Leaving your truck, car, or most all gasoline operated equipment in storage is asking for trouble! Many of us, as hobbyists, collect more cars and trucks than we will drive at least monthly. They sit in the back of your garage or are stored across town in a friend’s garage, barn, etc.
Three to five years later when it is time to move them, they usually won’t start. You find in some cases, you cannot even get fuel to the carburetor.
After placing the blame on the carb, fuel pump, or filter, you finally (after hours of work) it comes down to bad gasoline. How did this happen?
The answer is simple. In today’s world ethanol is added to some gasoline as much as 10%. It gives more fire power to the gasoline that has been reduced in octane partially with additives that help lower air pollution.
This ethanol (alcohol) is damaging too many rubber and neoprene seals in your fuel system. Even worse, with the formula of modern gasoline plus ethanol, it will even change to sludge in your fuel system including the tank during long storage. Additives placed in ethanol gas to prevent fuel deterioration is said to be effective not more than about 1 ½ years.
All this spells “Big Money” to clean your fuel system. Just taking your fuel tank out of your vehicle, having it cleaned at a radiator repair shop (there aren’t many of these businesses anymore) will cost a minimum of $300.00.
We recently visited a small engine repair shop where 30 hedge trimmers, chain saws, and weed whackers were waiting to be repaired. The shop owner said 95% were there because of using gasoline with ethanol.
The answer to prevent this problem may be easier than you think. If possible STOP using gasoline with ethanol in your vehicles that are rarely driven or started. In our state, Missouri, there is no ethanol at many of the premium grade gasoline pumps . This maybe the answer in your area. Check the gasoline pumps in your state and see if your premium gas is ethanol free.
Some of you may remember the days prior to the 1970’s when you bought a vehicle that had been sitting 20 to 30 years. The gasoline smelled terrible but the motor would start. If it had brakes, you could even drive around the block. There was no alcohol in the gasoline.
Use premium gasoline in your stored vehicles or any yard equipment with limited use if it is without ethanol.
In Missouri, the approximately .20¢ extra per gallon for premium fuel far outweighs the headaches later!!
