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10-14-2010, 02:57 PM | #1 |
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Storage and gasoline life
My car has pretty much become a garage queen since I purchased my "Shaggin Wagon" conversion van. I only drive it about once a week. I haven't been able to drive my car for a month now. They completely ripped up my street, installed new sewers, and are re-paving soon. The street has been ripped up for over a month, and I refuse to get rock chips all over the fenders and wheels.
Here's the point of this post. The gasoline, prolly 1/2 tank, has to be 2.5 months old. What is the shelf life on this stuff? should I burn it up? Top it off with fresh to blend it? Add stabilizer or injector cleaner? Or siphon it out? I'll start driving it next week, if they're finished with the street hopefully. I have a Hudson valley trip planned with the gf, so I can go through a couple of tanks of gas easily.
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10-14-2010, 03:12 PM | #2 |
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Do you start the car up once a week?
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10-14-2010, 03:15 PM | #3 |
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about once a week, just for 5 minutes while I'm pulling my motorcycle out of the garage.
its also on a battery tender, directly piggybacked to the battery.
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10-14-2010, 03:28 PM | #4 |
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Unless you ride all winter, you probably have some Stabil around for your bike. I'm finding that their recommended concentration works for at least a year, probably double that if you increase the ratio.
So, since I've read that gas can begin to deteriorate after 6 weeks, I'd add enough stabilizer to your tank to treat 7~8 gallons. Tom |
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10-14-2010, 03:32 PM | #5 |
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I ride all winter, lol. Heated hand-grips and clothing. Do they sell Stabil at the usual chain stores? Is there a better quaility "enthusiast" brand I should look for?
took this pic on Monday in Bucks County, PA
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10-14-2010, 03:42 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
Since the guy who keeps my snowblower & mower running recommends Stabil, I've been using it for about 10 years or so with good results. I usually find it to be available at most hardware stores. Tom |
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10-14-2010, 03:53 PM | #7 |
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thanks.
Are you on advrider.com? I waste even more time at work on that forum than I do on this one.
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10-15-2010, 06:32 AM | #8 |
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I've had it go bad in 3 months in my dirt bikes
I now add 2 stroke tcw3 oil to all my bikes, have not had any more problems
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10-15-2010, 08:58 AM | #9 |
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I don't know the life on gas but I would go with some fuel stabilizer. I was also told that a half tank of gas with stabilizer was the way to go. This way, when you start the car up after storing it you go right to the gas station and fill it up thus adding half a tank of fresh gas.
I was told that starting your car for 5 mintues does more harm than letting it sit. It just causes some water to form in the exhaust and doesn't get warm enough to burn it off. Better to give the battery a charge with you charger and if you are going to run the car...make it a good run! |
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10-15-2010, 01:26 PM | #10 |
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Just to give more responses, see here.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442212 |
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10-15-2010, 02:05 PM | #11 |
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sorry, getting a little confused..
i plan on driving the car next saturday. Should I add Stabil now? Should I just go and fill up the tank? Should I do both? I know for the future to add Stabil, but what about the current situation?
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10-15-2010, 03:37 PM | #12 |
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We've been storing corvettes and other classics for years without using fuel stabilizers and no problems. but even during the winter months they are started from time to time.
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10-15-2010, 03:46 PM | #13 |
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how long does your tank tend to last you?
if you never let it go below half, you shouldn't have too much trouble with condensation. also if you run higher octane, even if it starts to break down, it will still be above the recomended octane rating for the car. if your tank lasts you 3 months, i wouldn't worry about it. The main thing i'd be worried about is flat spots on the tires, so park on some floor mats or over fill the tires, then let the air out the next time you drive. but i would never let it go anywhere below half if it's being driven on such a rare occasion. when below half, is when the alcohol reaches it's limit of water absorbtion. and more space in the tank lets more air in, thus more condensation. |
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10-15-2010, 03:48 PM | #14 |
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and there's always 1 more option, it's cheaper then getting a bottle of fuel stabilizer, go to a marina and get some of their gas (as long as they have high octane) as it already has stabilizers in it, it will cost more then a regular tank of gas, but less then a bottle of the juice from a hardware store. and a quarter or half a tank of that will help.
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10-15-2010, 08:29 PM | #15 |
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The stabilizer is mainly to absorb moisture in alchohol. That occurs immediately so I would add it even though you will burn the gas soon.
It is not worth the risk but I have let gas go all winter in my boat tank with stabilizer and without. I prefer to use it but sometimes I forget or get lazy. I just use the pink stuff they sell at Walmart and auto parts stores. Either with or without I have not had problems. But 2 cycle boat motors are pretty simple burning oil in their gas so they may be less sensitve than modern car engines. I never put stabil in the lawn mower but it's motor is even simpler. Jim
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10-15-2010, 09:06 PM | #16 | |
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it's just down to how effectively the water gets absorbed, if the water doesn't get absorbed into the gasoline/alcohol mix, it separates and you get a layer of water at the bottom. This is where the problem starts. the fuel pump in your tank has a screen that helps to keep water and other debris from getting sucked up, however, if the water in the bottom of the tank becomes too much, then it will start to get sucked up, then that's when you run into problems with your car trying to inject water into the engine instead of gas. this is why you keep your tank full. Less room for air in the gas tank, means less condensation is able to form on the inside of the tank. Now octane deterioration is a whole other subject from condensation in a tank. Last edited by The1; 10-15-2010 at 11:22 PM.. |
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