Not starting after 'resting' for 12 months

[Clive and Sarah]

Hi everyone

Apologies if a noddy question. Have had to SORN our beloved Bongo for last year or so. Just tried to start her up. Turning over and fired immediately but not on all cylinders, it sounded like. Then stopped firing altogether although turning ok Should have been starting it more often I know but any tips.... or just be patient and keep trying?

Clive

[Northern Bongolow]

modern fuels do not store for more than 6 months, so maybe an idea to put in some fresh fuel.

[Clive and Sarah]

Thanks and oh dear. Do you think that means I need to drain the tank or just add some fresh diesel? It's about a quarter full at present.

[Northern Bongolow]

take out a mortgage and poss fill it as much as you can . new fuel filter wouldnt hurt either.

give it a real good go though first, as the fuel may have just run back to the tank as you say it tried to start then stopped. crank it over for a while maybe taking off the fuel pipe near the filter to make sure its there, then maybe crack an injector pipe.

dont crank untill it flattens the batt though.

[Clive and Sarah]

Hurray

Just needed to crank it for longer and then it started on all cylinders. Now as smooth as always was and starting immediately when stopped.

Thanks for your help. Now needs a quick tidy and putting up for sale.... time to say goodbye.

Clive

[mikeWalsall]

I have a 1999 Vauxhall Omega six cylinder (BMW) 2.5TD stood unused for over seven years ..

As I was having some building work done recently I needed to move her .. charged the battery .. ignition on waited for the glow light to go off .. turned the key .. and she instantly 'chuckled' into life .. and that diesel is over seven years old ..!!

[teenmal]

I have a 1999 Vauxhall Omega six cylinder (BMW) 2.5TD stood unused for over seven years ..

As I was having some building work done recently I needed to move her .. charged the battery .. ignition on waited for the glow light to go off .. turned the key .. and she instantly 'chuckled' into life .. and that diesel is over seven years old ..!!

Hi,
The Government use (Dumps) to stockpile fuel for National emergencies,I hope someone tells them that it will only last 6 months.

Cheers.

[francophile1947]

I believe it's only petrol that goes off, if it's not in a sealed container. My neighbour's lawn mower wouldn't start, so we replaced the fuel. You couldn't even set fire to the stuff left from last year

[Northern Bongolow]

mike the older stuff was better, it lasted longer but still seperated eventually.

its all the modern fuels now, non of them have a shelf life longer than 6 months according to the oil company recomendations. they have warned all the farmers etc not to store for long periods. they are removing most of the sulpher and replacing it with crap.
have a look on the net at the chemical makeup of diesel/gasoil/unleaded,it will make you wonder if its safe to burn it.
the new sulpher low gas oil will damage older generators/plant marine so will have to be replaced,

the government change the fuel they store regularly to help with this.
we did a large job for the leeds general infirmary recently to change their fuels for the emergency generators, wonder who payed for that. massive job.

what i do know is we are being ripped off, we at work have the old non egr wagons through to the modern euro 5 engines and the mpg and power differences are massive,add to this now poorer fuel and the mpg drop is very noticeable.
the problem we are going to have in the future is getting the fuel that the bongo was designed to run on. remember when unleaded came in and we had to alter the timing. could be worse though we could run the old E type jags that were designed to run on 5 star.

[teenmal]

mike the older stuff was better, it lasted longer but still seperated eventually.

its all the modern fuels now, non of them have a shelf life longer than 6 months according to the oil company recomendations. they have warned all the farmers etc not to store for long periods. they are removing most of the sulpher and replacing it with crap.
have a look on the net at the chemical makeup of diesel/gasoil/unleaded,it will make you wonder if its safe to burn it.
the new sulpher low gas oil will damage older generators/plant marine so will have to be replaced,

the government change the fuel they store regularly to help with this.
we did a large job for the leeds general infirmary recently to change their fuels for the emergency generators, wonder who payed for that. massive job.

what i do know is we are being ripped off, we at work have the old non egr wagons through to the modern euro 5 engines and the mpg and power differences are massive,add to this now poorer fuel and the mpg drop is very noticeable.
the problem we are going to have in the future is getting the fuel that the bongo was designed to run on. remember when unleaded came in and we had to alter the timing. could be worse though we could run the old E type jags that were designed to run on 5 star.

The problem will be, Able to afford the stuff..

[mikeWalsall]

I know that Petrol companies adding extra Methanol and Ethanol recently have caused piston / bore problems with many older Motorbikes ...

When cleaning carbs running on unleaded there is a definite residue in the float chamber...