# 2012 Hyundai Sonata - Sluggish after sitting **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai\ **Created:** [November 12, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635 "2019-11-12T05:03:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tonya55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@Tonya55](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tonya55)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/1 "2019-11-12T05:03:58Z")
My 2012 Hyundai sonata has been sitting outside for 2yrs. The take off is very poor. What can I do? Should I add Techron fuel cleaner? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/2 "2019-11-12T12:36:10Z")
Sure, couldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/3 "2019-11-12T12:59:27Z")
Do you mean it sat for two years without being driven? ---
**Author:** ![Tonya55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@Tonya55](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tonya55)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/4 "2019-11-12T18:15:40Z")
Yes, I would start it sometimes but it was not driven for as t least 2yrs. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/5 "2019-11-12T18:21:01Z")
Are you sure that’s not just normal? Sonatas aren’t exactly drag strip champions. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/6 "2019-11-12T18:29:04Z")
The gas is probably old to where it’s lost some its BTU content. Or in other words, the old gas has less energy to provide. When gas gets this stale, Techron nor Seafoam can do nothing to freshen the gas. The tank needs to be drained to remove the old stale gas and fresh gas added. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/7 "2019-11-12T18:37:35Z")
Yes that is why I asked—stale gas. ---
**Author:** ![Tonya55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@Tonya55](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tonya55)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/8 "2019-11-12T19:48:43Z")
There was a very small amount of gas kept in the vehicle, probably less than 3 gallons. Does not matter? ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/9 "2019-11-12T21:01:31Z")
I would fill it up with fresh gas and drive it as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/10 "2019-11-12T21:05:23Z")
With the fresh gas then you can add a system cleaner such as Techron or SeaFoam and take is out for a long drive. ---
**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/11 "2019-11-13T01:58:05Z")
Fill it and put in some Startron in the gas , can be bought at most parts stores . ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-hyundai-sonata-sluggish-after-sitting/152635/12 "2019-11-13T03:04:04Z")
Is the check engine light on? Any stored diagnostic codes? Besides bad gasoline, sluggishness is often caused by not getting full flow due to a restriction in one or more of the systems, fuel, air, or exhaust. Checking the engine air filter and fuel filter is a place to start.