Fuel stabilizer

[robo1968]

Like this Clicky

Anyone put this stuff into their tanks over the winter storage? Is it worth it? I put Tesco's Momentum 99 into my tank - I'm wondering if these higher octane fuels go off quicker than standard?

[SootySport]

Fuel stabiliser?    don't know what it does myself.  All fuels loose there octane rating over time.  Whatever you do yoou won't be having 99fuel after a few months of storage.  My answer to storing the car is to run down the tank until there is a couple of litres of fuel left. When you come re-starting the car next spring fill the tank at your nearest garage, that way you'll be back to normal running condition, octane wise.

[adamnreeves]

I've been reading the same article, interesting. but not sure about plugging things up on the engine to prevent moisture. What about the moisture already in there

[CL290005]

As we are generally on unleaded fuel then this can stand for around 2-3 months after that then as has been said Octane levels drop, bugs can form but if you are worried just start the car once a month to move the fuel in the pipes. The bugs do cause issues with mild steel, I am not aware if they attack alloy (fuel tank), will try and find out and advise.

[SootySport]

"bugs"?

[adamnreeves]

I thought this was  a wind up but... look here

[CL290005]

Remember this is generally refering to Oil companies not necessary individual cars.

Since ethanol fules have been widely introduced the water interface is not the same as it use to be without ethanol so water becomes more suspended in fuel so this has caused more of a issue. As the article states water contributes to this, prior to the introduction of these fuels I can say that one of the larger oil companies surveyed their tanks for water and removed any excess, we are talking very small amounts before the introduction. Regular testing exist and to provide some more assurance filters are inside the pumps prior to dispensing. There are other ways to control these, I am aware of another company who doses their tanks to kill these.

To give more assurance an oil company will be aware of an issue far earlier than you would experience in your car, imediatly they will stop selling fuel and polish the fuel plus treat the tank in the worst case they would uplift the fuel.

Hope this helps a bit more

[bobsy]

I knew you got bacteria in diesel, but I didn't realise you got it in petrol....

[s2rrr]

I know you can get "bugs" which live on hydrocarbons as I work in an oil refinery. They are nowhere near as widespread as the panic merchants suggest and I have never heard of them in finished product aka petrol and diesel. But will ask the technologists tomorrow as we ship millions of litres a day. There is probably a slight glimmer of truth somewhere but in an estimated million miles of motoring have never come across the necessity to sample my fuel every couple of months ( or ever) or found quatermass like growths in my fuel systems. I did get water in my fuel once in 1969 and there have been cases of local contaminations. Lets get real here, as detailed, drain or reduce your fuel levels to a minimum then top up with fresh next year, Running occassionally would circulate the fuel but could create other issues. I'm also not a big fan of these miracle additives or sprays as most are full of promises and very little substance. Just use common sense when storing your car, I will give mine a little run every month or so depending on road dryness and salt levels otherwise it will be battery conditioner on, cover on and polish occassionally. I may even sit in it now and again and plan my next run out.

Bob

edit to add. Yes there is always water in the bottoms of storage tanks  as a very small percentage of water is always present even in the LNGs but the tanks are regularly drained of any free water before going out to  the customers. The tank outlets are generally higher than the water level as a precaution, but dangler ups can happen.

[CL290005]

Bob,

I totally agree with what you say, this is very rare if correct tests are carried out and monitored. As I advised the larger oil companies have process in place to combat this so in my opinion its not something to worry about.

However I am also aware of that some Dealers did not carryout any de watering when the switch over to E5 happened they did have problems.

I can assure you it does happen downstream (but rare) but I cannot remember ever knowing this to get into a customers car and causing a problem. There is a 5 micron filters in the pumps which block up before these allow dispensing, and before this you will get many customer complaints of slow delivery before the filter becomes full blocked.

My advise is do not worry, oil companies spend fortunes developing fuels to differentiate themselves from competitors so best not to mix other chemicals in them (other than octane boost, personal opinion)

[SteveD]

mmmm superbugs in fuel

[Blatman]

My answer to storing the car is to run down the tank until there is a couple of litres of fuel left.

I disagree. Water will get in through the breather as the ambient temps and mosture levels cycle. Best bet is to fill (FILL) the tank to brimming over. With no air in the tank, it's harder for mositure to get in. This is an old method for storing motorcycles over the winter when they had steel tanks. It was noticed that there would be rust inside the steel tanks if they were left empty, but left full, it was all good.

I also wouldn't run the car for a few minutes every so often. If you start it, drive it. If you're not going to drive it, don't start it. It'll be fine. Come the spring, a few drops of oil down the bores, a few turns by hand, then a few turns on the starter to get the oil pressure up and it's good to go, once you've done a spanner check, oil, water, temp and pressure checks

[pistonbroke]

Here! Here!  Mr B  

[s2rrr]

I said I would ask and I did. There are indeed minor bacterial issues with diesel of low sulphur and with a bio fuel content. If flushed regularly as we do when we fill up it won't be an issue. So unless any of us are running diesel Westfields we can avoid that one easily. Petrol also does lose some of its lighter components whilst stored and degrades from the optimum slightly over time.

Must dash off to the pub again.

Bob

 

[SootySport]

Thes days fuel tanks are all plastic or alloy so rust will not be an issue.