If your carb looked bad, I can only guess what your gas tank might be looking like. You can't leave ethanol gas in your car for 6 months and expect it to be good. It deteriorates - turns yellow and smells bad, let alone won't fire your engine too well. It will absorb moisture from the air just sitting and it is this moisture that does most of the damage. It is recommended that you use up the tank of ethanol blended gas within 2-3 weeks to minimize any problems. Ethanol gas is hygroscopic (will absorb water) and can absorb 50 more times water than non-ethanol gas. " E10 Gas has a shelf life of only 3 months. Ethanol alcohol fuel blends have a shelf life of only 90-100 days, under ideal environmental conditions. When exposed to water, E10 gas will contaminate and should be discarded.
It will also deteriorate the older rubber hose used in your fuel line, the rubber diaphragm in your fuel pump, and the needle in the needle/seat assembly in your carb. These can and should all be replaced with ethanol friendly parts so as not to break down, or worse, experience a leak or flooding carb and your car catches fire.
I like to add Stabil360 to the ethanol gas I use in my older car IF I don't use the ethanol free stuff. It does work and does make a difference - in my opinion. Never had any problems, but I don't let ethanol gas sit in my carb/tank for 6 months either.
