Fuel During Storage

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Haven't put fuel in the 205 for about 4 months as it's just been sat in the garage. I've been turning it over and letting it warm up and shuffling it up and down the drive a bit as I guess it's better than not. Yesterday though, it was running rough and I reckon the fuels gone off. It then prompted me to Google what to with fuel when storing a car. General consensus seems to be to fill the tank and put a fuel stabiliser additive in to prevent it going off. I don't plan on using the car for a couple of years. What do you all recommend?

Cheers

Nick

[Anthony 1,003]

I'd be surprised if the fuel has gone off sufficiently in 4 months that the car is now running rough. More likely to be damp electrics I'd say.

 

To give you an idea, one of my 205's had been sat for ~3 years when I picked it up and that still started and ran up to temperature fine on the old fuel in the tank.

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Thanks Anthony,

It's garaged and was fine last week. It's a gti6 engine and has a lumpy/fluffy idle that clears at higher revs. Battery is strong. I've been leaving it to idle for 20-30 mins so that the coolant circulates. It's been used daily for 3 years with no issues up until just now.

[Anthony 1,003]

If it's a GTi-6 then are you sure it hasn't just crapped a coilpack or similar? They're a pretty common failure on those and can fail with little or no warning.

 

Like I said, I'd be very surprised if it's an issue with the fuel having gone off after just 4 months.

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

I doubt it would be the fuel either tbh. My Focus RS has been in storage unused for the best part of 5 + years now and about 3 years ago (after 2 years in storage) I had to start the engine in order to move the car out of the garage for access for building work. The car started 1st time and idled fine on the drive, and did so again when started to put it back later that day, and that was with just a 1/4 tank of 2 1/2 year old Tesco 99 in it.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I've found stale fuel likely to manifest as a misfire under load mid range. The engine will still start and idle more or less as usual.

[Biggles 65]

Octane rating WILL reduce if the fuel is in a vented container (like a vehicle fuel tank) unless you've found some way of stopping the lighter fractions evaporating. (To quote Scotty from Star Trek "You cannae chance the laws of physics".) Fuel stabiliser might stop gums forming (which certainly can clog up carb jets, not sure about their effect on injectors but probably not good) but it won't stop RON deteriorating. I drain the rally car's tank if it's going to be standing for more than a couple of weeks and keep the Shell V Power in (full) sealed containers.

I have had problems with the carbs on the GSXR gumming up over the winter so either drain it and run it until it's dry or fire it up every couple of weeks. I certainly wouldn't store a car (fuelled) for 2 years then take it for a thrash around the lanes on the old fuel.

Incidentally, I have maybe 3L left of what was once petrol in a can i use for degreasing - it's the contents of the fuel tank of what became the rally car when I bought it - it was in the tank for at least 12 years and it sure ain't Unleaded anymore.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I put stabiliser in mine over the winter. The guy who ASNU'd my injectors recommended i do it, he also recommended doing it every few months when it's on the road.

[peteb 2 2 Cars]

Can you advise what stabiliser you use/have been recommended dobboy. Thanks

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I've used the Lucas stuff and also the Sta Bil stuff.

 

I don't think it helps with octane level if the petrol has already gone off, but would probably still help with all the other nasties.

 

It's cheap, less than £10

[peteb 2 2 Cars]

Great thanks

[mikeyd 13]

super unleaded has a quite short shelf life -- had running problems with some that was in the tank about 4 months

drained it and replaced with fresh fuel = problem solved! [wasnt the most obvious cause so spent several hours changing bits first !!!

as said standard unleaded will last some time before it gets unusable ]

[welshpug 1,657]

Never had problems with fuel in cars sat for a few years, I never leave much in them though, so I tend to bung a can of fresh SUL in when I plan to move them

[TurboSam 5]

I started one of my Minis yesterday for the first time in years. The fuel is from 2006! It started and ran fine.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I don't think it's just the octane level that reduces over time, it's the other bi-products that arise as the petrol breaks down that can cause corrosion etc, and i think i read something about doing damage to valves somehow.

 

I personally wouldn't be stretching it's legs on really old fuel.

[Contigo 3]

It will be fuel, it can go off after a couple of month that's for sure.

 

I put a full tank in my Golf GTi in winter to stop the filler neck corroding. I also like to use it quite frequently on dry days, let's face it we have had a mild winter with some nice sunny days so it is best to get out there and use them. Never understood buying a car and not using it!

[erbs 42 1 Cars]

I personally believe that you do more damage not using vehicles if left laid up for a long period of time, things corrode and seize through lack of use.

 

i will be using mine as much as poss when the better weather gets here