The car is driven less than 500 miles a year and sits in the garage from November to March. Do I need to be putting an additive of some sort to the fuel with today's gas that has ethanol in it? Is the ethanol deteriorating parts in the Quadrajet carb? The engine was rebuilt about 10 years ago with hardened valves and the engine builder said I did not have to add lead to the fuel any longer. If an additive is suggested I am curious what is recommended.
70 Chevelle engine......additive?
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I would not fill the gas tank. Use Startron (for boats). They have the same issue with gas in the tanks over the winter. If you can find E0, I would use it. How close to NY border where I can easily find it now?
What engine? if its a HIPO 396/402 or 454 I'd be more worried about the cam and lfters than the valves.
It's the L34 engine but cam and lifters were changed during engine build. I know the cam is an Ultradyne but not sure what lifters they are. I pretty much feel the same way as bigt except that my brother's wife was telling me how her dad who is a farmer has to put additive to their fuel for their older gasoline tractors or they will be "ruined". She said I better do the same for my old Chevy engine so it got me thinking. And I had always thought the gas tank should be "full" before parking for the winter so that moisture couldn't form in the tank and rust?
If you only drive it 500 miles a year, consider getting fuel from a small airport. Its a little more expensive, but 40 gallons or so a year won't be a large $ amount. You'll probably need a couple of 5 gal jugs, as most airports aren't fond of cars filling up at the pump.
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I've no hard data to argue with the above posts but I've read and heard enough credible content here and in other places that STA-BIL added to your fuel is a good idea, even without the ethanol making it worse.
I'm able to drive the big Ford in my sig about 1,000 annually the past couple of yeasr (to my chagrin) and it's doing just fine with Top Tier 91 Octane plus some STA-BIL when I fill it.
I have never worried about lead ever since it was phased out in the 70s. The heads were installed sometime in 1972 and my dad does not remember if the seats were hardened back then.
Kevin
I'm able to drive the big Ford in my sig about 1,000 annually the past couple of yeasr (to my chagrin) and it's doing just fine with Top Tier 91 Octane plus some STA-BIL when I fill it.
I have never worried about lead ever since it was phased out in the 70s. The heads were installed sometime in 1972 and my dad does not remember if the seats were hardened back then.
Kevin
Use Sta-Bil and ethanol-free gas.
I would recommend using SMB from the dollar tree(if your engine can take methanol), you can get them at the Dollar Tree. If not I would recommend using Lucas fuel system cleaner. Also I would recommend using Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer. If you go to the dollar tree than I would recommend getting the fuel injector cleaner, the high mileage fuel treatment, and the super gas treatment, only for $3. Fuel additives are a good thing to use in older engines. I even use it in my 27 year old engine. I recommend using it in engines that are 15 years or older, or if it sat for longer than a year. I usually run all of SMBs products for gas cars about once a year, and I change the lucas every year in my cars oil.
1992 Pontiac Bonneville 3800 tpi series 1 10w30
1970 Cadillac Deville 472 cu in carb 10w40
1992 Pontiac Bonneville 3800 tpi series 1 10w30
1970 Cadillac Deville 472 cu in carb 10w40
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