Winter Storage (gas additives)

samdog66 · Post by **samdog66** » October 13, 2008, 7:01 pm

I will be puting my 66 F100 in winter hibernation in another month or so. What should I put in the gas for winter? (about 4 months with an occasinal ride around the block weather permitting). I live in southern New England.

Post by **Greg D** » October 13, 2008, 7:11 pm

First off, park it with the tank full (less air to spoil the gas). Then try some "Fuel Saver" it coats the top of the fuel but won't hurt anything else.

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » October 13, 2008, 7:35 pm

I have always used Stabil with no issues but like Greg said store with tank full. 1 noair to speed aging process and to no air to cause condensation in tank.

PFM-64f100 · Post by **PFM-64f100** » October 13, 2008, 8:27 pm

hibernation what's that

.... naw use stabil like castruck suggested it works great. I use it in lawn mover in winter months, but I make sure it gets to the whole system by running it for a bit.

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » October 13, 2008, 10:12 pm

Hibernation! is that the name of a Indian tribe like the Hecowies?

Alan,

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » October 13, 2008, 10:19 pm

i run older farm combines (both gas powered),to cut wheat.
they come out of the shed mid-june and run about 2 weeks,
go back in, and set a year, never fill the tanks full, or put in any additives,
never have any problems. i doubt that 4 months will bother your truck much.

Thunderboy · Post by **Thunderboy** » October 14, 2008, 7:02 am

Gasoline begins to lose its volatility after about 30 days, and degrades pretty significantly after about 60 days. It depends on the formulation of gasoline you might have, but 120 days is a pretty long time to leave gas partially full in a tank and still expect it to start. You must have some pretty good gas (or have been pretty lucky) to use your combines once a year and still start, slick4x4.

I would second the use of Stabil in a full tank, and let it run until it gets to the fuel bowl of the carburetor before putting it away for the winter. it is cheap insurance. Here in California, I don't have an easy place to dispose of bad gas. In fact, I have about 10 gallons I just drained from my donor F250 dentside.

Drew

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » October 14, 2008, 1:56 pm

Thunderboy wrote:Here in California, I don't have an easy place to dispose of bad gas. In fact, I have about 10 gallons I just drained from my donor F250 dentside.

Just dilute it with your good gas. Anything using a carburetor won't care (unless it's complete shoe polish/tar/sludge).

You could slosh in some fuel system cleaner, just for good measure.

FORDMANLCRACKEL · Post by **FORDMANLCRACKEL** » October 14, 2008, 8:33 pm

I have used Stabil with great results, even with 2 stroke gas.

Lonnie

YukonCor55 · Post by **YukonCor55** » October 14, 2008, 8:37 pm

I use stabil and try to run each of the old vehicles once a week just to keep fuel flowing through the carb. If we get occasional nice weather (as we sometimes do here in Jersey) and the roads aren't loaded with salt residue, I'll even take 'em out for mid-winter stretch.

66 F-100 Ratrod Kustom · November 8, 2008, 2:10 am

STA-BIL is the way to go

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » November 8, 2008, 8:26 am

slick4x4 wrote:i run older farm combines (both gas powered),to cut wheat.
they come out of the shed mid-june and run about 2 weeks,
go back in, and set a year, never fill the tanks full, or put in any additives,
never have any problems. i doubt that 4 months will bother your truck much.

My thoughts as well. I grew up on a farm too and we had trucks and engines that sat for months. Sometimes you'd dump the skanky gas out of the small engines (usually after it refused to start). As for trucks and combines, they never got much love and usually started.

I cannot believe at all that gas is completely bad in 90 days. Especially in the winter, when its below freezing and the gas ages more slowly.

I actually use some StaBIL in my lawnmower now, and I try to run some stuff dry the last time I use them.. I think keeping the tank full is a good idea from a condensation standpoint, and some Stabil on top for good measure.

But I would not get all worried about 120 days of cold....

Maybe its just the good quality Farmer's Coop gas that keeps those old farm engines ticking.....

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » November 8, 2008, 8:43 am

It won't take but one time of a fuel system full of gunked of gas to make you a Stabil customer for life.

64 litl un · Post by **64 litl un** » November 9, 2008, 4:46 pm

Gasoline was reformulated within the past five years. This was done for enviromental reasons. Used too, gas would last years in the tank. Now it will go bad within six months.
The farm gas may still use the old formula. I know some areas of the country used leaded gas long after it was gone from here.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 9, 2008, 5:16 pm

63 big un wrote: Used too, gas would last years in the tank. Now it will go bad within six months.

sometimes it does not last that long.
i swear its watered down sometimes.
they should be calling it diet gas or gas lite. less octane, less life, more $.

shawns fords · Post by **shawns fords** » November 9, 2008, 5:20 pm

I just threw some 2 year old fuel in my slick from my 69's tank, fired right up

I drain my fuel system once a year by running the carb out with thep ump turned off, but my fuel never goes bad. I run the engine about once a month to make sure the lines and carb stay clean. I think it is very bad in more humid climates, when I lived in texas, I saw fuel tarnish over night, sort of like bare metal.
Heat works also dry gas etc etc