Winter Storage - Fuel Evaporation?

[SR77]

Hello,

What are your opinions on filling the fuel system with stabilizer vs. draining all the gas out for your classic cars and small equipment that you store over the winter?

I have read that most prefer to just add stabilizer and run it through the system then fill the tank to store as this helps keeps all the seals from drying out, but last year I noticed in my classic car in particular that the gas evaporated in the Carb and everything ended up drying out anyway. I would assume this is happening in my yard equipment too. Are there alot of deposits from evaporated stabilized gas to be concerned about and is draining everything a better option?

Anything to stop or slow down the evaporation so the stabilized gas can do its job by keeping all the seals wet? I would assume the 10% ethanol in the gas would take the place of dry gas for any water in the fuel.

Draining the gas in all of the stuff that is stored over the winter is definitely more work then just adding stabilizer but i want to make sure that I am doing the best thing so they all fire up in the spring without needing the carb and fuel system cleaned from deposits. thanks

 

[demarpaint]

There are mixed opinions on this topic but here is what I've done for many many years with good results. If the engine is going to be stored for the winter months and used again next spring summer here is what I do.

I add a heavy dose of MMO to the gas tank and the proper amount of stabilizer and fill the tank. I run the engine until I get it good and hot usually a 30 minute drive if it is a car. This gets everything mixed in and through the engine. Change the oil and filter, check for leaks and put it away. Just make sure the engine was good and hot before you put it away so there is no condensation problems.

Small engines the gas gets the same treatment. I get them good and hot then fog then with MMO, drop the oil fill with fresh oil and put it away.

The MMO will coat the internals and leave a residue behind that will stop the carb float from sticking should the fuel in it evaporate. I found running small engines dry caused the float etc to stick, storing them full they always fired up if I had the heavy dose of MMO in the gas. I've been doing it this way for well over 25 years of owning my own home with all seasonal engines. I did the same with cars as well.

Storing for more than a year is another story for another thread. HTH

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I keep Stabil in my fuel year round so I don't have to worry about it in the fall-I add it directly to the gas cans. I usually keep 30-40 gallons of fuel on hand.

When the season is over for the smaller yard equipment like the John Deere, the DR trimmer, and the tiller I fog them before I put them away.

The N tractors that I show don't get fogged, just parked with Stabil treated fuel.

The N tractor that I use to mow and clear the driveway of snow runs year round so I just keep it full of Stabil treated fuel. On occasion it will go 2-3 months without being used, but never fails to start when I need it.

My stand by generator usually gets used 3-4 times a year and never fails to start with only Stabil treated fuel and normal maintenance.

The only exception is my 2 stroke equipment like the chain saw. I only use them every 2-3 years so I run them until they're empty, then fog the engines before I put them away.

 

[UNC038]

I only add stabilizer to my 2-stroke mix, since it sits for several months at times, and the last gas can of the season for mowing. That can may get used for snow blowing.

As far as evaporation goes, I've noticed that my generated (stored in attached garage) loses a considerable amount of gas due to evaporation. I keep the tank filled with a double dose of Stabil and rotate the fuel out every couple years.

 

[Trav]

I bought some STA-BIL Marine,the blue stuff.STA-BIL claims its more effective than the original with ethanol laced fuels.
Picked up a case of 12 Sams for $70 last week

 

[mechtech2]

Keep the system full, instead of draining it.
But use stabilizer. Like demarpaint said, also use some MMO.
You won't get hard dry deposits on all sorts of parts this way.
If the gas truly goes sour, at least you can dump it and put in fresh.
It is heck to clean all the dry varnish/sludge off, and you may get rust also, if you drain it.
So use the full tank method!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Keep the system full, instead of draining it.
But use stabilizer. Like demarpaint said, also use some MMO.
You won't get hard dry deposits on all sorts of parts this way.
If the gas truly goes sour, at least you can dump it and put in fresh.
It is heck to clean all the dry varnish/sludge off, and you may get rust also, if you drain it.
So use the full tank method!


+1. That method hasn't let me down yet. If you plan on storing it for more than a year then I'd use a different storage method.

 

[Bamaro]

I dont think 4 - 6 months is long enough to cause problems but I dont think draining is the answer (never get it all). If you feel you must do something use Stabil

 

[SR77]

Thanks for the replies

Can anyone explain what happens when Fuel Evaporates? Does it leave anything behind that could cause problems?

