Starting after being dormant

CHRIS2009TAYLOR

MEMBER
1984 DODGE VAN
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
85,000 MILES

Hello,
I was quite pleased with the answer the last time I asked a a question, so I’m back again
with a different question for a different vehicle. The questions are below.

The vehicle;
1984 Dodge 250 custom van with approx. 85,000 miles on it. It is a 360 cubic inch engine with a 4 barrel “Rochester Quadrajet” carburator.

The problem;
It was my dad’s Van( now mine) and has sat around unused for many years now. Even when he did use it (infrequently), he often had problems with starting it; as it stopped soon after. He therefore had a new carburator installed. Before I try and start it, I would like to know what I should do generally after a vehicle has sat this long, but also specifically to eliminate the old gas that has been in the Tank, fuel line, and the float tank of the carburator for many years.
Can you make suggestions with regard to this?

I have charged the battery, and siphoned the gas from the fuel tank (is there any way to make this 90 liters of gas useful again?) And I plan on disconnecting the fuel line at the carburatior to have the fuel pump discharge the line fuel into a waste container, but I didn’t want to start the engine as the fuel in the float tank of the carburator should also be drained, shouldn’t it?

Is there a plug in the carburator for this purpose?

I would appreciate any information/pictures that you could reference / attach or provide.

Thanks,

Chris

Chris2009taylor@yahoo. Ca

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

How long has it been sitting? I have a 1980 Plymouth Volare with 45,000 miles that I only drive a few miles each summer. The gas is over five years old, and the car still runs fine. Also have a '93 Dynasty with 4,000 miles. I have no idea how many years ago I put gas in it. It runs fine too.

If you haven't tried to start the engine yet, you're going to find the float bowl in the carburetor is empty. Since the tank has been emptied already, I would just stick in some new gas and call it good.

I think you might get away with using a gallon or two of the old gas mixed in with each tankful of new gas. To prevent good gas from becoming stale when you know it's going to be sitting, there is a product called Sta-bil. It's expensive though, so it might be better to just run it out and not fill the tank before putting it in storage.