Question On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

[Larry E.]

First off THIS IS NOT A QUESTION FOR PRO'S/CON'S ON USE OF 100LL AV GAS.(GOD KNOWS THERE
HAS BEEN ENOUGH DISCUSSION ON THAT) Question is for the Using/Storing it in our old Corvettes.
Who better to ask then Rich Giannotti who uses it in his older cars and his airplane.

Question> When storing for say 1 to 2 years(In the car) should a additive like "Stabil" be used in it or do you think there
is enough make up in the Av Gas(LL100) that it is not needed? Or perhaps it does not make any difference and
won't hurt anything. Of course>Anybody can chime in if they want that knows the subject well. OK>Thanks in Advance
Larry

[Duke W.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

I've stored cars with tanks full of E10 for up to 18 months with no ill effects.

Duke

[Rich G.]

[Rich G.]

[Cecil L.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

I stored my T-28B for 8 years when I lost my medical and couldn't fly. When I got back to flying the fuel was still good. I now run 100LL in my mower and all my old cars. Ethanol kills carbs and rubber.

[Rich G.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

I stored my T-28B for 8 years when I lost my medical and couldn't fly. When I got back to flying the fuel was still good. I now run 100LL in my mower and all my old cars. Ethanol kills carbs and rubber.

[Mark E.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

I've stored cars with tanks full of E10 for up to 18 months with no ill effects.

Duke

Ditto with my '70 but for 3 years. I didn't plan on the car being idle for that long, but no problems. I believe (but don't know for a fact) that storing with a full tank helps minimize condensate and rust, and hence improves gasoline's storage life. I also removed and zip locked the carburetor, sealed the intake and stuffed tennis balls in the exhaust tips.

[Chris H.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

Owner of local aviation company says he started an airplane that had been sitting for 20 years with 20 year old avgas.

[Duke W.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

Ditto with my '70 but for 3 years. I didn't plan on the car being idle for that long, but no problems. I believe (but don't know for a fact) that storing with a full tank helps minimize condensate and rust, and hence improves gasoline's storage life. I also removed and zip locked the carburetor, sealed the intake and stuffed tennis balls in the exhaust tips.

I always store cars with the fuel tank full. This minimizes the vapor dome that breathes, especially on fuel systems vented to the atmosphere, which is most pre-EFI cars. Humidity can condense and it's a one way trip. Once it mixes with the fuel it can only be removed by consuming the fuel.

Ethanol acts as a co-solvent, which allows more water to mix homogeneously with the fuel. Straight gasoline will absorb very little water before it drops out to the bottom of the tank and it can freeze and block fuel flow... happened to my SWC once back in the mid-sixties. Products like Heet are basically ethanol which will cause a slug of water at the bottom of the tank to mix homogeneously with the gasoline.

Dissolved ethanol and water won't cause serious corrosion, but if there is enough water for the ethanol-water mix to drop out then serious corrosion can begin.

Over time gasoline can oxidize and cause gum and varnish to form. Fuel blenders add stabilizers to retard gum and varnish formation. Most blenders state that "shelf life" is about a year, which I think is conservative. Also, chemical reaction rates increase exponentially with temperature, so the colder the storage temperature, the slower the oxidation.

Of course, storing a car in a non-condensing humidity environment is the best insurance against moisture absorption, and an attached home garage with living space above is the best type as a detached garage with get colder overnight - maybe below the dew point.

Duke

[Larry E.]

Re: Question For Rich Giannotti(38594) On Use Of 100LL Av Gas When Storing In Cars

I want to thank everybody for this valuable insight on vehicle storage. So glad that the airplane
industry demands this gas (100LL) for safety/storage/performance. Without it there would be no way to keep
our Corvette Engines 100% original. The NCRS(National Corvette Restorers Society) would become
the (National Corvette Reconfiruration Society and produce "Counterfeit" Non-Original Engines. Of
Course this is JMHO. Larry