Storing premixed fuel over winter .

[kerny]

My rib is now in the garage for the winter months , my question is I still have 20 litres or so of premixed fuel left in my tanks is it best to leave the vent screw open or closed on the tanks and will the fuel still be okay to use for spring even if the temp drops well below freezing over the winter period . The tanks are the plastic 22ltr ones .

Cheer's

kerny .

[Bigmuz7]

I know there are those that say aye .. and those that say nay .. me .. I'd leave it .. and on a first outing next year, blend in some fresh, and try and burn the whole lot off ready for your next trip and I'd do that for any engine BTW 2 smoke or otherwise

[willk]

I'd close the vents and keep it. As BigwusS says, blend it with new stock in the Spring. If you're uneasy about the duration of storage, buy a little fuel stabiliser and add it in.

As an aside, I've just got in from "winterising" me strimmer and chainsaw. Interestingly, Jonserd 2T oil (for buzzy garden engines) has it's own fuel stabiliser - so no worries on the stored stuff. I wonder do any of the marine 2T oils have similar additives?

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by willk

buy a little fuel stabiliser and add it in.

Caution on that one for Optimax users (with best respect Willk ) .. rekon it had something to do with a failed injector on a new 150 I had when this stuff was used .. could have been chance ofcourse .. so never used it thereafter, and no problems since

[spartacus]

One thing I've noticed with stored petrol in my own garage is that it still needs to be vented. The garage door (metal up and over variety) can soak up the sun's rays even on a winter's day, which in turn generates heats the garage and pressurises the fuel vapour in the 25 litre tanks. This requires the fuel tanks to be vented. Not an issue if the fuel is kept away from sources of heat and light, but something to be aware off.

[willk]

Originally Posted by spartacus

The garage door (metal up and over variety) can soak up the sun's rays even on a winter's day, which in turn generates heats the garage and pressurises the fuel vapour in the 25 litre tanks. This requires the fuel tanks to be vented.

Lucky you - mine is as cold as Charity.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by willk

Lucky you - mine is as cold as Charity.

Snow forecast for Wednesday. I've already looked out the shovel.

[kerny]

Many thanks for your advice guy's , I will vent the tanks every now and then just in case my two metal up and over doors capture the winter sun and radiate the heat into the garage ( if they do were all moving in) just messing spartacus but it is a valid point , then come spring top up with some fresh juice . I'm just glad I don't have to throw it away especially at today's prices .

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by spartacus

One thing I've noticed with stored petrol in my own garage is that it still needs to be vented. The garage door (metal up and over variety) can soak up the sun's rays even on a winter's day, which in turn generates heats the garage and pressurises the fuel vapour in the 25 litre tanks. This requires the fuel tanks to be vented. Not an issue if the fuel is kept away from sources of heat and light, but something to be aware off.

Does the fuel (and vapor) expand enough for tank rupture to be an issue?

If it does, then I'd agree that venting the tank is wise.

If not, I'd say that having fuel vapor accumulating in the garage would be more of a concern. Moreso if you have a furnace or water heater in there.

jky

[C-NUMB]

I never had problems by leaving premix( 95e) for over the winter in the tank, stored inside in a heated garage. Guess that´s pure luck, and for sophisticated engines might be another outcome.

When had the carbs tuned on my 90hp aeto, asked the local yam dealer how they do. They use "small engine fuel", different stuff than 95e, no issues with storage for longer times. And they leave the carbs full.

So this year did run the 3,5, 25hp and the yam this way(in addition to fogging oil), lets see what will happen in the spring.

[9D280]

If you have 2L of air there isn't a lot to expand / contract when the temp rises / drops.

I usually store mine almost full for that reason. Having said that, apart form my broken engine I do try & burn some over the winter too.......

As for reuse, I've scessfully used stuff that had been lying for a year in a premix carb machine. Shook the tank first to make sure it was mixed, engine fired second pull.

[paul tilley]

i put it in the car and use it up then i dont have the storage worries ,it soon gets diluted and doesnt smoke much if you put 10ltrs in at a time then fill right up with neat petrol even really old stale petrol works ok like this

[jambo]

Yes I agree with paul if I ever have petrol left in my jerries I usually burn away in the car no problem.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by paul tilley

i put it in the car and use it up then i dont have the storage worries ,it soon gets diluted and doesnt smoke much if you put 10ltrs in at a time then fill right up with neat petrol even really old stale petrol works ok like this

Does the pre mixed oil not affect the injectors or carbs on the car if you do this ??

[Erin]

Originally Posted by kerny

Does the pre mixed oil not affect the injectors or carbs on the car if you do this ??

I would have thought so, and possibly the cat as well.

I've never had any problem with old fuel in my rib, and sometimes there's up to 100 litres in there over winter, though I normally top up as soon as I'm launched for the season, so it gets diluted 1:1.

Conversely, my mower is a bu@@er to start with old fuel (4-stroke) which is normally siphoned off the boat tank in winter.

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Caution on that one for Optimax users (with best respect Willk ) .. rekon it had something to do with a failed injector on a new 150 I had when this stuff was used .. could have been chance ofcourse .. so never used it thereafter, and no problems since

Another reason to go e-tec

Not fussy with old fuel.

[paul tilley]

i have never had any problems with injectors ,carbs or cats on any of my cars after putting in fresh or stale premix possibly due to the fact that it is such a dilute mix if you only put 10 or 20ltrs in at a time then fill up with neat petrol

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Not fussy with old fuel.

It wasnt old fuel .. it was fuel stabiliser keep up now

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

It wasnt old fuel .. it was fuel stabiliser keep up now

Not fussy with fuel stabiliser either

Apart from when you put the genuine stuff in

http://www.etecownersgroup.com/post?id=4944107