Car parked at home while gone

[golfknut]

Has anyone found a need to add fuel stabilizer (ie. Sta-bil) to the fuel system of any vehicles left parked at home while gone three months over the winter?

I know fuels are better these days and was wondering if they are stable enough to not cause any issues if left as is for 3 months.

[TomG2]

2oldman wrote:
It is funny, because it doesn't say that on my car.

I will edit my comment to specify mowers, generators, lawn tractors, chain saws, outboard motors, weed eaters, and other small engine manuals. Of course, they might not know what they are talking about.

[2oldman]

TomG2 wrote:
It is funny that every gasoline powered engine I have ever seen said something like, "Drain and refill with fresh fuel before operating" in the instructions.

It is funny, because it doesn't say that on my car.

[TomG2]

My gosh, this has turned into another "Which way to hang the toilet paper" argument with neither side making too many points, just stating opinions. As to the new vehicles on dealer lots, not many sit for six or eight months at a time. They are moved around, test drove, or started as a precaution against dead batteries. Besides, that dealer won't be around long if they move their inventory that slowly. It is funny that every gasoline powered engine I have ever seen said something like, "Drain and refill with fresh fuel before operating" in the instructions.

[Me_Again]

Just don't leave a TomTom plugged in to your vehicle. Many models have a mystery person inside them and turn them on at odd times. Or they just miss their mother!

Chris

[2oldman]

thecampingman wrote:
Nothing is needed to store a car over the winter in a northern climate.

Maybe your post will be more convincing than mine.

[thecampingman]

Modern fuel systems are sealed to prevent evaporation. Gas won't break down stored during a northern winter. The trickle of electric from the battery saves your settings on your radio, electric clock, auto door locking sequence etc. and won't run down the battery. (They'll all reset to default settings when you reconnect the battery).


Nothing is needed to store a car over the winter in a northern climate.

[pawatt]

joebedford wrote:
I fill the tank, add StaBil and put on a battery tender for 4 months.

Same here but we are gone 6 months.

[CKNSLS]

joebedford wrote:
I fill the tank, add StaBil and put on a battery tender for 4 months.

I would highly suggest Seafoam instead of Stabil.


Info here-
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1646345

[joebedford]

I fill the tank, add StaBil and put on a battery tender for 4 months.

[CKNSLS]

John&Joey wrote:

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Think about this: Many of the automobiles everyone has gone to great processes to park for about 3 months have, when they were new, sat on a dealers lot for that same period of time without any preparation whatsoever. Those same vehicles seem to have survived quite well.

FWIW:

"The longer a new car sits on a lot, the more motivated the dealer will be to sell it quickly. Most dealers take out loans in order to buy their inventory and they pay off a portion of the loans each time they sell a vehicle.

For each day that vehicle doesn't sell, the dealer keeps paying interest on that loan. The longer a car sits, the larger the interest cost grows.

Dealers typically don't mind paying interest for 30 or even 60 days, but when the car has been sitting on the lot for 3 months, that's when they really start getting nervous. They start worrying about losing money on the car if they don't sell it soon"

In addition a new car never "just sits" and it's a "new" car it better start. Again a can of SeaFoam is $6.50 and takes 10 seconds of your time. Disconnecting the battery 1-2 minutes.

YMMV

+ 1-If one takes the time to search this topic on the Internet as I did, you will find Seafoam is highly recommended for the gas tank for a storage situation.

[John_Joey]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Think about this: Many of the automobiles everyone has gone to great processes to park for about 3 months have, when they were new, sat on a dealers lot for that same period of time without any preparation whatsoever. Those same vehicles seem to have survived quite well.

FWIW:

"The longer a new car sits on a lot, the more motivated the dealer will be to sell it quickly. Most dealers take out loans in order to buy their inventory and they pay off a portion of the loans each time they sell a vehicle.

For each day that vehicle doesn't sell, the dealer keeps paying interest on that loan. The longer a car sits, the larger the interest cost grows.

Dealers typically don't mind paying interest for 30 or even 60 days, but when the car has been sitting on the lot for 3 months, that's when they really start getting nervous. They start worrying about losing money on the car if they don't sell it soon"

In addition a new car never "just sits" and it's a "new" car it better start. Again a can of SeaFoam is $6.50 and takes 10 seconds of your time. Disconnecting the battery 1-2 minutes.

YMMV

[CKNSLS]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Think about this: Many of the automobiles everyone has gone to great processes to park for about 3 months have, when they were new, sat on a dealers lot for that same period of time without any preparation whatsoever. Those same vehicles seem to have survived quite well.

With that in mind, I have stored my Toyota Corolla for 4 months at a time with no preparation and it started up and ran just like it had been driven an hour before.

Personally, I wouldn't prep mine for sitting three months. However, I had to prep mine for storage since the total time it would be sitting was 8 months.

[I_am_still_wayn]

Think about this: Many of the automobiles everyone has gone to great processes to park for about 3 months have, when they were new, sat on a dealers lot for that same period of time without any preparation whatsoever. Those same vehicles seem to have survived quite well.

With that in mind, I have stored my Toyota Corolla for 4 months at a time with no preparation and it started up and ran just like it had been driven an hour before.

[CardinalRule]

We leave for 5 months plus. I just fill the wife's car up with fuel then disconnect the battery. connect the battery in the spring and turn the key. Have never had any problem. The car sits in temps as low as -30 plus. If it was carberated it would be different but with fuel injection it's just not a problem.

[paulcardoza]

MY personal opinion.......

3 months is not an issue and no additives are needed for the fuel.
I would consider a battery tender to keep it fully charged.

Beyond 3 months, I would definitely add fuel stabilizer, but the stuff is cheap, so whatever makes you comfortable!!!