I had a half a tank of gas and I then put the stabilizer in and filled it up. I then drove about a mile and let it idle for 5 minutes or so. Is that enough to get things mixed up?

Thanks,
Joe

 

I guess it depends on how the fuel system works, and I don't really know. Since you have two fuel tanks with approx. 4.5 gal. in each one, how do you get the stablizer into the passenger side tank? When you fill the tanks, it would seem logical that the driver side tank would fill first and then run across the fill tube to the passanger side tank to fill it second. The fill tube for the passanger tank is inside that high ridge just behind the seats. If the engine is supplied with fuel from the driver side tank where the fuel pump is located, and the unused fuel is cycled back to that same tank, it never actually mixes with the passanger side tank. The passanger side tank just pumps to the driver side tank as the level of fuel lowers from use, to keep the two tanks even.
So it would seem to me that the passanger side tank isn't going to get any stablizer from pouring stablizer in the filler cap located above the driver side tank.

Any one else have any ideas? :confused:

 

I was about to ask the same question


ttt

:cheers:

 

Oue two-tank system makes it harder. It sounds like you would have to put half a can of stabilizer in when you are near empty, fill the tank, and add the other half to get a good distribution....? Good luck. :)

 

Here's my $0.02 worth... If the left tank supplies the engine, and the fuel filler fills the left side first, you'll be putting the stabilizer in the left side, but also drawing from there first, and sending conditioned fuel through the system.
I realize that 100% of the fuel in the car won't be treated with the stabilizer, however the important things, the pump, the supply line, and the injectors will have been "treated". The "stale" gas in the right tank isn't a great situation, but it should be pretty well dilluted when you do a complete fill up in the spring.
This might not be a scientific outlook, but it's my best guess opinion. In other words, this is what I did last winter, and the car ran well the summer after.

 

I plan to start (and maybe run a mile or two) each week throughout the winter. Should I put stabilizer in?

 

Gentlemen,

I believe that the above post about the left tank supplying the fuel and being the one that gets filled is correct, but how does the fuel cross to the other tank during the fillup? I believe if you go to the station with an empty tank and add the stabilizer first, then fill up, it will be distributed evenly within both tanks. Also, I believe the fuel pump is in the left tank and over supplies the engine. The excess fuel is pumped back to the right tank which also will help distribute the fuel stabilizer. Does this make any sense? I am not that familiar with the fuel system, but it stands to reason with me.

 

Starting and running your car for short distances is worse than just leaving it parked and not touching it. First, every time you start your car cold it moves the internals before being oiled. That is not the worst part though. Your oil will have many contaminants in it from not being run for a long while. It will have unburned fuel and water from condensation in it. These contaminates hinder the oils ability to do it's job. When you only run your car on short trips and don't allow the oil temperature to get up to normal operating temperatures these contaminants don't get burned off and remain in the oil. If you are going to start your car, make sure you take it out at least long enough for the oil to stabilize at a normal operating temp of 190 to 200 degrees. You have the right idea, as far as running the car to keep everything internally from drying out and corroding/rusting. Just make sure you get it up to temp for a half hour or so before putting her away again. This all being said, I don't think it is a bad idea to change the oil after an extended storage period either.

I don't think that 3 months storage is that big of a deal. Maybe if it were going to be put away for a year or more it would be good to run the car once in the fall and once in the spring to keep everything oiled up.

My dad has a truck that he only drives about a hundred miles a year. He changes the oil and gets an inspection sticker once a year and it sits for months on end. He never does anything too it. He doesn't even unhook the battery or put a trickle charger on it. He has never had any problems with this vehicle, including the battery. It has had one replacement battery since it was new in '89 and that was replaced as a preventative measure. Of course now that I have said this, his battery will explode next time he starts the truck! :eek: :lol:

 

Joe, here's what I do. I run until almost empty. I add the proper amount of Stabilizer for our size fuel tank (8.5oz ?)and then fill with fuel. This ensures that :
- Stabilizer is properly mixed with the fuel
- both tanks have Stabilizer in them
- condensation will not build up in the fuel tanks.

I then take my last ride of the season (about 20 miles) to ensure that all fuel sytems are fully purged and then put it the garage. :cry

 

If I had to do it, I follow this procedure. But I'm lucky, we get to drive our cars all year long (except hurricanes!)

 

This maybe a dumb question but why do you need stabilizer? I put 50 k miles a year on and when I lived in Wisconsin I drove mine all year roung and had no problems at all. I've had Corvettes since 76 that makes it 26 years at 50K that's a lot of miles without it.

 

If I remember correctly from talk in BG, the gas in the driver side tank when full overflows into the passanger side tank. the fuel pump discharge going to the engine has an excess flow bypass back to the line at the bottom from the pass to driver tank. there is a siphon style jet pump that uses the bypass flow to suck gas from the passenger tank into the driver tank. This keeps the driver side tank full at all times when there is fuel in the pass tank. The excess just then overflows at the driver tank top back into the pass tanks. When the pass tank runs "dry" the siphon jet pump just doesn't suck any gas from the pass tank. so you do have gas circulating most of the time when you are driving. When you are below 1/2 full on gas gauge you have all the fuel in the driver side tank. sort of a longwinded explaination.