I believe L18_B110 got it in one. Different fuels go off differently. I know of a mini that is parked in a workshop and only gets moved at christmas time when the floors get re-painted. Its been running on a tank of fuel from 1999 and will still drive up the street happily.The mini is the one thing that brings fun to the job of cleaning the workshop out for painting. Everybody there has to have a go at taking it for a thrash up the street. The thought of years old fuel running a motor brings smiles to everyones faces.
I think the point is, fuel goes off but it will still run a car, just not at its best performance.
If MacDonalds made fuel, it would be a different story, all the preservatives would make it last.

A friend of mine (who drives a mini btw) buys his fuel from a very busy servo on the grounds that they sell a lot, so it must be fresher.

I've been told you can throw a litre bottle of metholated spirits in your tank and it will absorb up to one litre of water that may be in there.

For what it's worth old fuel was not the issue. I have an electronic gremlin that is causing some serious timing issues.
Thankyou for all the responses.
Matty

Quote:
I Have just got in from the garage and after 6 weeks of trying to track my electrical problem I found out that My computer was loose at the loom
simple but its the best place to start.

Thanks for the suggestion Homer but I've tried that already. Next on the list is trying a spare knock sensor. I have tried 2 different computers and 3 different cas over the weekend.
Matty

crank angle sensor?

As I said mate I tried three different ones last weekend.