Winter prep

[smann]

I have a quick question.. I forgot to fill my car tank with some gas.
I have about a 1/4 tank left in the car... Can i just put fuel stabilizer in and call it a day? I don't want to take it out because its snowing here in Toronto and my car is spotless and ready for storing.

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[sw686blue]

Where will you store your car? Indoor or outdoor? Heated or not? I think that the idea of filling the tank completely is to avoid the possibility of humidity inside the fuel tank.

 

[smann]

Storing it inside my garage which is attached to my home. It is not heated but it is insulated and does not get below freezing temp.
Don't think its humid in there either tbh but I am not sure

 

[Silver Bullitt]

A full tank would be best to help limit any condensation, but you can still add stabilizer based on the gallons in the tank and be better off than just leaving it.

 

[RickBetterley]

We used to fill the tank in the Porsche’s (and the boat) but with crappy gas the shop and yard are not as eager.
So I think you are ok with adding stabilizer but make sure you run the motor long enough to circulate it throughout the fuel system (10 minutes?).

 

[Tbird232ci]

You would be surprised as to how much moisture you garage will develop. My Trans Ams leather interior decided to grow mold and the car hasn't left the garage in a few years. Might be wise to grab a dehumidifier is possible.

 

[NoVaGT]

How about you just get it out whenever the roads are clean and dry?

 

[Roger Blose]

The gas tanks in our cars are plastic but a full tank is better for storage. I store a 1988 GT in an unheated garage where I start the car once a month, run it for 15 minutes up on blocks, wheels spinning, and then put the cover back on it until April. I ran 11 miles in the garage last year. No stabilizer just fresh gas in December, full tank, and fresh fill in April. 30 years and so far so good with this set up.

 

[HeelToeHero]

Just use Jerry cans to fill it.

@NoVaGT we don't take them out in Canada because of the stuff they put on the roads. It takes a few rainfalls to wash it off. The brine on the highway is especially bad. Most new cars are rusting after 3 years up here if no additional care is used (winter storage, krown, etc.)

 

[Noggles]

I stored my Trans Am for almost 2 years with an almost empty tank of ethanol free 91 in it. Finished putting it back together and started driving it. Didn't even notice a performance difference between the old gas and new gas.

Also, make sure if you are storing it that you do NOT start it until you are ready to drive it again. Running a few minutes here and there in the garage is not long enough to get the oil and trans fluids up to temp and will cause them to pick up moisture that they are unable to burn off. Oil + water is bad. Just let it sit until spring time and then enjoy it again.

 

[Hack]

I think you are better off just letting the car sit as is. It's not good for the car to sit and idle for a long period, and you don't want to run it briefly and not warm it up fully. If you aren't going to go for a long enough drive to fully warm it, don't move it. Hook up the battery tender and let it be.

 

[ripto]

I use Sta-Bil when I store my motorcycle. I typically fill it up then ride home to store it, so it's pretty much full of fuel, but I believe Sta-Bil does say it protects below AND above the fuel line.

 

[HeelToeHero]

The instruction manual actually requires you run it every 15 days. I start it, but make sure it gets up to temp and let it run for another 15-20 minutes once at temperature .

 

[Dr. Norts]

Y

The instruction manual actually requires you run it every 15 days. I start it, but make sure it gets up to temp and let it run for another 15-20 minutes once at temperature .

It's better to let it sit all winter then to start it every 15 days. The engine won't ever get up to operating temperature idling in the winter, but it's a great way to get white condensation sludge in your crankcase / bottom of your oil filler cap. A cold start every 15 days will produce more wear then one cold start in the spring after sitting all winter. How much more wear? Who knows, but it will be more. The main point is you don't need to waste an hour of your time and gas to let your car run every 15 days. Do the stuff below and put 'er to bed.

-Fill the tank with gas and add stabiliser and drive for 20 mins to get the stabiliser through the fuel system and oil nice and hot
-Change the oil & filter
-Wash the car (and wax if your feeling extra ambitious) / clean interior
-Air the tires up to 40 psi
-Put your trickle charger on
-Cover it and forget about it until spring

***If you have rodents in the area you store your car, rodent mitigation/traps should be put out.
***If you store it in a humid environment you should add some desiccant packs to your interior to keep the RH% down

You can go above and beyond this but it's not needed. Then again neither are all the mods I have done! So whatever works for you and gives you piece of mind your baby is good for the winter.... However I do strongly recommend not starting the car all winter. It grows more horsepower while it sleeps undisturbed lol

 

[HeelToeHero]

Disagree with your point about not getting to temp. I can see I'm reaching full temperature. Also good to run the a.c. to not let the seals dry out (this is also recommended in the manual). I don't start every 15 days since I have a trickle charger but I try to start it once a month. I had a stellar UOA so I'm pretty sure I'm not causing harm.

The start or no start is hotly debated. I feel better that everything is being recoated again with oil and seals are being conditioned. I don't think one or the other is right or wrong provided the right precautions are taken in each case to mitigate the downfalls of each option .

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