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pjsmetana

pjsmetana

Jedi Warrior
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I recently had my Spitfire moved from MD to FL, as I moved my wife and daughter back down to FL a few months ago and obviously I want my toy there before I finally get home. My question is, what can I expect to be an issue when I go to start it after sitting for 5 months? It has full tank of the 20%ish ethanol gas in the tank with Stabil. I hear the gas will separate and cause me some serious issues, but I'd like to hear it from who I trust with this sorta thing.
 
Howdy Pete,

In the Up-State, SC area; I`ve been seeing (And Using) 93 Octane with about 10% Ethanol in it. There are stations around that advertise "No Ethanol" and do charge a few cents more per Gal.

There has been quite a bit of talk about the subject & "ALL" Mechanics that I know suggest "ZDDP" as an Oil/Feul Treatment Additive. Whether that has any bearing on the Gas?? It surely can`t hurt.

TRF has a special going on right now but they don`t say what size the bottles are. Max. order Qty = 6 bottles @ approx. $5.95ea. or something like that.

Regards, Russ
 
Most "issues" I've seen are at any interface between the fuel and atmosphere. It's likely to have some "fuzzy schmutz" in the carb needle/jet and-or float chamber. Five months with Stabil and a full tank has me thinkin' you might get lucky and just light 'er off 'n drive.

Had you run it with the Stabil mix long enuff to get it into the carb? If so, you likely aren't facing much of a problem. A two beer operation! :wink:
 
toysrrus said:
... "ZDDP" as an Oil/Feul Treatment Additive...
Click to expand...

I already use the ZDDP junk-a-roo in my oil, thanks though. :smile:

DrEntropy said:
... just light 'er off 'n drive.... A two beer operation! :wink:
Click to expand...

Yikes Doc! HAHA! Yeah I never run it without Stabil. I keep bottles of it in my trunk, err... Boot, and pour some in every tank full.

So what you guys are basically saying, is... don't worry about it? I've heard strange stories about it gelling up with stabil, but this was from the boat guys. I'd rather listen to you fellas though, as some of you have had cars long before boats were invented :wink:
 
I doubt you'd see "gelling" after only five or six months. Only issue will be where the ethanol (PTUI!) meets atmosphere. The Stabil should have that negated, methinks.

Where's th' car gonna be kept down here?
 
Like Doc says, if you have ran the car long enough to ensure some Stabil made it into the carb, would think you are okay. Sure fire way is drain the tank, then run the car out of gas but that is a pain to do. Maybe a 3/4 beer operation. I do have problems with gas going "sour" so it is a real issue. Boats too!

Marv
 
For the last two summers, I have been adding 4 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil to every tankful of gas. Since doing this I have never suffered from the fuel starvation, chugging or stalling issues that the 10% ethanol had been causing earlier.

ZDDP is to raise the Zinc level in the engine oil in our flat-tappet (cam-follower) engines. A higher levels of Zinc in the oil is suggested for "cushioning" the hammering effect and wear that will occur on the can-shaft lobes and the flat bottom of the tappets.

I have never heard of it ever being suggested or used as an additive to the gas for ethanol or any other reason.
 
The boat guys could have been seeing gelling if they had fiberglass fuel tanks as the ethanol has been reported to attack the fiberglass. The danger of the ethanol fuels sitting is called "phase seperation" where the ethanol. the gasoline and the water that the ethanol sucked into the mix seperate into layers with the ethanol laying on the bottom of the tank. Moss sells a product that is supposed to help mix the seperated layers back into solution. They also sell a product that is supposed to help prevent the seperation. That product seems to be very similar to Stabil.

The ethanol is also supposed to be able to absorb 50 times as much moisture as straight gasoline. So for those of you in humid states that is an extra concern and probably a good reason to either fill the tank as full as you can or to drain it all together for long periods of storage.
 
swift6 said:
probably a good reason to either fill the tank as full as you can or to drain it all together for long periods of storage.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I wonder how hard it would be to seal it up so it doesn't "breathe". For later cars, you should be able to just cap off the carbon canister line.
 
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