Metal Tank and Seasonal Storage

[tbm5690]

The snowblower I purchased late last summer has a steel gas tank...first time I've never had plastic on OPE. I've always stored my motorcycle over winter with the tank topped off with E0 gas using Stabil, carbs dry. My plan is to do the same thing here as I installed a shutoff valve between the tank and the carb. So, looking for confirmation that being steel I need to store it with a full tank as opposed to empty to prevent rust? All my plastic tanks I run completely dry without issue but I assume that's a poor plan with steel.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I store everything full of E0 treated with a stabilizer. I make sure to run it long enough to get the treated gas through the carb(s), then shut it down and don't touch it til spring. This has always worked well. For example, I bought a ZRX1200 new in 2001, and the carbs have never been touched and it runs well. Most motorcycles need their carbs cleaned well before they are 24 years old!

 

[Ride_Red]

I store my lawnmower in the shed with a full tank. My generators are stores in my attached garage with empty tanks.

My reasoning is that the shed has large temperature swings and the change in pressure in the tank will cause air to siphon in and out. If the tank is full, there is little room for air to move in and out.

The temperature in the garage is more stable, so not as much of a worry about humid air entering the tank and condensing inside the tank.

I also use Stabil Marine 360 in the gas and 1 oz of 2-cycle oil in a 5 gallon gas can. I burn this mix in all my OPE year-round and winterize my motorcycles with it. I'll slosh it around the metal fuel tanks before draining the tanks, then I'll run the carb dry. It leaves a thin film of oil inside the carb and tank to prevent corrosion and rust.

For extra piece of mind during long-term storage, you could get some engine fogging spray and spray it in the fuel tank as an extra rust preventative coating. You'll want to make sure the the tank is drained and dry inside so the fogging oil sticks to the metal.

 

[repairman54]

My '01 HD has a metal tank. I store it full of gas treated with PRI-G and last couple of tanks of gas are E0 whenever possible.
Bought it new BTW.
I never drain any of my carbs, so they stay wet as long as possible as not dry out internals.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Sunoco optima 95 or VP racing C9.

Just learned of this fuel recently myself! I bought a 5 gal pale of the sunoco.