Gasoline life for a car not used often

[Kenneth F.]

Is there a way manage gasoline in a car that is not driven often? I usually keep less than 1/4 of a tank and try to run the engine enough to use the fuel before it goes bad, but the newer gasoline seems to go bad sooner.

I just finished cleaning the inside of the tank on a '66. The gasoline was the higher octane and only about 6mos old. I wonder how much higher octane fuel is purchased these days and think maybe this gasoline was old when i purchased it.

The C1 with a fuel tank drain is great. If the car is not used, I can drain the fuel and use it in a lawnmower.

Ken

[Don H.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Ken, If you use aviation fuel (easy to get with gas cans at a small airport) it will last a long time. The cost will be well worth it if you do not drive the car much. Don H.

[Chris H.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Speaking of avgas, I was talking to the owner of an aviation company at the local airport where I get my avgas, and he said he started an airplane that had been sitting for 20 years with 20 year old gas.

[Owen L.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

I've long heard that you should store the tank either completely full or completely drained. I believe the completely full logic is that the less air in the tank the less oxidation can take place. I follow this method by topping mine off (92 octane non-ethanol unleaded) in the Fall before winter storage and put in a double dose of Sta-Bil. I think a year would be just about the longest I'd comfortably store the car with this method.

[Bill M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Owen is right a full tank leaves no room for oxygen so no room for condensation. I always fill tank to the top when I will not be driving for more than 2 weeks.

[Larry E.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

JMHO>Av Gas is the only way to go. Just got some at the local airport.(Northern Illinois) Expensive $5.20/Gal. but will not deteriorate for
a long time. I have started vehicles that where stored for 4 years with not a bit of problem. BTW;Talked to the manager of the
airport and he indicated he had just talked to the local gasoline av gas supplier and indicated>100LL WILL BE AROUND A
LONG LONG TIME; SIMPLY NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SMALL AIRCRAFT. GOOD NEWS INDEED>Larry

[Jim L.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

An anecdote about relatively long term storage, make of it what you will:

My '57 fuelie was unintentionally parked for 5+ years. I didn't know ahead of time that was what would happen. So I took no precautions at all regarding the fuel in the tank.

When I finally had time to deal with it, I made sure the high pressure pump in the FI unit would turn easily and I put some fuel in the FI unit. I did nothing about the 5+ year old fuel in the tank.

I started the engine and drove the car around. It ran well and there was no behavioral evidence the old fuel had any issues. And this, BTW, was with the RFG we have to run here in Kalifornia.

This is just one story, of course, and it doesn't prove anything.

YMMV.....

[Mike M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

I parked one of our 65 FI's in 1980 and never drove it . tank was 1/2 full of ethanol laced gas. about a year ago, I decided to restore the old 65. shined a light down in the tank to discover what looked like coffee grounds, about 2" deep. new tank from quanta, new lines, rebuild mechanical and high press fuel pumps and the Rochester unit. restoration is about 95% complete. I use nothing but av gas. mike

[Frank D.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Well I have a carbureated Mercruiser Sea Ray boat and a fuel injected jet ski that sit for months, a bit of Marine Sta0Bil keeps the gas fresh enough for a quick start up and run each season, I wouldn't hesitate to do the same with any of my cars.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Well,
I have 2 Indian motor cycles ( in the living room!) that have av gas in them since the early 2000, and they have foot starters, and usually first flip. I store ALL my gas equipment with av gas, because there is NO worry. Back on the forum one expert says 1 year shelf life. I say put it in and choose a year. I was called a pea brane about burn rates and the use of a mixture of av gas, but WOW what a difference when you can time your engine to it!
I feel sorry to say all that for those that can't get it. It was cheaper than pump gas at one tome because there was no road tax, then MR Buffett decided he wasn't rich enough and got into aviation and ruiened it at our expense. 20 years ago I would buy aircraft fuel for .97c a gallon . That was buying it in very large quantities. Now the same for over 5.00!
It's still the best for burn and laststing. Worth getting it if you can. Almost a must at a local small airport. If they give you trouble just tell you are a mechanic and need to test your fuel system out. If they ask, airplane is off airport and not certified for pump gas!

Dom

[Joe M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Just checked my local airports (Rural Wisconsin) some have 100 LL and some have 100LL SS. What is the difference? Will either work? Is one better for my 67 L79 than the other? Finally, can you just drive in and "fillerup", or do you usually buy it and put it into a gas can? Lots of questions.

[Tom M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

In RI they will not pump AV into a car - no way. And convincing them to fill a can is usually not possible.
Fill your car with pump gas in the spring and use it. At the end of the season put a double dose of Stabil in whats left (per good article in Driveline). When done driving for the season use a hand pump to empty the tank as much as possible and use the gas in your daily.
This has worked for me for years.
Maybe the question is what means not used often. 5 winter months? Or 5 years. If 5 years, drop the tank and rinse with acetone, blow the lines out with compressed air and empty the carb - seems to work.

[Don H.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Just checked my local airports (Rural Wisconsin) some have 100 LL and some have 100LL SS. What is the difference? Will either work? Is one better for my 67 L79 than the other? Finally, can you just drive in and "fillerup", or do you usually buy it and put it into a gas can? Lots of questions.

Joe, They will not put av gas directly into a car because there is no motor vehicle tax on it, you must use cans. Sorry I don't know what the difference is, I have used 100 LL for over 30 years. Don H.

[Steven M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

In many locations it is possible to purchase ethanol-free gas. I use it exclusively in all my vintage motorcycles, vintage cars, and lawn equipment. Ethanol-free gasoline lasts much longer than gasoline with ethanol. If you have ever rebuilt a carb with stale ethanol gasoline, then you understand the 'green goo' ethanol leaves behind. Additionally, ethanol is hard on certain types of rubber fuel lines, carb components, etc. The best method to find stations selling ethanol-free gas is to use this web site: www.pure-gas.org . You can search by State, City, etc., and if you click on the details, often people have posted the octane rating and prices.

[Larry M.]

Re: Gasoline life for a car not used often

Just checked my local airports (Rural Wisconsin) some have 100 LL and some have 100LL SS. What is the difference? Will either work? Is one better for my 67 L79 than the other? Finally, can you just drive in and "fillerup", or do you usually buy it and put it into a gas can? Lots of questions.

SS = self serve............you fill then cans yourself.

Larry