The Ford Barn

mshmodela · 12-16-2014, 10:54 AM

What level of fuel do you keep in your tank over winter (assuming you'll not be driving it or starting it for 2 months or more? I would assume you're going to either drain it or keep it full. I've read it's better to keep gas in the tank and full.

JBill · 12-16-2014, 11:18 AM

I keep mine about half full, but it's in a heated shop so it doesn't matter that much. I do add some Stabile, just in case. I've never had any problem with starting in the spring.

mcorrell · 12-16-2014, 11:28 AM

If the car is driven regularly and stored for just 3-4 months it probably doesn't matter, but I do like to fill my cars up to protect the inside of the tanks from rust. Yes, Stabil is a must, even in our shorter winters here in NC.
When I purchased my '64 Buick I had all kinds of issues with rust in the fuel lines. It would plug a new filter in less than 150 miles. The sock filter on the pick-up tube was packed full, making the situation worse. The outside of the tank was perfect (southern car) but the inside was terrible due to the previous owner storing the car about 6 months a year near empty. I had to send it to Gas Tank Renu for a complete restoration since aftermarket tanks weren't available.

Patrick L. · 12-16-2014, 11:46 AM

Full.

TDO · 12-16-2014, 11:50 AM

Full with sta-bil

1932BB · 12-16-2014, 01:51 PM

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My truck has an 82 year old gas tank and is parked in an attached garage. I have had good luck with it (no leaks) but do not trust it enough to leave it full all winter. I drain it and use the left over gas in a snow blower. Possibly I am too cautious.

Willie Krash · 12-16-2014, 02:18 PM

Full, Sea-foam or stable. Trying to keep condensation on the tanks wall to a minimum.

C26Pinelake · 12-16-2014, 02:20 PM

Full and a full can of SeaFoam !
Wayne

Keith True · 12-16-2014, 02:53 PM

Whatever happens to be in mine when I shut it off for the winter.I do feel that a tank should really either be full or empty.Just because I do this stuff for a living doesn't mean I'm going to do my own properly.I seldom have much trouble no matter which way I do it.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-16-2014, 03:07 PM

Cold storage, full tank with GOOD GAS ONLY, and some MMO added. 4 OZ to 10 gal.

Purdy Swoft · 12-16-2014, 05:51 PM

I agree with Tom. I would leave mine empty if the gas has ethanol content .

Fred K-OR · 12-16-2014, 07:50 PM

Like Tom points out, it would seem like it would depend on the temp of your storage area. It would seem like a cold storage, maybe keep it full. Heated storage it would seem like it would not be a big concern. Just my $.02. The gas in my rigs is non-crap gas so I kind of leave them with what they end up with.

BlueSunoco · 12-16-2014, 07:56 PM

Full. Add some MMO, Seafoam, Startron, StaBil (what ever you think is best).

I also walk by the A and rock it back and forth every now and then to keep things sloshed around. Old Indian trick

probably does nothing.

12-16-2014, 10:54 AM	#1
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter What level of fuel do you keep in your tank over winter (assuming you'll not be driving it or starting it for 2 months or more? I would assume you're going to either drain it or keep it full. I've read it's better to keep gas in the tank and full. __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

12-16-2014, 11:18 AM	#2
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter I keep mine about half full, but it's in a heated shop so it doesn't matter that much. I do add some Stabile, just in case. I've never had any problem with starting in the spring.

12-16-2014, 11:28 AM	#3
mcorrell Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canotn, NC Posts: 163	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter If the car is driven regularly and stored for just 3-4 months it probably doesn't matter, but I do like to fill my cars up to protect the inside of the tanks from rust. Yes, Stabil is a must, even in our shorter winters here in NC. When I purchased my '64 Buick I had all kinds of issues with rust in the fuel lines. It would plug a new filter in less than 150 miles. The sock filter on the pick-up tube was packed full, making the situation worse. The outside of the tank was perfect (southern car) but the inside was terrible due to the previous owner storing the car about 6 months a year near empty. I had to send it to Gas Tank Renu for a complete restoration since aftermarket tanks weren't available. __________________ 1929 (early) Model A Special Coupe - restored to original 1964 Buick Wildcat convertible

12-16-2014, 11:46 AM	#4
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Full.

12-16-2014, 11:50 AM	#5
TDO Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Enterprise, WV. Posts: 460	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Full with sta-bil

12-16-2014, 01:51 PM	#6
1932BB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Marquette Mich. Posts: 125	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My truck has an 82 year old gas tank and is parked in an attached garage. I have had good luck with it (no leaks) but do not trust it enough to leave it full all winter. I drain it and use the left over gas in a snow blower. Possibly I am too cautious.

12-16-2014, 02:18 PM	#7
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Full, Sea-foam or stable. Trying to keep condensation on the tanks wall to a minimum. __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

12-16-2014, 02:20 PM	#8
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Full and a full can of SeaFoam ! Wayne

12-16-2014, 02:53 PM	#9
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Whatever happens to be in mine when I shut it off for the winter.I do feel that a tank should really either be full or empty.Just because I do this stuff for a living doesn't mean I'm going to do my own properly.I seldom have much trouble no matter which way I do it.

12-16-2014, 03:07 PM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Cold storage, full tank with GOOD GAS ONLY, and some MMO added. 4 OZ to 10 gal.

12-16-2014, 05:51 PM	#11
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter I agree with Tom. I would leave mine empty if the gas has ethanol content .

12-16-2014, 07:50 PM	#12
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Like Tom points out, it would seem like it would depend on the temp of your storage area. It would seem like a cold storage, maybe keep it full. Heated storage it would seem like it would not be a big concern. Just my $.02. The gas in my rigs is non-crap gas so I kind of leave them with what they end up with. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

12-16-2014, 07:56 PM	#13
BlueSunoco Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Windy City Posts: 937	Re: Level of Fuel in your Tank over Winter Full. Add some MMO, Seafoam, Startron, StaBil (what ever you think is best). I also walk by the A and rock it back and forth every now and then to keep things sloshed around. Old Indian trickprobably does nothing.