[FC] Winter storage

[Dale Dewald]

At 16:16 12/23/2010 -0500, Ben Stiles wrote:
>Greetings FCers-
>
>What are folks using to stabilize that false "fuel" in their tanks
>called Ethanol?

I have found that current fuels, whether ethanol blend or not, go stale and 
varnish up carburetors much faster than in years past.  The ethanol 
additive has the added disadvantage of collecting water from the atmosphere 
and forming acidic hydrates that corrode metal fuel parts.  You are doing 
well to avoid ethanol whenever possible, at least in the case of winter 
storage.

A good thing to do is add a fuel preservative formulated for ethanol 
blends, such as Marine Sta-Bil, to the tank at the last fill-up before 
storage.  Even better, add this to every tank of fuel throughout the 
year.  This is what I have made a habit of doing, except on long trips (to 
the CORSA Convention, for example), when more than a tank full is burned in 
one day.

>In past winters, I have gotten the trucks out of the barn every two
>weeks or so and idled them in the driveway so that things could move and
>warm up and the battery could charge a bit. Worked (works) well, but...

There are several schools of thought on this:
1)  Do what you have been doing, but to make sure that the engine gets 
fully warmed up--preferably by driving the vehicle.  Problem: how do you do 
a warm-up drive on salt-contaminated roads?
2)  Fully drain the fuel system, tank and everything.  Then run the engine 
until the carburetors are sucked dry. This is the safest option, but most 
time consuming. To me this would make the most sense if the vehicle was not 
to be driven again for a year or more, or was parked outside in a moist 
environment.
3)  Add a double dose of fuel stabilizer to the last top-off of a full tank 
on the day the vehicle is put in storage.  Drive the car until warm, then 
park. Disconnect the battery.  Do not restart the car until it is removed 
from storage in the spring.  This is what I do.  FYI: I put our Corvairs in 
storage about Nov 1, and bring them out again about April 15.

>There is a big puddle of water under the exhaust pipe when I am done
>since Ethanol is mostly water. This will rot our fuel tanks, fuel lines,
>mess with our fuel pumps, etc.

This puddle comes from the combustion of any hydrocarbon fuel--including 
alcohol blends, or even diesel--which results in the byproducts of water 
and CO2.  It is an interesting fact that the burning of one gallon of 
gasoline creates about one gallon of water as a by product of 
combustion.  The accumulation of water in the exhaust system is one reason 
not to use method #1 for vehicle storage.

>Is there a reliable additive that will help to keep things fresh? I have
>tried to find ethanol-free gas locally, but those who sell it are
>getting harder to find- and soon it will be impossible as new regulation
>comes into play.

As mentioned before (and by others) Marine Sta-BiI seems to work well for 
ethanol blend fuel. Note that there are other brands/manufacturers of fuel 
stabilizers available from your FLAPS or from online stores. However, 
Marine Sta-Bil is readily available at Wal-Mart and perhaps elsewhere.  I 
have noticed that some brands of gasoline (notably Shell, BP and 
Mobil/Exxon) sell their premium grade as a non-ethanol blend, although this 
will depend on individual EPA, local and state laws.

>All this from a money-hungry giant of an industry that wants us to think
>there is an oil shortage...and wants our old cars with real metal parts
>off the roadways.

Methinks that it is more of a case of out of control government 
bureaucracies infiltrated with Marxist/Socialist types posing as 
environmentally concerned servants of humanity.  Enough said as further 
discussion of this topic probably should go to VV Talk.

>To them I say unceremoniously..."bah humbug!"

Right on, brother...Leave us alone to manage our own affairs...

Dale Dewald
Hancock, MI