Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

[Oliver S.]

As I learned here the latest FI's were/are very reliable - if maintained by an experienced person (in case of a problem). Now a previous owner of a '65 told me he sold his car because he was not able to drive it each week - as was recommended to him - fearing that the unit would come out of tune requiring $2.500 to get it right again.
Is this a founded issue? Can a yearly winter-storage (3-4 months) cause FI problems afterwards?

Oliver

[Michael G.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

3-4 months without starting an FI unit can (but doesn't always) result in sludge forming in the old gasoline in the fuel bowl. This can make it difficult for the hi-pressure fuel pump to turn, which can result in several problems, such as hard starting and/or snapping the drive cable. Neither of these problems will result in a repair cost remotely close to $2,500 though.

The sludge can be prevented by starting the engine every few weeks and running it long enough to empty the fuel bowl. I'm also told that this "gunk" will not form in racing gas, but I'll defer to one of our real experts on that.

Other than that, though, a fuel unit will not get "out of tune" from sitting a few months. They only get "out of tune" from Bubba adjusting things.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

Mine will sit for weeks and months without starting, and I've never encountered the issues you mention.Chuck

[Oliver S.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I've just found this source:

http://www.jerrybramlett.net/tips.html#installation

Starting the engine only until the the fuel bowl is empty will possibly harm the engine in the long run. When starting the car it should be driven until the engine is really warm colliding with the goal to empty the bowl -one is chasing his own tail.

Oliver

[Chuck S.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

thanks to jerry b. for sharing his vast knowledge with us FI owners (4800). this was a most informative post

[Michael W.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

When starting the car it should be driven until the engine is really warm

This is good advice for any car. Don't start unless you're going to drive it.

[Hank D.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I've just found this source:

http://www.jerrybramlett.net/tips.html#installation

Starting the engine only until the the fuel bowl is empty will possibly harm the engine in the long run. When starting the car it should be driven until the engine is really warm colliding with the goal to empty the bowl -one is chasing his own tail.

Oliver

Yes - Jerry's website s full of great information. By following his advice with respect to spark plugs, ignition wires, and most importantly the proper valve lash, my 64 L84 now runs great. I do try to start and run it during winter storage as weather permits, and I've never had an issue.

Hank

[Steve B.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I was told that Av gas is even better than racing fuel in FI cars because it has a very long shelf life and therefore will not sludge or gum up. I have never owned a fuelie but have always wondered if this is true.

[Bob J.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I was told that Av gas is even better than racing fuel in FI cars because it has a very long shelf life and therefore will not sludge or gum up. I have never owned a fuelie but have always wondered if this is true.

Yes, it is true.
I've stored a FI car in FL for over ten years with AV gas and it ran fine.

[Michael H.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

Yes - Jerry's website s full of great information. By following his advice with respect to spark plugs, ignition wires, and most importantly the proper valve lash, my 64 L84 now runs great. I do try to start and run it during winter storage as weather permits, and I've never had an issue.

Hank

Betcha Jerry recommended .030-.030" for the valve lash. I definitely agree.

[Robert S.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I try to fill my tank with gas that is as colorless as possible. For years that was Amoco Ultimate. The gas would evaporate over winter but there were no deposits or sludge. Still do that and have no problems with storage as long as two years.

[John D.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

Every spring my pal FI Art sells a ton of drive cables. Wayyy to many. Here's the scoop. If you are going to store you car for the winter or months on end (not too long) then remove the drive cable assembly (housing and all). Then just put the drive cable in the pump and the distributor. Before you attempt to start the engine pull the cable out of the distributor and see if you can turn it by hand. If you cannot then stop right there. The gas has caused gummed up the gears in the pump and if you force it good bye cable. I like to call the cable a "fuse". Use lots of disc brake wheel bearing grease on your drive cables. Any brand will do.
I drove a 63 FI car to my restaurant for over 10 years. Drove it many days a week. Never in all those years did I break a drive cable. I never ran the housing. Just set it up like Doc Blatchley's old 63 race car. Cut the end of the housing off where it goes in to the distributor. Filed it to get rid of the burrs. Used just that to hold the cable from flying out.
Not going to discuss what kind of fuel as don't want to get involved with discussions..
Google" Pure-Gas.org. Click on your state and get a list of all the stations that have pure gas. If you can't do any good there then go on from there.

[John S.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

John
can you post a picture? Would love to see.

john

[Michael G.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

I broke a cable on first start-up this past Spring 'cause I didn't start the car for two months...I wasn't suggesting that you had to shut the engine off as soon as the old gas in fuel bowl had been burned, just that you had to run it at least that long, if you use pump gas. Sure its preferable to drive the car, but try that when you live at the top of a hill, with a driveway that looks like this:yard.jpgDoes anyone here really think that starting a car twice a Winter is going to do any measurable amount of damage to the engine? Nah. Maybe, if you did it for 500 years.

[Duke W.]

Re: Winter-storage of FI car - unit out of tune afterwards?

Use lots of disc brake wheel bearing grease on your drive cables. Any brand will do.

I don't think that's a very good choice. GM 1960954 Distributor and Starter Motor Lubricant would be better, I you can find some. It's long discontinued.

I once took a dap of each between thumb and index finger and rubbed them together. The wheel bearing grease quicky became very gummy while the 1960954 remained very slippery.

Wheel bearing grease is designed for high load and heat. That's not the case with the FI drive cable application and wheel bearing grease may cause excess friction.

If you can't find 1960954 the next best alternative would be a NGLI #2 with a full synthetic base... what is commonly called "chassis grease".

Duke