Stale Fuel

[Dean]

My mog has been running on stale fuel (half a tank of it!).

The engine starts okay once I clean the glaze off the plugs, but the glaze soon re-appears and causes it "phut phut" and finally stall. I was hoping to be able to run the stale fuel through and add fresh, but have decided to remove it all.

So to my question. I now have the last litre of the stale fuel to run through mixed with fresh new stuff.

Has the stale stuff ruined my old plugs? It's not a problem buying more, but didn't want to buy any more plugs incase the last of the stale mixure ruins them too?

Note to myself: use the moggy more this summer!!!!

[bmcecosse]

Not at all - just fill up and get going. Can't see why it would 'glaze' the plugs - all that's happened is that it has lost some of the light fractions that help with starting.Are you actually 'running' the car - or just idling the engine ?

[Dean]

I'm idling and revving. Didn't want to take it out incase it stalled to a halt. Didn't fancy repairing roadside.

When the engine has cut out, it won't start again until I wire brush the plugs. The old fuel seems to prevent the plugs working to their full potential. It's only been like this since I stupidly put the remining old fuel from my mini into the moggy. The fuel worked okay in the '95 mini.. but not the moggy.

[bmcecosse]

Fill up with new fuel and take it out for a blast. What plugs are you using?? Oh and 'wire brushing' plugs is a poor idea - can scratch the ceramic.

[Dean]

I think they are champion plugs.

[bmcecosse]

Good - but what heat rating ? N5 ?? N9Y ??

[Dean]

I'll check.

As a side thought, is it the stale fuel causing the plugs "spark" to wander and be ineffective after a few minutes running? Would the plugs spark be affected by something else going on? ie ignition timing? Just thinking ahead in case the fresh fuel makes no difference.

[bmcecosse]

Poor old condenser will do that too...

[Dean]

They are Champion N9YC's is this the better set?

The condenser is a new yellow cable from The Distributor Doctor, so I'm confident it isn't this at fault.

[bmcecosse]

Good plugs then - how about the HT leads....?

[Dean]

Yay, thanks BMC it's running a treat now. Fresh fuel and a good 10 mile run has blown all the old stuff through. Ran like a kangaroo to begin with but after a good blast it runs as good as ever. Even the plugs are the right colour too upon inspection!

[bmcecosse]

Well done then!