusting.

How much is in it? if there isn't much (less than 1/4) i would just fill it with fresh fuel, take the line off the carb, pump a bit out by cranking then hook it all back up and off you go.

The mini that i'm tidying up sat for 17 years, i set up a gravity feed of fresh fuel and had a long hose from the pump to a 20l tin. I ran it on the fresh fuel which pumped the tank and lines dry, then i tipped in a bit of fresh fuel to flush it through. Filled it, new filter, no problemo,

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.