Hi all. I just had a thought while posting on another thread... My wife and I are the only 2 people in the household. We have 3 cars: A new Audi A6 (her daily driver), a 2010 Volvo XC60 cross-over (my daily) and Rufus, my R53 (a fun car). Usually her car burns a tank of gas every few weeks as it gets her to work, we use it for weekend run-about stuff and we use it for road trips 3-4 times per year. I generally work from home, but the Volvo gets out 2-3 times per week for lunch runs or the occasional errand. It uses a tank of gas every month or two. The MINI is a fun car and burns a tank a day when I'm off to MOTD or some other event, but sometimes the gas sits for 2-3 months. It eventually gets burned and, at the least, I try to get it on the road once a week. When the COVID issue hit, North Carolina issued a stay-at-home order. I ran out and filled all 3 tanks (just in case fuel went short). That was 5-6 weeks ago. We have burned 1/8 of the tank in my wife's car and almost none of the gas in the other 2 cars. THE QUESTION: Should I get some Stabil (fuel stabilizer) in the tanks? I used to use it in my lawn mower / camp generator tanks and it just occurred to me that fuel degradation might be an issue.
My Miata used to sit for 4 months every winter with no issues. I just filled the tank before I stopped driving for the winter. I think you'll be OK. Some Stay-bil wouldn't hurt. The reason for using that stuff in mowers & power equipment is any ethanol will play havoc with those carburetors.
I stored a Jeep for a friend, it sat for two years with nobody driving it. It started and ran just fine.
I know in our dirt bikes I couldn't let gas sit in them over the winter but I think @Crashton is spot on its the carbs that I would have to clean in the spring. Also I believe the fuel systems on modern cars are sealed. They do vent but I don't think much moisture gets in to the tank. The %10 alcohol is what absorbs moisture causing gas to go bad.
I was in Lowe’s today for some home repair bits and happened to walk past a shelf that had Stabil on it. I took that to be a sign and pitched a bottle in the cart.
FYI the Dragon have never been closed, only turn around on the NC side way down in 129. TN side has always been open during COVID.
My cars sit for 6 months each year, sometimes with the gas from the fall 18 months before I start them. Blue Mini started up 2 weeks ago from a 5 1/2 month slumber just fine. All I worry about is the batteries and all are on pretty nice smart chargers. I think it takes a lot longer before old gas will not burn any longer. My '93 4Runner had been in the yard for 8 years with the same gas in the tank when I needed to move it last. The clutch had leaked all fluid so that took a while to remedy, but once I threw the charged battery in and turned the key, it started up pretty easily and ran fine to move it. Been sitting there with the now 10-yer-old gas ever since. There's room in the tank to add fresh gas, so I am not too worried about the gas. I think I may have put a bottle of Stabil in the tank 10 years ago I think it is all BS, and gasoline burns even 10 years into being produced. It may not be the best juice, but as long as it's not ethanol laden unleaded in fuel lines made for leaded gas cars, I don't see why I should worry as long as the engine starts after storage.
The thing I worried most about was rust in the fuel tank. Since the MINI uses a plastic tank that's a non-issue. Stabil now has a product called 360. It is supposed to keep metal tanks from rusting. I used it in my Miata for storage.
This is all you need for long term storage. I have one and I order the O ring terminal connectors and use the quick connect. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W3QT226/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also have a nice little jump box that will start a diesel truck. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015TKSSB8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 NOCO Boost HD GB150 4000 Amp 12-Volt UltraSafe Portable Lithium Car Battery Jump Starter Pack For Up To 10-Liter Gasoline And Diesel Engines.
I've got one of the bigger Noco chargers that can trickle charge and/or recharge a fully-flat battery in a fairly short amount of time. The thing I love about it is the modular ends. you can attach the large, standard charger clamps or you can buy an extra end that has eyes, so it can be more permanently attached to the car. Rufus, my R53, lives in a garage with a spring-wound extension cord on the ceiling, so I can pop the charger on in seconds with this little bit hanging out in the boot: