Summer storage

[Joseph U.]

I plan to be out of town for the summer and am looking for advice on storage for the summer. Questions:
1. Gas tank full or empty? Does it matter?
2. Regular gas or ethanol free? ( still can't get a real answer on the ethanol question - my car runs just fine on regular gas - base engine - and I run thru a tank every month or so without problems (that I know of anyway).
3. Trickle charger or disconnect the battery?
Any other advice gladly accepted.
Thanks,
Joe

[Jim D.]

Re: Summer storage

I plan to be out of town for the summer and am looking for advice on storage for the summer. Questions:
1. Gas tank full or empty? Does it matter?
2. Regular gas or ethanol free? ( still can't get a real answer on the ethanol question - my car runs just fine on regular gas - base engine - and I run thru a tank every month or so without problems (that I know of anyway).
3. Trickle charger or disconnect the battery?
Any other advice gladly accepted.
Thanks,
Joe

1. Full
2. Doesn't matter
3. Disconnect the battery and put a float charger on it.

[Larry M.]

Re: Summer storage

I plan to be out of town for the summer and am looking for advice on storage for the summer. Questions:
1. Gas tank full or empty? Does it matter?
2. Regular gas or ethanol free? ( still can't get a real answer on the ethanol question - my car runs just fine on regular gas - base engine - and I run thru a tank every month or so without problems (that I know of anyway).
3. Trickle charger or disconnect the battery?
Any other advice gladly accepted.
Thanks,
Joe

1. Probably doesn't matter, but a full tank may be better

2. Ethanol free is always better for storage. For 2-3 months it probably doesn't matter.

3. For a C1/C2/C3 car I would just disconnect the battery. For a C5/C6 I would use the battery tender.

Changing the oil and filter is not a bad idea, but not required unless the oil is really dirty. Air up the tires and leave the car sit on the tires.

Put your car cover on if you have one and leave the windows down (under the cover) for ventilation. Otherwise it might be better to keep the windows closed to keep out any critters.

Larry

[Joseph U.]

Re: Summer storage

1. Probably doesn't matter, but a full tank may be better

2. Ethanol free is always better for storage. For 2-3 months it probably doesn't matter.

3. For a C1/C2/C3 car I would just disconnect the battery. For a C5/C6 I would use the battery tender.

Changing the oil and filter is not a bad idea, but not required unless the oil is really dirty. Air up the tires and leave the car sit on the tires.

Put your car cover on if you have one and leave the windows down (under the cover) for ventilation. Otherwise it might be better to keep the windows closed to keep out any critters.

Larry

Thanks to both of you,
as always sounds like just common sense.
Joe

[Duke W.]

Re: Summer storage

A full tank is always best so there is no volume that can condense water if the dew point is reached.

Ethanol free fuel would be best if you can obtain such in sufficient octane.

If you leave the battery disconnected, which should be okay if it is in good condition, make sure you fully charge it at low to moderate current (no more than 10 amps initial rate) before cranking the engine when you get back.

Duke

[Richard M.]

Re: Summer storage

Add fuel stabilizer and run engine long enough to fill up carb fuel bowl, I've seen what ethanol can do to an aluminum fuel bowl.

[Robert B.]

Re: Summer storage

Add fuel stabilizer and run engine long enough to fill up carb fuel bowl, I've seen what ethanol can do to an aluminum fuel bowl.

I agree with the use of fuel stabilizer - I have rebuilt three Holley carbs, one of which was totally destroyed by ethanol, and the other two had significant corrosion. The secondary metering block is especially vulnerable.

Bob

Bob

[Larry M.]

Re: Summer storage

I agree with the use of fuel stabilizer - I have rebuilt three Holley carbs, one of which was totally destroyed by ethanol, and the other two had significant corrosion. The secondary metering block is especially vulnerable.

Bob

Bob

I DO NOT feel that fuel stabilizer is needed unless we are talking about a year or more storage. Especially if non-ethanol fuel is in the tank.

Regarding the Holly corrosion with ethanol fuel, did the car use a blend of ethanol containing pump gas with leaded racing fuel or leaded av gas?? The WORST combination I can think of is ethanol pump gas blended with leaded fuel with contains chlorides and bromides. THAT is a recipe for problems.

Larry

[Jim D.]

Re: Summer storage

I feel sorry for those having alleged ethanol problems. I store my Corvette for 6-8 months at a time. Ethanol fuel, no stabilizer and I've never had an issue with the dual fours. I drove it the other day for the first time since last Sept. All is well with all 8 barrels.

[Duke W.]

Re: Summer storage

I've been storing cars for 6 to 18 months for the last 25 years. I fill the fuel tank with fresh fuel before storage, DO NOT use any kind of "stabilizer" additive, and I have never had a fuel system related problem that I can attribute to conventional ethanol laced pump gas.

Duke

[Robert B.]

Re: Summer storage

I DO NOT feel that fuel stabilizer is needed unless we are talking about a year or more storage. Especially if non-ethanol fuel is in the tank.

Regarding the Holly corrosion with ethanol fuel, did the car use a blend of ethanol containing pump gas with leaded racing fuel or leaded av gas?? The WORST combination I can think of is ethanol pump gas blended with leaded fuel with contains chlorides and bromides. THAT is a recipe for problems.

Larry

No, in this case the car was stored and not started for 7 months. It had been restored, gas tank and lines were clean and not contaminated, and the gas was unleaded pump 91 octane fuel purchased at a Chevron station. There were no other fuel mixtures involved here. And I live in the desert with almost no humidity, If it's not caused by ethanol, what would it be?

In two of my other cars, I run only 100 octane low lead aviation fuel. Never any problems whatsoever, even after nearly 10 years on the same tank of fuel, the car starts perfectly, idles smoothly, and when I pull apart the carbs I find no evidence of corrosion, or buildup of any kind.

I've rebuilt carbs for friends running premium pump gas and found the same corrosion, so I have trouble believing that ethanol is not the cause.

Bob

[Jim D.]

Re: Summer storage

Water in the gasoline has been a problem since the beginning of time. Either from condensation in the tank or infiltration of ground water into the storage tanks. The solution to this problem has always been "Add a fuel dryer". Guess what that was - ALCOHOL. I've rebuilt many carbs in the 60's & 70's (long before ethanol gas) that had severe corrosion. I wish everyone would quit blaming ethanol for all the worlds problems. We've had it in my area for decades. I've never had, or seen, a problem directly related to using it.

[Edward B.]

Re: Summer storage

Although I can appreciate everyone's concern for their Corvettes, let's not forget that they are simply cars and that one summer is not a very long time for a car to sit idle. Don't overthink the storage issue - just park the car at a secure indoor location. When you return, hop in, turn the key and off you go.