Gas (unknown octane, plus STA-BIL) in tank of Lancer is almost a year old. Car's seen 100+ degree heat and 0 degree cold, and the '62 fuel system is not sealed. Tank was full, and doesn't smell varnishy.

Been *PING CITY* this past week driving the car around, under moderate loads and moderate throttle opening. I retarded the base timing from 10BTDC to 2.5 BTDC, still ping city. Added 2 gallons of 114 octane race
fuel to about a half tank of the old fuel...3/4 mile later, the pinging stopped. Think it's just octane loss in the old fuel, or an over-advance
situation? I do have the MP distributor, which comes with a long/fast advance curve I haven't changed, but I had this before, too, and I don't remember this pinging.

DS

redbear@vrx.net

Dan, I recently started my '73, 318 truck that hasn't been on the road for two years. It has also seen 100 plus heat and cold in the teens.

I added STA-Bil when I parked it so it started and ran just fine. I didn't take it on the road, so don't know if it pinged or if there was a power loss. At least it didn't stink as is usually the case with stale gas and throttle response was brisk.

One thought...if the fuel in the car was a winter gasahol mix, maybe the alcohol isn't protected by STA-BIL. That might explain the pinging since the alcohol acts as an octane booster.

lancer_41@excite.com