Full tank best for car stored over winter
By Doug McAllister
I recently responded to a question on the proper way to store a car for extended periods of nonuse. Among other recommendations, I advised that fuel will lose octane over the winter, so store the car with premium fuel with the tank kept on the low side. Then, when you pull the car out in the spring, you can top off the tank with new premium and you will be good to go.
That advice prompted the following response from a reader:
Q. Regarding the recent article on storage, it has been my experience that keeping a full tank over the storage period displaces all the moist air that could rust the tank while the vehicle is stored. I recently looked at purchasing a 1968 Mustang, which the owner stated had been kept half-full of gas during storage. I knew what to expect when I opened the tank, and what I found was plentiful rust and a ruined tank.
The solution is to keep a full tank with stabilized fuel.
A. Thanks for your input. You bring up a valid point and I guess it depends on how long the car is stored and what type of tank it is.
Many gas tanks today are plastic or have some kind of liner, so the corrosion wouldn't be an issue. Even with fuel stabilizer, the octane of the gas will decrease fairly rapidly and the last thing I want to end up with is a full tank of bad gas.
If you are going to store a car with a metal tank for a long time, another option would be to empty it 100 percent so that it is dry. Then you would not get the condensation that comes from the cool fuel and changing temperatures. However, if the length of storage in a steel gas tank is less than six months, I agree that a full tank and fuel stabilizer is a great option. The last thing you want to end up with is a gas tank full of rust and some gas that turned to varnish.
Your suggestion is valid and I appreciate the input.
• Douglas Automotive is at 417 W. Main St., Barrington; 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake; and 416 Northwest Hwy., Fox River Grove. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.