Full tank of gas or Empty when Storing?

Full, the cost of fuel is only going up

 

Full tank of gas with Stabil in it

 

When storing you should always fill the tank to the brim.....this prevents condensation in the fuel tank.
As for stabyl......for 2 months it is not necessary. This is for storage of 6 months or more. Having said that, for the cost of $5.00 you could add it just in case your storage goes on longer than you anticipate.

 

2 months only, I would fill it right up as mentioned.

 

Full tank with stabilizer is the way i was doing it but now with the ethahol (did i spell it right) i was told to drain it cause it breaks down (water). The stabililzer wont help either.



Besides Mike, your in sunny Ca. there's no storing for you my friend.

 

I break all the rules and only put about five gallons in the car. I want to be able to drain it without much hassel if I have too. Anything more than five gallons is very dangerous to handle in my opinion. I also believe that the filter will collect any rust if it happens. Isn't that kinda what its there for?

 

how long for

 

The fuel filter will not collect liquified rust. It only collects particles and debris. By leaving the fuel tank with only 5 gallons you are encouraging condensation & rust on an excessive scale. You also might foul the fuel injectors as well. Why do this? You would be better draining all the fuel but this can't be fun to do.

 

ehthanol does not break down into water but it sure absorbs it. a lot of the fuel problems are because it's also a really good solvent and loosens old crud in tanks and fuel lines. ask any guy who owns an old power boat how much fun they had changing fuel filters last summer. jon s.

 

Really a bad idea.

All that exposed surface on the inside of the tank is where the condensation (read that water and rust) will occur. This can contaminate the fuel.

I have removed fuel tanks, when you look in you can see where the fuel level was because the metal is bright below the predominant fuel level and rusty above. Because water is heavier than gas it is not unusual to find rusty areas also at the lowest point.

Typically aircraft are stored with full tanks, both because of moisture and a reduced danger of explosion.

 

When we bought the Boano and got it to run, we discovered the fuel filters were clogged with rust. So, I cleaned them and reinstalled. Same thing happened in a few minutes. So, removed the fuel, then the tank. That was about the worst mechanical job I have ever experienced. Took the tank out to the back yard and hosed it out. I could not believe the amount rust and crud that washed out. There was no way it was going to run like that. It had been stored partially full. Washed it out with alcohol, then let it sit in the sun and then treated it with a 3M sealer of some kind. Never had another problem. Store the cars with the tanks full!!! Sheesh!

 

Good info, thanks. Of course always heard of storing them full but was starting to wonder if rust in the tank is more an urban legend than reality. My only counterpoint was that gas loses octane rating over time (again not proven, but read this somewhere) so thought of storing with less fuel, then filling up with 93 so the first running tank is only slightly lower than 93. Regardless I've been pulled back into the 'full tank' theory...

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176756

Some info and links in the above thread.

Here's what I know.

I store my cars w/ nearly full tanks (allowing for expansion) and stabil.

Personal example.....

I've got 2 1966 corvettes, (1) not on the road since 02', the other not on the road since 94'. Both were stored with near full tanks and the right amount of stabil. I've moved 6 times since 94'. The cars get started and run just enough to get on the trailer, find their new home in the newest garage and then wait until the next move. This year we've found a place we'll stay for the next 3-5 years, and both the cars will be used and enjoyed this comming summer.

Overall point is that I used stabil 6 and 14 years ago respectively, each car that it's in starts in timley fashion and runs fine...end of story.

IMO, for the $10 and 15 minutes it takes to add/distribute the fuel stabilzer, it's cheap insurance...why tempt fate or be lazy?

On the other side, I had a 1990 Kawasaki ZX-7, which I simply put away with who knows how much fuel in the tank and no stabil.... 3 years later, tank was fully rusted, carbs clogged..etc...etc... By the time I paid the guy to get it running in order to sell the bike, I barley broke even on the deal.

2 months is not long term storage....6 months is not overly long. Yet life gets in the way and who knows when the car/bike/toy will come out next?

Why take the risk or be lazy by not adding stabil just in case? I fully intented to use both my corvettes the followiing summer and that was 6 and 14 years ago....

IMO, I was smart for once, used the fuel stabilizer, and god willing this comming summer I can burn up those old tanks of fuel and get some fresh gas in there.

Best of luck...always plan long term.

 

Agree with above...

IMO 2 months requires nothing. Park it and come back to it in 2 months.

6+ months is "storage". My procedure is fill up tank to brim, add sta-bil. Pull spark plugs, put a teaspoon of marvel mystery oil in cylinder, remove fuel (either disconnect fuel pump fuse, unplug injectors - whatever) then turn engine over briefly to distribute oil.

If storing long term (6+ months to years or more), do a coolant and oil change before (to remove contaminants and be sure corrision inhibiters at full strength). Dont forget to change gear oil and tranny fluid too! Do aforementioned oil-in-cylinder and fuel prep, and either jack up car (not on tires but use suspension to keep springs compressed - just take weight off tires), or periodically move the car a few feet fore and aft to prevent flat-spotting).

On startup don't bother changing oil or fuel, but do change when storing again.

 

full to leave as little room for condensation as possible...

 

Is the OP asking about storing his 308? I'm asking because my GT4 has aluminum fuel tanks, and are not going to get very rusty. Did the GTB/S models switch to steel fuel tanks?

 

My 83 also has aluminum tanks. Maybe thats what has saved me from rust problems.

 

The more fuel that is in the tank, the less fumes that are in the tank.

 

Since when has 2 months become known as "storage"???

If you're not going to drive the car for only 2 months, you really don't need to do anything as long as you have a good battery.

But yes, a full tank of petrol is advisable.

 

OK WHAT'S THE BEST ADVISE FOR TANKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY EMPTY, GAS WAS OLD, TANKS ARE EMPTY BECAUSE CROSS PIPE DRAIN BROKE AND I HAVEN'T REPLACED IT YET. CAR CURRENTLY SETTING IN COLD MICHIGAN GARAGE NO GAS SINCE OCT.07.

 

Good question.

If it's empty now I see no reason to change.

 

Check/search for thread about starting/not starting during storage....sorry cant' recall the thread title.

Overall. IMO & several others opinion, irregular staring does more damage than good.

Vehicles need to get up to operating temp (oil, trans, exhaust,,,etc) to burn off/boil out moisture from fluids and other parts of the car. 5 minutes in the garage only builds up moisture in your exhaust sytem that will eventually lead to rust.

If the car is going to sit for 6+ months.. just let it sit.


As for the other poster about alloy fuel tanks...rust is not a problem w/ alloy tanks, but the available volume of "air" is a potental moisture condensing area. The reason people fill tanks nearly full is to reduce the amount of potential "air" volume where water vapor can condesne and lead to problems other than rust.