Wow, 5 year old gas in tank = BAD

[Zero Signal]

So after 4 or 5 years, I finally finished putting my care back together, but for good measure I decided to drop my tank and take a peak. What I saw was nothing short of horrifying. The pristine tank and sending unit have turned into something that looks like it was pulled from am ancient shipwreck. There was nothing be thick rusty crust throughout the whole thing. Thats the only way to describe the horror I saw in there. The smell about knocked me out. I felt woozy by the time I called it quits for the night.

I'm afraid the fuel lines might be just as nasty, but I don't even want to think of what Ford charges for those since I can't seem to find them aftermarket. Does anyone know a good way to clean them out? I was going to at least back-wash the lines with a hand pump and fresh fuel followed up with the air compressor.

Also, is there any way to test-fire the injectors outside the car, maybe one at a time?

 

[stykthyn]

get a spare injector pig tail from the JY. run a 12v power wire to a battery and ground the other wire. hook up your injector and connect the power wire to make it pulse. careful you dont leave it turned on for too long as they will burn out.

 

[revhead347]

Just blow the fuel lines out with compressed air.

Kurt

 

[Tanus]

thats weird mine sat 5 1/2 years, I pulled it to clean and surprizingly it was completely normal, gas was still gas, think its because I used fuel stabalizer though

 

[Zero Signal]

Yeah I didn't use stabilizer. That would have been a good idea. I'll post a pic tonight.

 

[KamiKaziDK]

My car sat for nearly as long, killed my fuel pump and sending unit and I'm pretty sure some of my injectors are mucked up too, but my fuel lines were fine cause the fuel inside them just drained out, you should be fine man.

 

[desertcox05]

a tank left partially filled for long periods will form condensation on the inside from temp changes. condensation forms rust, rust turns to muk.

 

[Zero Signal]

I figured that may be part of the problem. In AZ, condensation and moisture are not things we have to think about normally. Other than the pump and rubber lines, I think I can salvage these with some time with the wire wheel on the bench grinder.

I guess you're supposed to click on the picture. Looks like the forum squashed the aspect ratio.
View attachment 218077

 

[RatStang]

You may want to consider replacing the fuel tank. It's going to be hell getting all that crap out of there.

 

[Zero Signal]

Yeah I'm taking the old one to the dump this morning. At $115 for a new one, it's not worth the trouble.

 

[desertcox05]

at least you were smart enough to drop the tank before you fired it back up.

 

[KamiKaziDK]

haha, I very seriously doubt the car would have fired up at all

 

[RIO5.0]

Good call on taken her down...that def looks like the worst shat I ever see come out of a tank.....hate to have pumped some of the crap into your motor....

 

[COBRA90GT]

Yikes, good thing you checked it out.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

If you look at the feed hose for the pump its split, wouldnt have ran anyway but definately good your changing it.

 

[k00ksta]

Same Situation

My car sat over the winter and I did not dump any stable in the tank I tried to fire it up this weekend and it did start but im getting white smoke out the tail pipes there is literally less than 1/4 tank in the thing should I try to dump some stable in it and maybe 5-6 gallons of fresh gas to see if I can work it out? or do you guys recommend doing anything else to get rid of the condensation in the tank. I had the motor over the winter out of the car because I had to fix a RMS Leak cant believe I forgot to dump some stable in it as chicago winters are horrible when its sitting in the cold garage.

 

[RIO5.0]

I would cut some fresh gas in with it...drive it til damn near empty. Adding stabilizer now won't do any good...if you have water from condensation in the tank, then you have it. I would score some Dry-Gas and run that thru it for while..If you have water that will help remove it.