I do normally fill with stabil before storage every winter, but like I said last year i noticed that all the fuel in the carb bowls on my classic car had evaporated over the winter and i am trying to figure out if this is something that i be concerned about since would happen each year when i store my car or other yard equipment. Not sure if this fuel evaporating each year during storage is gonna cause problems in the fuel system after a while. I do use FP Plus is everything i own too so I would think that would take the place of the MMO mentioned.

 

[demarpaint]

Could your fuel be leaking slowly out of the bowl? That happens a lot with small engines. I don't know much about FP Plus other than what I have read here about it and that it costs a lot. MMO leaves behind a thin film of oil that won't damage gaskets or seals and stops the float from sticking. That is why I use MMO, and for under $4/qt at Wal Mart it is cheap and easy to get, and it works very well. I also think the addition of the MMO slows the fuel evaporation down slightly.

 

[SR77]

thanks.

Can anyone explain what happens when fuel evaporates? Does it leave anything behind that could cause problems in a carb or fuel system?

No, it didn't leak out, it definitely just evaporated out of the bowls. FP is suppose to be a UCL too and leave a film on everything in the furl system.

 

[mechtech2]

Dried fuel in bowls is the #1 cause of small engine problems.
It constricts or plugs up passages and jets, and makes the float stick open or shut. I can't count the times I fixed problems like these.

I just read that Seafoam is a pretty good gas stabilizer. I'd use it with Sta Bil. I'd run it a while to get things mixed well.

 

[SR77]

mechtech2, thanks for the reply

Is a fuel stabilizer suppose to prevent fuel from evaporating? Last year when I stored my car for the winter I added fuel stabilizer to the system (added 2 tanks before storage to fill entire system) but the fuel still evaporated in the carb bowls by spring. If evaporated gas leaves behind deposits that will cause fuel system problems, then how do you prevent it when storing a vehicle for a few months time like over a winter? Should stabilizer prevent fuel from evaporating or should I just be filling up the carb bowls a few times over the course of the storage time? thanks again

 

[mechtech2]

No, fuel stabilizers are not for evaporation. They are for chemical changes that occur with fuel, and make it go sour/castrated and possibly varnishy.
It is best to fill the gas tank, and have the bowl full. Gas evaporates fast in ambient conditions, but in a sealed system, it last MUCH longer.

Storage is always a compromise - not the best option. All we can do is treat the fuel, and hope for the best But fuel treatments DO work pretty well.

If you have the option of filing the float bowl, it is a good idea. Better than dry!

 

[SR77]

thanks again.

If filling the carb bowls up every month or so is the only real option I have from letting them dry up over storage then thats what I will do. I can just squirt some treated fuel in through the vent tubes every month. thanks again

 

[H2GURU]

The complete draining of fuel is really the only solution for storage. One step that is over-looked is evacuating the bowl with a small amount of REGULATED compressed air as some set-ups have fuel still here when machine stalls-out. STA-BIL works for some but, length of storage and humidity of air effect the compounds in your fuel and de-varnishing your fuel system is an ugly chore.

 

[Donald]

First you need to know if your fuel is E10 or not. Different counties in different states may or may not have E10. In the worst case you can get phase seperation where there is a layer of water and alcohol on the bottom and a layer of very low octane gas on top. Best is to stabilize with something that mentions E10 gas.

I prefer to stabilize the gas in my boat's tank, and then dump in a lot of fresh gas in the spring.

Our boat club keeps our 2700 gas tank empty over the winter so we have all fresh gas in the spring.

 

[1993_VG30E_GXE]

Can you guys tell me the products and procedure I would need to store a car (Honda Civic 1999) for more than 1 yr.

 

[mechtech2]

We have tried draining float bowls, but this creates it's own problems.
I have worked at motorcycle dealerships and also automotive.
Seals dry out. Floats and valves stick. Passages are tiny and they get a certain corrosion on them.
It is always best to keep things wet.

 

[ted s]

caused by the ethanol in the gas. I only use no ethanol gas in my 7 classic cars. I use stabil for winter storage .

Originally Posted By: SR77
Thanks for the replies


Can anyone explain what happens when Fuel Evaporates? Does it leave anything behind that could cause problems?

I do normally fill with stabil before storage every winter, but like I said last year i noticed that all the fuel in the carb bowls on my classic car had evaporated over the winter and i am trying to figure out if this is something that i be concerned about since would happen each year when i store my car or other yard equipment. Not sure if this fuel evaporating each year during storage is gonna cause problems in the fuel system after a while. I do use FP Plus is everything i own too so I would think that would take the place of the MMO mentioned.