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By Florida_Phil - 7 Years Ago
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My 55 TBird sits in my garage without being driven sometimes for weeks at a time. I try to start it at least once a week and bring it up to operating temperature. I run pump high test. My gas tank and fuel lines are new. My carb is new. Should I run gas additive?
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By Tedster - 7 Years Ago
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It begs the question, starting once a week and idling may be doing more harm than good. What is the reasoning behind this?
Engines need to be put under load to get up to anything close to normal operating temperature, the oil in particular. It's not the end of the world but I can't see the benefit, either. Maybe fog the engine on shutdown before storage, if internal rust or corrosion is a concern.
The consensus seems to be use a stabilizer, and avoid fuels containing ethanol for longer term storage i.e. six months to a year. Keep tank well topped off albeit allowing for expansion and out of direct sunlight or wide temperature swings.
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By charliemccraney - 7 Years Ago
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Whether you should use an additive depends on how long it is between fill ups. If you drive it at least once a month, using a full tank of gas, then it should be fine without additives. If it is months between fill ups, then an additive may be a good idea.
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By Florida_Phil - 7 Years Ago
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Thanks for the input. I drive my car as least once a month, keep the tank topped off and the battery charged. The winters in Florida are mild. Some days are just too chilly for a convertible. The last month has been cold and rainy, so it got me thinking about the fuel.
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By Kev - 7 Years Ago
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I’m not a fan of this crap gas we get at the pump. I personally use startron additive in my fuel. I think after some time the alcohol separates and causes problems. I’m not a fuel expert but, I have actually heard my motors run better after the startron mix gets to the carb. Give it a shot.....
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By DANIEL TINDER - 7 Years Ago
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Some people think the chemicals in gasoline stabilizer (along with ethanol) can deteriorate nitrile carb parts (float needles/pump cups, etc.). I no longer use it since I never go more than a month or two without driving the car, and my accel. pump cups seem to last longer now.
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By paul2748 - 7 Years Ago
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In all the hears that I have run an old car (over 40), I have never used a stabilizer while the cars were in storage over the winter. Most of those years were with 10 % ethanol. I have never had a gas related problem with any of the fuel system. The gas I put the car in October/November always started the car in the spring. The only thing I do is start the car about once a month and run it until it thoroughly warms up.
My son used Stabil one year on his 302 (Edelbrock) powered 41. It really messed up the carb.
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By Florida_Phil - 7 Years Ago
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My carb is a new Holley 1848-1 465 CFM. I assume any ethanol problems have been updated. My machinist builds a lot of motors. He tells me hardened valve seats are no longer required for mildly driven street cars. Something about the unleaded gas? My car has a head swap, so I run high test right from the pump. So far, so good.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 7 Years Ago
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I also have been burning 93 octane exclusively for quite a few years now. That may have reduced carb component failures. While I really don’t need the extra octane (original 292 shortblock with 113 replacement service heads), I believe premium gasohol may be less corrosive than regular (?).
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