Should I add Sta-bil and 114 Octane before winter storage?

[MikeT1982]

I store my DSM with a full tank of gas that i top off in October before detailing and covering it in the garage for the winter. I'm running 18PSI on larger turbo and Walbro 190, larger injectors and tuned with Apexi Super AFC. I usually let the car sit for about 6 months. I haven't had a problem yet but in the spring I also drive off boost for the first tank of fuel (easy as I have a 20G turbo and have to intentionally want it to come alive to use it LoL, very lazy turbo). My question is, would there be any possible benefit or damage caused by me adding a container of Sta-bil and a container of 114 Octane prior to topping off with fresh Sunoco 93 in the fall? Could I go straight out on boost in the spring without worry?

 

[LiquidX]

Just curious but why do you top off the tank?

 

[3kgt2nv]

i work at an airport and deal with 100 Octane fuel and the issue of long term storage all the time.

fuel can still destabilize even with staybil in it. and the higher the octane fuel the more hydroscopic it becomes. most water infiltration in fuel occurs from natural condensation from the fuel, yes even in cold weather. and if you have the stock tank there is an air pocket in it that allows this to form. it is there so in hot weather it can allow the fuel to expand without putting stress on the tank.

1st if your not tuned for the high octane you can cause just as many issues by running it since it will change the burn characteristics of the fuel in the cylinder.

2nd is the garage attached to the house and gets heat/ac if it is top the tank off with 93 and put ethanol defense and some staybil (recommended amount) the ethanol defense helps keep the ethanol from falling out of solution over times of inactivity. Come spring just start it and drive it like normal

2.5 if garage is outside follow the above suggestion for the fuel and if you get a warm day start the car and let it warm up and run to also burn condensation out of the oil and to circulate the fuel a bit to help with the suspension of the ethanol in the fuel.

As a side note to outdoor storage plug your exhaust with something to prevent mice from climbing in. Had a friend that had a mouse climb up his exhaust and make a nest inside his turbo hot side. caused huge back pressure issues for a few days till he shot it out.

another thing to consider is the cost 114 octane fuel is prob about 13-15 per gallon cost wise.

the other option is to do the same thing that every one does for lawn mowers and snow blowers for the summer. drain all the fuel and put it away empty. If the system is dry the chance for rust and fuel going bad isnt there.

some common issues with long tern storage year+ the fuel can denature(smells like varnish) water saturation, water saturation with bacterial growth(clogs everything looks like melted plastic or orange/brown worms) usually found in filters and fuel injectors. if in a state where 10% ethanol is required it can fall out of suspension causing black sludge to form

thats the most common stuff.

personally i would add the two products i said and put 93 if thats what you normally drive with and if you get a chance drive it on a warm day in the winter or let it idle to remove the water/ moister from the fuel and oil system.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I run nothing but 110 in my car and I store it in the winter too. I have always just run it down to near empty (gas light on) and just put it away like that. Then in the spring I get a fresh dose of gas and forget about it. I would rather have pretty much all fresh gas in there rather than have a full tank of old gas. This is just my opinion and what has worked for me for the last 6 years with no problems.

 

[H@xtGSX]

Drain it... Fuel pumps tend to die in old gas varnish...

 

[daren_p]

I've always put mine away full for the winter (run pump 94) & added a full can of Sta-bil. I start mine every month or so. Never had any issues in 9 years. I keep my eye on things for the first tank but haven't experienced any issues, with running normal boost.

 

[KyleClyne]

I enjoy walking out to the garage every couple days to start the car. =) (Unless that can do more harm than good for some reason?..)

 

[3kgt2nv]

I enjoy walking out to the garage every couple days to start the car. =) (Unless that can do more harm than good for some reason?..)

only if your not allowing it to reach proper oil temp to burn off any moisture that may have formed in the oil system

 

[KyleClyne]

Ah, nope. Should be okay. I let it warm up nicely every time I do it. Damn MN winters. I suppose NY ones are no better .

 

[3kgt2nv]

last year was awesome one storm in oct then no snow all year. normally though we get a couple of good 10-14 inch storms and regular stuff normally. by me average temp in winter is 20-30 degrees. and yes i was working on my car outside at 34 degrees last year to pull the motor

 

[MikeT1982]

Thanks a million guys!! I have topped off just because I was convinced this was best but am open for change! I will have to take a of this into consideration, I really appreciate all of the info especially the long informative post thanks a million bro. Yeah garage is not heated and gets down in single digits in the coldest PA winters and 90's at least in summer. Oh and working out in the 30's I know... When i got me dsm in 2008 and lived at the parents I was doing all the resto work on it through the winter as money would allow that was rough. I remember huddling inside of it installing new 6x9's in the rear to replace the blown stocks and it was 20degrees and I had no battery yet so I ran an extension cord out to a little heater inside the car so I could retain feeling in my hands as well as not snap the vinyl panels. The engine work is 10 times worse especially when a wrench slips and you don't feel it till you notice blood and most of the time that was getting in and saying ahh shit as it went onto the carpet.. Then the shampoo freezes trying to get it out... LoL boy we sacrifice for our cars!

 

[2wdlaser]

I wouldn't worry to much about it.

 

[TSIturbo91]

I also run my car till just about empty and just add fresh gas when bringing it back to life. Damn NY and its 10% mandatory ethanol additive. Also a battery tender. But that's all I do then I add 5 gallons of 94 from Sunoco and drive there to top it off and add a fuel system cleaner. But I'm about 45 minutes from one so I'm close to E again and usually have driven all the bad gas out by then. By the way I've seen -33 where I am in the winter.

 

[whiteboyz]

I dont know about you new yorkers finding this 94 octane, But in my part of NY we only have 93 octane as our highest.

 

[TSIturbo91]

I dont know about you new yorkers finding this 94 octane, But in my part of NY we only have 93 octane as our highest.

Well upon investigation it has been phased out and replaced by the 93. But the station I go to hasn't changed the sticker on the pump. And I never bother looking at the other signs because it's the only station I go to.