gas stabilizer & tank full/empty for Garage queen/light usage? | FerrariChat

gas stabilizer & tank full/empty for Garage queen/light usage?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by James in Denver, Sep 23, 2006.

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  1. James in Denver

    James in Denver Formula 3

    May 23, 2006
    2,136
    Centennial Colorado
    Full Name:
    James in Denver
    I was just wondering about the recommendations other FChatters would have for an FCar that would be getting light usage?

    As I get closer to actually getting my first FCar, I know I'll drive it, but it wont be a daily driver and I've seen TV auto shows that talk about how gasoline "destabilizes" (so to speak, I don't know the technical terms behind this). Anyway, 2 questions:

    1) If I drive the car infrequently, should I always leave the tank full after a drive and before being dormant? always drive out the gas to leave it empty or not worry/bother? I've always heard that you should leave the tank full if the car is going to be dormant for a while to eliminate rusting problems, that true?

    2) How do I minimize fuel destabilization over longer term dormant periods? Lets say the car has a 25 Gal tank, and I take the car out for 15 min drives during the winter, maybe using 1 Gal per drive. Thats only maybe 5 gal in 5 months (remember, I'm in Denver). Should I worry about the other 20 gallons going bad? Should I use some sort of "gas stabilizer" or would that be needed if I knew that at the end of winter, I'll drive enough to get the old gas out?

    I'd like to point out that my title is a bit mis-representative. My car will not be in a museum, it would get regular usage (guessing maybe 2-3K per year minimum and maybe upto 7.5K per year depending on summers). So this is more targetted towards "light usage" versus "lets start a museum at let the car sit around forever".

    Thanks for any advice,
    James in Denver
     
  2. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

    Sep 15, 2004
    7,645
    Northern California
    Full Name:
    Greg Calo
    Emergency Service Providers in this area change fuel in static equipment every 30 days to prevent the fuel degradation and gumming!

    Your climate has more dramatic temperature swings than we have.

    So, leaving gas in a vehicle that's unattended is generally not a good thing.

    I have read that a fuel tank should be full during some storage to prevent condensation.

    So where does this leave you?

    Deal with the issue when you actually purchase the car and get advice from others about this matter, but it's probably not a good idea to store the fuel for long periods.
     
  3. Dodici Cilindri

    Dodici Cilindri Formula Junior

    Feb 21, 2006
    548
    Great Plains
    Definitely store with the tank full. Excellent information on long term storage is available from Mercedes Benz and the Mercedes Benz Club of America. All vehicles face the same problems irrespective of manufacturer.
     
  4. samtheclip

    samtheclip Karting

    May 30, 2004
    176
    Buffalo, NY
    Full Name:
    Sam Pasceri
    Use aviation fuel. Its 100 octane but, doesn't break down like regular gas. I put it in my 308, worked on it for 2 years and whammmo she started up after a minute of priming the lines up. I use av gas every now and then but, during the driving season I mix it 50% av fuel and 50% Sunoco 93. I have a small airport near here that helps me out.

    Hope this helps.
     
  5. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 27, 2001
    5,516
    Duluth, MN
    Full Name:
    The Meister
    Full tank and fuel stabilizer.... battery disconected while away.

    I use this method on both FI & carbs cars and have never had a prolem.

    Northern WI
     
  6. BoulderFCar

    BoulderFCar F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 16, 2004
    13,142
    Asheville, NC/Ft Lauderdale
    Full Name:
    Tom
    As long as you drive it some every month I think you're fine without StaBil. That much activity should keep the fuel from settling over a long period and it will move gas through all of the small passages in your fuel system. I use stabilizer every year in boats and so on and I've never had a problem but I wouldn't add it if I didn't need to in an FCar fuel system.

    I hate the oxy fuel we have here in Denver from October to April and worry about that in the fuel system of older cars. There's not much you can do about that short of unleaded AV gas.

    The one thing I would strongly recommend is a battery tender. they work and it keeps some load off of the alternator.
     
  7. ROLOcr

    ROLOcr Formula Junior

    Oct 25, 2005
    619
    Costa Rica
    Full Name:
    ROLO
    we buy VP racing gas for storing cars, it doesn't breakdown and smells like heaven when using it, a little more expensive but it's amazing
     
  8. DougS026

    DougS026 Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2005
    325
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Doug S
    Why would you use av gas at 100 octane? Using octane above what a FI car is mapped for does nothing for power and clogs injectors.
     
  9. ROLOcr

    ROLOcr Formula Junior

    Oct 25, 2005
    619
    Costa Rica
    Full Name:
    ROLO
    i tought AV gas destroyed the cats and O2 sensors
     
  10. DougS026

    DougS026 Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2005
    325
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Doug S
    Could be, not sure about that.
     
  11. prototypefan

    prototypefan Formula Junior

    Dec 23, 2005
    396
    ab, canada
    100 Octane Av gas is a low lead and will indeed cause a car with cats problems. I mix it for my older cars.
     
  12. ROLOcr

    ROLOcr Formula Junior

    Oct 25, 2005
    619
    Costa Rica
    Full Name:
    ROLO
    i don't recommend using it, but i tell people that uses it to mix it.
     
  13. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    I saw the answer above and would like to point out that the best solution depends on how infrequent you will be using the car.
    If infrequent is once a week - once every two weeks then I suggest doing nothing speacial. Furthermore, i suggest you actually run less fuel in the car so everytime you use it you fresh most of it.
    If infrequent means hibernation: ie not using the car for months during winter period, then full tank and stabilisant is a good idea. The positive of a full tank is to avoid condensation in tank which leads to rust, nothing else.
    Also worry about electrics: battery cutoff switch is a must if you leave you car sitting.

    PS. I've been keeping a 911 in another country for a few years now and usually just switch off the car and keep it with low-ish fuel. when restarted, the first thing I do is re-fuel and chekc tire pressure. still servicing every year by the book.
     

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