Starting a van on 12 year old deasel

[donciuz]

Hi. I have a syncro caravelle on my yard that has not been started for almost 12 years. It has half a tank of old deasel. Does deasel fuel get unusable during the years? Or can I have a go?

[ghost123uk]

Not sure if it would be ok, maybe. Drain some out of the tank and see what it looks like, ie not cloudy or got obvious water droplets in it.
I would for sure be feeding it with some fresh stuff for initial start up though (after the usual after lay-up procedures of course).

[greasemonkey]

Agree, at the least I'd top it up with fresh diesel to dilute the old stuff.

[keith]

You would expect a few things to be a little stiff after 12 years....you could give it a try and see what happens as personally i would be surprised if fresh fuel alone would make it purr like a tractor

Be interesting to hear what happens

[slippy8v]

Mine sat for 11 years, we drained the tank and fitted new fuel filter,oil filter an oil,fitted new battery and started and ran fine, bit noisy until the oil got up around the tappets.

[keith]

Mine sat for 11 years, we drained the tank and fitted new fuel filter,oil filter an oil,fitted new battery and started and ran fine, bit noisy until the oil got up around the tappets.

[donciuz]

Tried to start the van today on new deasel but with no luck. Disconnected fuel lines from fuel filter, pushed old fuel out with air, bled the system with new deasel using a big syringe, put the fuel lines to a bottle with new deasel, tried to start the engine. Nothing. Then pushed it dow the hill and tried to start in second gear. Received loads of grey smoke but it did not start. Left it there....

[Oldiebut goodie]

Pump gummed up? Good chance if sat for 12 years without turning over.

[donciuz]

Grey smoke (lots of it) indicates unburnt fuel. I guess some old fuel left in injector pipes? Glow plugs probably not working...

[keith]

it would have been a miracle....even with a diesel