It's is sad, but the XF was sitting for over 3 years. I replaced the battery and it cranks but does not start. I did not hear the fuel pump at key on, any ideas?

 

You may have to drain the old fuel and fill it with new gas. Gas have been known to go bad (turns to varnish) in a year or so. You didn't mention if you added fuel stabilizer at the time you stored it.

 

Have you checked the RCM, or has it been repaired already?

 

I just got mone running after the same amount of time. I had the same issue the fuel pump was shot. I ordered a new one off of rock auto for about $60 and a new fuel filter for $40. I jacked up the car removed the fuel pump bench tested it with a drill battery to be sure. Ince I confirmeed it was the pump I put the new one in and after about 30 sec of cranking it started right up. $100 and an hour worth of work not too bad

 

Thanks for the tips, I'm not sure what the RCM is, and it has not been repaired. A mechanic thought the dead battery for so long might have erased the computer, is this a possibility?

 

No.
In fact, HELL no.

There is no way three year old gas did NOT turn to something other than gas - I"m unsure of what people do to a fuel injected car to store it for so long - but I would think that adding stabilizer to the fuel and then running as much of hte fuel out before storage would be a good idea.

 

Fuel stabilizer is only effective for up to one year

 

Ethanol in today's fuels make this problem even worse. Ethanol is the devil. Nothing good about it.

 

Isn't fuel stabilizer basically ethanol?

 

No, it is not ethanol. If that were the case, you wouldn't need to add any. Almost all gasoline in the US has 10 percent ethanol. You have to search hard to find ethanol free gasoline. Additives such as fuel stabilizer basically act to try to keep the gasoline stabile so the molecules doen't break down into other forms which become problematic for starting, operation and storage --- corrosion, etc.

3 months storage can even be a problem. Winter versus summer gasoline (volatility) can also be a problem for startability and performance.

Even if you do drain it it's best to put in a stabilizer and run it through your system. It can help prevent the break down and the potential operational issues from having it in the system for such long periods.

 

I did a quick search, looks like Isopropyl is in a lot of them. (tolulene is another)

 

Quote:

Almost all gasoline in the US has 10 percent ethanol. You have to search hard to find ethanol free gasoline.

Here in Ontario (Canada), Shell 91 is ethanol free and the only brand that is available without Ethanol. It's the only gas that goes in my Crossfire and small engine manufacturers (lawn mowers etc.) are recommending ethanol free gas as well. As previously mentioned, Ethanol is not good.

 

FUNFIRE is back on the road. Fuel Pump, Filter, Oil and filter change, and a thorough check out by the dealer (Fremont Chrysler), passed SMOG, Tags and new tires and it;s as awaome as ever. The car just went over 8K miles, but the tires were over 12 years old (sorry) and it had a small shimmy at 65 - 75 MPH. Also, one of the rear tires tore (sidewall) during dismounting. Yes, I did spend over $100, but all issues are fixed, :-)

 

That's GREAT!, but tires that were bought in 1793 ? Ben Franklin must have been involved

 

I guess I'm pretty lucky in that a gas station near my home had ethanol free 93 octane gas.
I've a habit of adding Lucas fuel system cleaner to our cars every 5000 miles. The cleaners usually are toluene, xylene (over 200 different hydrocarbons)and some have a little alcohol of some variety. Monomers are made by mixing an acid and a alcohol and are the basis of making plastics thus plugged fuel lines. My old rider mower sat for two years and the carb was plugged with a sticky glue like "stuff".

 

Doesn't hurt to put a pint of kerosene in the gas tank on a fillup occasionally. Believe it or not most of those fuel moisture absorbers/fuel system cleaners/injector cleaners are based on kerosene (but they leave that out of the descriptions of contents B-cause kerosene is much cheaper.


Kerosene is 100% safe for all parts of the fuel system in 16oz (per @ 21 gallon tank capacities, +/-), so kero away! I know there are haters out there, and brand specific contents gobblygook fact checkers as well, just don't hate those who know what works (without) all those added molecules of scientific hype. Peace out!