Hello everyone,
I just store my 2000 Corvette for winter (5 months) in a warehouse. Each year, during storage, I put a bottle of fuel stabilizer in my gas. Unfortunately this time I forget. I bought a bottle but I left it in my garage ... Do you think it could really cause me problems in the spring when I'll start my Corvette?
Thank you and have a nice "White" Christmas.

Mich
NB, Canada

 

I don't use stabilizer and haven't had any trouble with 3 different cars...

 

Thanks, it's good to know.

 

Put it in there and rock the car for a few minutes to mix it in the fuel tank. I did the same thing with my boat this year.

 

I used stabilizer the first year I winter stored my Vette, and never again. 6 years without, and no problems. I leave the tanks bone dry, though...

 

Stabilizer is cheap insurance against problems. I usually use it but on the times I forgot nothing happened.

For only 5 months you'll be fine, don't worry about it

 

The c5/c6 has two tanks, so trying to shake your car (what little is possible) has no effect on the other tank.

Plus, gum varnish is in the lines/injectors themselves. Jiggling a fuel tank does nothing to help.

Either you run a stabilizer with the engine running before the car is stored, or you take measures when taking out of hibernation.

 

I think you'll be alright!

 

I agree!


The weather is getting pretty cold where I am, the wind is picking up, and snow is in the forecast for later today. I put the stabilizer in my C-5 and Camaro late yesterday, and I think there's still time for one more quick ride for each, this morning. Got to go......

 

Look at it another way, there are a lot of new cars sitting in dealers lots, some for a very long time. I bet none of them have stabilizer in the tanks.

 

It will not be an issue.
Just make sure you put fresh gas in as soon as you can in the spring.

 

5 months is no issue, some cars sit on the lot longer.

 

We've seen it go both ways. Gas will breakdown eventually. How much trouble is it to ad it at this point is the question. Probably be ok but if its a few minutes to take care of it why no do it.

 

Wow, this is a timely topic for me! I have 6 personal vehicles. Other priorities took up the major part of my free time the last five years so as the batteries went flat I let 4 of them sit the whole time. As I've let cars sit unattended for up to 3 years with nothing more than a fresh battery dropped in I figured I was ok to let them go for 5.

WRONG! The first one I attempted to bring out of hibernation wouldn't start. Though I could hear the fuel pump relay click I couldn't hear the in-tank pump working. After confirming power to the harness I pulled the pump assembly and was shocked to find gooey, honey-like crud all over the thing. What was once gasoline was now orange-colored liquid with a weird sweet chemical smell. The pump, being sealed, was glued solid and unrepairable. Restoring fuel systems was the last thing I thought would be required. I've now replaced two pump/filters, drained gallons of bad gasoline, scrubbed out fuel tanks and am only half through. Everything is coated in brown chalky crud. Never again.

From my personal experience, up to 2 years is fine for unprotected fuel. Any more and I'd drain the tank and run the engines dry or at least use stabilizer and discard the gas when you bring 'em back to life.

Hope this helps someone....

 

I agree with the cheap insurance idea.

But if it's only sitting 5 months then you'll be okay.

Below is a bit about gas.
Dont hold what people write as God's words, just use common sense. Your car should be fine, but maybe pour in a bottle of RXP fuel cleaner (or other brand that you like) in the tank once you begin driving it again.
________________________________________ _____________
Unlike crude oil, gasoline is a highly refined product brewed to a certain chemical composition with very specific characteristics. One characteristic of gas is volatility, a term used to describe how easily and under what conditions the gas vaporizes so it can be efficiently burned in your car's engine.

The most highly volatile components in gasoline also tend to evaporate over time. As they do, the remaining fuel's volatility and ability to combust properly degrades. The less volatile the fuel, the less effectively it burns in your engine. The result is diminished engine performance. Your engine may still start and run, but it probably won't run as well.

The good news is, once the old gas has been consumed and the tank is topped off with fresh fuel, the problem should cure itself. Evaporation of volatile compounds can be limited by making sure the gas cap is secured tightly. For the same reason, be sure all portable gas containers are sealed tightly as well.

A more serious problem: Oxidation

Hydrocarbons in the gas react with oxygen to produce new compounds that eventually change the chemical composition of the fuel. This leads to gum and varnish deposits in the fuel system.

These deposits and impurities can clog up gas lines and filters, as well the small orifices in a carburetor and the even smaller orifices in a fuel injector. Removing these deposits can be expensive and your vehicle may not run at all or run very poorly until they are removed.

Water contamination

Condensation can form inside your gas tank and lines from heat cycling. Fuels such as E85, which have a high concentration of ethanol alcohol, may be even more susceptible to water contamination, as ethanol likes to draw moisture out of the surrounding air.

 

The stabilizer isn't for the gas in the tank but every where else where it gets into narrow tubes and passages and gum and varnish plays hell with blocking the passages. It is a major PIA when it happens and sometimes requires replacement of the parts if they can't be cleaned.

Bill

 

It was more of an issue with carbureted engines where fuel would sit for months in the carburetor bowl where it had contact with outside air. Gum and varnish wreaked havoc on them. Still true for small engines, such as lawn mowers and trimmers. To get protection, you have to add the stabilizer to the tank and run the engine until the stabilizer is pulled through all of the lines and into the carburetor. Just adding it to the tank does little to protect the parts that are sensitive to varnish buildup. You will be fine and you can run some Techron through it in the spring if you think it's needed.

 

Hi,
I always put Sta Bil in my Harley and now my C 5. My FIL passed away a few years ago and he owns a 64. It sat for almost a year and the carb was gummed up. My family had to get it drained and put fresh fuel in it. Same thing happened again my family did not put stabil in and once again its gummed up. Carb pulled for rebuild and gas needs to be drained. Its CHEAP insurance.
Lee

 

9 year old thread

 

How do people find these ancient threads to revive them in the first place?