mickey5

Here I go again. I'm getting ready to store my '90 for 6 months with half a tank of year old 93 octane ethanol gas that had Stabil added last fall.

Should I siphon it out and leave it empty; top it up with 93 octane and add more Stabil; put it away as is or...??

Is it a closed system with the cap on so if I empty it moisture won't be a problem?

Your thoughts/experience appreciated as always.

billschroeder5842

Top it off. You will be good.

So, if I read right, you only used 1/2 a tank in a year? You need to drive more!

Patsgarage

Top it off, empty space in the tank leaves room for condensation, which leads to rust. If I knew you were only going to drive <200 miles this year I would have found your R12 myself.

mickey5

Thanks Pat. Maybe next spring I'll get around to finding that cylinder. Besides, who needs A/C in the winter.

hcbph

I you can get non-oxygenated (no alcohol) I'd use that in getting ready to store a vehicle as long as it's got the right octane rating, regardless of price. Alcohol screws too many things up over time IMO.

FASTAZU

I would think its time to remove it and use it in something else, and refill with fresh

bac22

I would think you're causing more harm then good by keep gas that old in a car for another 6 months. I think it'd be better to drain it and use it for your lawn mower then to keep it in the car for another 6 months, get fresh stuff in there.

SJW

Why not just take it for a ride to burn off most of that half-tank of old fuel? Then fill up with fresh fuel for the winter storage.

Live well,

SJW

pologreen1

/\ agree

My gas sat 9 years+ and was fine when restarting.

If you do research on the net you'll see real mechanics working on items and part of the issues they encounter is what the "stabilizers" cause.

aklim

Fill it to the rim with Brim. Seriously, fill it up and be done with it. Filling it cuts down on condensation.

aklim

If you are driving it in the winter, doesn't the defroster use the AC?

JrRifleCoach

If it were me I'd siphon that old fuel and load a fresh full tank with Stabil.
A full tank reduces the air space which reduces condensation and moisture.



Why 93 Octane? You running a modified high compression motor?

convas

Good to know, mine is approaching 9 years and was thinking what to do with it when I eventually get it on the road again.

QCVette

You only have half a tank, so that is only a couple hundred miles (maybe less in town or playing some).

You could easily do that in an afternoon and have an nice drive. Maybe plan a drive to go look at the fall colors, or a nice winding road, etc.

Driving it for 2 or 3 hours is sure a lot better than worrying about it, siphoning it off, or buying additives.

Then fill it up and you are done.

Paul Workman

I'd rather not use additives - preferring to keep the tank filled to prevent condensation.

My small engine mechanic says people have to wait in line come spring to get their carburetor (jets) cleaned, after gas with Stabil added has evaporated in them over the winter. He too recommends keeping the tank full and if I put an additive in it, use SEA FOAM instead.

I'm NOT a chemist. And, I couldn't say the crud I got out of the jets of some of my carbs was due to any particular fuel preservative (I've used Stabil too at times), but can definitely keep the tank full to prevent condensation. Water for sure will be an issue. I prefer SEA FOAM in my small engine tanks over winter, along with a full tank of fuel. The Vettes...too. I've never had any issues (yet) with SEA FOAM, but then I do start my motors up a few times during the winter.

pacoW

Use PRI-G, works better than sta-bil.

BBNJKen

If you plan to drive the car next spring, fill it up and use a fuel stabilizer, I always use Stabil 360 Marine ( Greenish Blue) in my 96 (3 winters) and 72 ( 31 winters), haven't had any fuel system issues.

scotth48

I use Stabil in my 93 and full tank here in Michigan in unheated garage. Try to let it run about 20 minutes several times in the winter. I need to try the Amsoil stabilizer. Not sure how much of a difference between the two.

hcbph

That's interesting as I've bought, rebuilt and sold a few dozen over the years, preferring to buy non-running units. Almost without fail, the carbs are gummed up with a crystalized material from evaporated fuel, requiring extensive disassembly and cleaning of the carbs. I previously used Stabil in my blower and mower fuel and it didn't always work. I'd read about the properties and effects of Seafoam and tried it in my small engine gas with good success.
I had very good luck and started using it in my T-Bird during winter storage and later on when I got my Vette. I've been using non-alcohol fuel treated with Seafoam when I put them into storage, particularly because there's no alcohol in that fuel. I do run the vehicles every month about 15-20 minutes even if they aren't moved. I have not had any issues since changing to this process with the fuel system getting gummed up.
These are the first two fuel injection vehicles I've stored, previously it was carbureted vehicles with Stabil, and a number of times I had to go through the carbs due to being gummed up bad when they came out of winter storage though in those days I didn't always run them every month. Since using Seafoam and regularly starting them I have not had those old issues reoccur.

That's my experience, it works for me. If you want to use a stabilizer or not is your decision. It's like battery tenders, some like them and some don't.

scotth48

When I bought both of my generators the instructions specifically said to use fuel stabilizer in the fuel. The small generator is 2 cycle. I usually get a little extra in the fuel can.