Re: Winter storage

["Lauren E. Pratt" <pratt@its.bldrdoc.gov>]

Sean T. McCormick wrote:
> 
> One of the most important things I've found is to add fuel stabilizer,if
> vehicle sits for up to 3 months or more.On my old Norton after only a
> few weeks the fuel smells like skunk piss.Must be these new fuel
> formulations not very stable.The stabilizer can be had at most auto
> parts stores.Also top up tanks to stop condinsation.

This is the most important thing to do as it prevents gumming
up the carbs and injectors due to the varnish formation that
is in all gasoline.

Also someone(?) wrote:

   >Many people suggest pulling the plugs and spraying WD40 in 
     >there.  Pulling the plugs is, of course, a PITA.  How does the 
     >group feel about this idea: pour a bunch of two-cycle oil or 
     >Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas tank (perhaps running the tank a 
     >little low first), then drive a while to get the fuel system 
     >full of the mixture.  Then, before storing, disconnect the 
     >ignition and turn the starter a few times to spray the gas/oil 
     >mix into the cylinders.  The gas should evaporate fairly 
     >quickly, leaving the oil on the surfaces.  Will that work?

First WD 40 is the 40th formulation of a Water Displacement product.
It has NO lubrication qualities to it, even though it will dissolve
some oil and grease in some cleaning applications. Just spray some
on a piece of class or metal and in a few hours it will be gone,
all gone, no oil left. Inside a cylinder it will only wash off
what oil is there leaving the cylinder wall dry. Worse than doing
nothing. 

Mixing oil in with the gasoline and cranking the engine with the
ignition disabled will cause the same effect, unless the mixture
is about 50% oil. You will get a lot of unburned fuel and only a 
very small amount of oil. The unburned fuel will condense and again
wash what oil there is off the cylinder walls.

The best solution is to use the fuel stabilizer in the fall before
winter storage and in the spring remove the plugs, pour 1 spoon 
full of oil into each cylinder, crank the engine over several times
to distribute the oil, reinstall the plugs and start it up.
Note: save some summer time fuel with no alcohol for topping up in
the fall if you fear alcohol damage of your rubber fuel parts.

At least this is my opinion.

Cheers    Lauren

-------------------------------------
Name: Lauren Pratt
E-mail: lpratt@its.bldrdoc.gov
Date: 2/19/97
Time: 12:25:04 PM

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Follow-Ups:

• Re: Winter storage
• From: "Kirbert" <palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net>
• Re: Winter storage
• From: Randy Wilson <randy@taylor.infi.net>

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