What Oil for Storage
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Don't worry about the oil....but remove the spark plugs and spray some fogger in there if you are worried....screw the plugs back in and good to go (sit?).
But I DO recommend that you drain the carb and have as little fuel in the tank as possible. Pump gas doesn't keep for even 6 weeks these days it seems....
Jebby
But I DO recommend that you drain the carb and have as little fuel in the tank as possible. Pump gas doesn't keep for even 6 weeks these days it seems....
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I would not drain the tank or the carb as long as you have non-ethanol fuel. Doing so allows all rubber components to dry out.
Been storing mine for over 10 years each winter, never drained anything. In fact I top off the tank so that it does not "breathe" in water vapor.
You can buy a can of engine fog and spray it down the carb while it's idling then shut it off, much easier than removing all the plugs. I don't do this however and haven't had any issues with rust. But it can't hurt.
Type of oil in the crankcase makes no difference as far as I know. Freshly changed is better for less acids in the oil.
Been storing mine for over 10 years each winter, never drained anything. In fact I top off the tank so that it does not "breathe" in water vapor.
You can buy a can of engine fog and spray it down the carb while it's idling then shut it off, much easier than removing all the plugs. I don't do this however and haven't had any issues with rust. But it can't hurt.
Type of oil in the crankcase makes no difference as far as I know. Freshly changed is better for less acids in the oil.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,740
Likes: 2,583
Not trying to start a dispute but I store my cars from about the middle of December till beginning of April. I put some gas stabilizer in the completely full tank and let it run through the system for a few minutes. in the spring after some cranking and then some gas peddle pressing the cars always start up. Have been doing this since 1992.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you are storing for a few MONTHS, just fill the tank with ethanol-FREE fuel and put fresh oil in it...whatever you normally use in the car. Disconnect the positive terminal on the battery so it doesn't lose charge (keep a 'smart' trickle charger on the battery, if you want). The car will be ready to fire up once you re-connect the battery.
I have rebuilt carbs for folks who put gas "stabilizer" in their fuel every year. There is usually lots of RED SLUDGE in the carb bowl[s]. If you are storing the car for over a year, maybe that would be necessary. For a few months?? Not needed...
I have rebuilt carbs for folks who put gas "stabilizer" in their fuel every year. There is usually lots of RED SLUDGE in the carb bowl[s]. If you are storing the car for over a year, maybe that would be necessary. For a few months?? Not needed...
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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If yo are in a high humidity area, you wan tthe tank full so it doesnt "sweat on the inside an d introduce water into your system. Stabil will keep the gas fresh for the short time you are storing it. That stuff can keep gas good for over a year. As for the oil, same thing. leave what ever is in there alone. then in the spring change the oil to remove and water contamination that may have happened. I start my car every week or so to keep everything coated in oil but if you dont want to do that then fog it llike the boat guys all do to keep the cylinders from rusting.
If you just left it and did nothing theres a 99.5% chance it would start right up and be fine anyway, but that .5% chance will be a pain in the butt to correct.
Just put a trickle charger on the battery a couple of days before you want to start it. The only vehicle I ever had problems with after letting it sit for the winter was an 01 ford F250. Various sensors stopped working or stuck. These old monsters have the benefit of not having all that computer crap
If you just left it and did nothing theres a 99.5% chance it would start right up and be fine anyway, but that .5% chance will be a pain in the butt to correct.
Just put a trickle charger on the battery a couple of days before you want to start it. The only vehicle I ever had problems with after letting it sit for the winter was an 01 ford F250. Various sensors stopped working or stuck. These old monsters have the benefit of not having all that computer crap
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Not trying to start a dispute but I store my cars from about the middle of December till beginning of April. I put some gas stabilizer in the completely full tank and let it run through the system for a few minutes. in the spring after some cranking and then some gas peddle pressing the cars always start up. Have been doing this since 1992.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Not trying to start a dispute but I store my cars from about the middle of December till beginning of April. I put some gas stabilizer in the completely full tank and let it run through the system for a few minutes. in the spring after some cranking and then some gas peddle pressing the cars always start up. Have been doing this since 1992.
Correct^^^^^^^^^^
I have never done anything special to my 78 L-82 since I began storing it for about 4 months every year since 1983. Fill the tank up with fuel, add Stabil additive to the tank, good to go....Oh I live near the ocean as well. Never have had an issue.................
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
Not trying to start a dispute but I store my cars from about the middle of December till beginning of April. I put some gas stabilizer in the completely full tank and let it run through the system for a few minutes. in the spring after some cranking and then some gas peddle pressing the cars always start up. Have been doing this since 1992.
Duane
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Okay great. I've actually never owned an old car with a carb before so this info is very helpful. So far what I have gathered is to add stabilizer to a fresh tank of good quality fuel and then use the fogging oil spray in the carb? I will also disconnect the yellow top.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Just disonnect the battery pour your stuff in the tank if you want and throw a cover on it.
Gas is going to be stale anyways, takes a minute to pump it out and start over unless you dont mind driving old stale gas.
Gas is going to be stale anyways, takes a minute to pump it out and start over unless you dont mind driving old stale gas.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Fill up with E0 at the correct octane, put in Stabil and run it a few minutes so its all through the system, and put her up. Change the oil as soon as you pull it out in spring and run that tank empty quickly.