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Ronmocking · 06-12-2015, 08:19 PM

Hi guys, hoping someone has some advice to help me out with.

My wife and kids have been living with my Father in Law for the last half year helping with his medical care (dementia, cancer etc

) He was an avid RV enthusiast and he'd like one last trip to the beach in his trusty Bounder.

Its a 1990 Chevy chassis bounder, and it hasn't moved in 10 years. This leaves us with 25 gallons of 10 year old gas in the tank, not great.

I need to get the gas out, but I'm not sure how. The fill pipe is long and twisted, hard to get a hose into the tank.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for getting that old gas out? I'm hoping we can get the gas out and get it running so we can move it under its own power to get new tires and take it to the RV place for a solid inspection and repairs. The cost for towing from Simi Valley down to Ventura was shockingly high.

I'm assuming this:

is the fuel filter (inside of the passenger side frame rail).

Thanks!

Bumps · 06-12-2015, 08:31 PM

What a terrific gesture you are making. Did you look to see if there's a drain plug? If there's not, can you just disconnect one of the fuel hoses and drain it from there? Best of luck! /ken

EZDZIT · 06-12-2015, 08:31 PM

Welcome to IRV2!
I'm sorry I can't help you with your question.
Your family's care of your wife's father is good to hear.
Our son who lives in Ventura has had good luck recently getting into Emma Woods State Beach without reservations mid-week.

Ronmocking · 06-12-2015, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumps

What a terrific gesture you are making. Did you look to see if there's a drain plug? If there's not, can you just disconnect one of the fuel hoses and drain it from there? Best of luck! /ken

I looked all under the tank, there's unfortunately no drain plug.

I figure the best thing to do is going to be disconnecting the fuel line going to the filter and getting the gas out that way barring any magic solutions

This family has so many amazing memories from a lifetime of RV destinations, I would like to honor that before dementia makes it impossible for him to enjoy.

ARTWERKE · 06-12-2015, 08:51 PM

You could replace that fuel filter with an inexpensive, generic, electric fuel pump & pump all that old fuel out.

Gordon Dewald · 06-12-2015, 08:57 PM

I wonder if you could replace the fuel filter with a length of hose and possibly siphon the fuel out?

Does the unit have a tank pump? If it does replacing the fuel filter with a length of hose to a pail and turning on the ignitions may have the tank pump run the fuel out.

TurtleKent · 06-12-2015, 09:24 PM

Maybe the better part of valor(and your checkbook) would be to rent an RV for a few days. New tires, updating maintenance, etc. could easily run $3000-4000.

89sandman · 06-12-2015, 10:06 PM

You can disconnect the fuel line at the filter and then find the fuel pump relay, put a jumper wire between the continuous 12v power supply wire to the wire that runs the pump.

I'm with TurtleKent, a rv that has been sitting for 10 years will probably require a few grand to make it road worthy for even one trip.

Arch Hoagland · 06-12-2015, 11:19 PM

Have you been able to start the engine?

Ronmocking · 06-13-2015, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Have you been able to start the engine?

Yes, the engine fired right up with a little fresh gas in the carb.

I know its going to cost us dearly to fix this up compared to just renting one, but they traveled to 49 states in this particular RV, its very important to him.

He really wants our family to take it once he's gone (which will be in the next 4 - 6 months) and use it, and getting it fixed up is part of respecting those wishes.

Thanks for the ideas, I like the idea of pulling the fuel filter and finding a small electric filter or jumping the fuel pump relay. I'll work on those tomorrow.

I appreciate it all.

Climbon69 · 06-13-2015, 04:22 PM

My advice may be a bit late, but you say the engine runs and you just want to get it to a local RV shop. It might be easier to go get 5 gallons of high octane fuel to blend with the old stuff. If you know a station that sells the super high octane for boats, that would even be better. Even if the old gas is ten years old, it will probably still burn. It won't win any races, but it will get you to a shop a few miles away.

I have an old Porsche that has been in my garage for nearly fifteen years. We replaced the battery and fired it up last year to relocate it and it ran pretty good on that old gas.

BrianGlenn · 06-13-2015, 04:31 PM

In addition to the gas in the tank, I would wonder about the old gas in the carb, and the resultant varnish which will gum up the ports in the carb. I would also get the carb cleaned and a carb kit installed. Sometimes its cheaper to buy a rebuild carb off the shelf, and return the old one for a core exchange.

Hope this helps,
Brian

JacknKay · 06-13-2015, 06:05 PM

I heard a product named Seafoam that is supposed to help with old gas. Might be worth a try.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

Arch Hoagland · 06-13-2015, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Climbon69

My advice may be a bit late, but you say the engine runs and you just want to get it to a local RV shop. It might be easier to go get 5 gallons of high octane fuel to blend with the old stuff. If you know a station that sells the super high octane for boats, that would even be better. Even if the old gas is ten years old, it will probably still burn. It won't win any races, but it will get you to a shop a few miles away.

I have an old Porsche that has been in my garage for nearly fifteen years. We replaced the battery and fired it up last year to relocate it and it ran pretty good on that old gas.

I agree.