Starting the prius after a year

In this scenario petrol in liquid form does not compress either. hydraulics use oil. Diesels use oil. The amount of liquid injected into the combustion chamber in the Prius is very small and even if it were water it would be injected in as a very fine mist that would be compressible, and this will be pushed out on the exhaust stroke.

I have a petrol lawn mower that I have not used for three years stored outside under a car port. A friend asked if I wanted to sell it and I said he could have it. Took it out onto the lawn checked to see if there was any petrol in it and there was possibly a cup full left in it. Pulled the starting cord three times and away it went. Three years outside and a vented cap.

 

Awesome testimony Brit. Of course there will be the question as to whether it was mixed with ethanol or pure petrol. I have had similiar experiences as well (mostly with cars though).

I once started a 61 Ford pickup that sat for 5 years (according to the owner). All I did was replace the battery and prime the carb. I ran the old gas until the tank was nearly dry, replaced the fuel filter and drove it for 2 years after that. No flush of the fuel system, no additives, nothing. Now, this would not be my advice to anyone but, I only paid $150 USD for the vehicle and didn't expect it to run at all. Also, there was surely no ethanol in that fuel (this was in 1983).

 

You just jogged my memory (needs a lot of jogging these days) about ten years ago I bought an MGC basicaly an MGB with a 3ltr strait six engine from the Austin Healey 3000 that had been rolled and stored in a barn for 12 years. After cleaning of the hay and chicken sh-- fitting two new batteries (6volt) and a new diaphram in the fuel pump turned it over a couple of times and away it went on the fuel in the tank.

 

That's awesome Brit.

Me being a thinking man, here's what can be done to put all of this to rest.

What if we put a siphon hose in the tank (all the way to the bottom) and siphon some of the gas out. If there is water in the tank, it will be at the bottom (since water is heavier than gas). Then report what comes out. If its water, drain it until only fuel comes out. My money is betting that only gas will come out.

 

I'm with you, what ever happened to drain plugs to expensive I suppose.

 

All these barn find stories you're telling are cute, but apples and oranges, fellas...

The siphon hose is a good idea, but you'd need to send the gas to a lab for testing. How else are you going to test for water content... by taste?

...except that the water may be in solution. Especially if you're stirring it up with a hose.

If you're going through the trouble of siphoning, why not... empty the tank altogether?