Winter layup - why fuel tank full ?
- Thread starter charlie8
- Start date
According to the AA:
Condensation in the fuel tank is bad news and can lead to corrosion, water in the fuel and, in diesels, bacterial and fungal growth. Unless you can ensure a dry stable environment, it’s best to store your car with a full tank of fuel to reduce the space for water to condense.
Condensation in the fuel tank is bad news and can lead to corrosion, water in the fuel and, in diesels, bacterial and fungal growth. Unless you can ensure a dry stable environment, it’s best to store your car with a full tank of fuel to reduce the space for water to condense.
As above. I have to say I wouldn’t enjoy using the full tank knowing it’s been sat for a long time so it seems pretty loose loose to me.
I would consider filling the tank for storage and then siphoning out the fuel when you’re no longer storing and using it for the lawn mower or something.
I’d also put standard fuel in the car as v power and the like is most likely going to be sat in the tanks at the forecourt for longer meaning it’s already getting older. Maybe that’s a bit OCD, but I don’t think I’m the only one with OCD issues on the forum
I would consider filling the tank for storage and then siphoning out the fuel when you’re no longer storing and using it for the lawn mower or something.
I’d also put standard fuel in the car as v power and the like is most likely going to be sat in the tanks at the forecourt for longer meaning it’s already getting older. Maybe that’s a bit OCD, but I don’t think I’m the only one with OCD issues on the forum
The zeds have a plastic fuel tank that won't corrode. Personally I would store it as empty as possible, and put fresh fuel in before restarting after storage.
Mike
Mike
I don’t think you would notice any deterioration in the the fuel after a few months.
Even after six months with a closed system you’ll be fine You won’t be going from a lay up to a track day?
The full tank is to prevent condensation as has been said - an empty tank has a big surface area for condensation to form and the water formed will have a bigger effect than any fuel deterioration. Unless you go the the lengths of a tank purge?
Even after six months with a closed system you’ll be fine You won’t be going from a lay up to a track day?
The full tank is to prevent condensation as has been said - an empty tank has a big surface area for condensation to form and the water formed will have a bigger effect than any fuel deterioration. Unless you go the the lengths of a tank purge?
I've tended to overwinter my BMWs over the past few years as too tight to buy some winter wheels 
, so stored from beginning of Nov to middle of March. The only thing I've really ensured is the car is thoroughly warmed through before storage to minimise water in the exhaust, apart from that I just put it away with whatever amount of fuel is in it. My best friend's are a ctek charger and a rodent repeller which is under the bonnet.
Any excuse for a pic
Tim.
, so stored from beginning of Nov to middle of March. The only thing I've really ensured is the car is thoroughly warmed through before storage to minimise water in the exhaust, apart from that I just put it away with whatever amount of fuel is in it. My best friend's are a ctek charger and a rodent repeller which is under the bonnet.Any excuse for a pic
Tim.
Your all Wrong........
Don't store it as we can still have some nice days to get it used 
Don't store it as we can still have some nice days to get it used
I think both for storing empty and full is something to say.
I think if you store it full with a high octane fuel or normal fuel with some fuel stabilizer thats the better option.
RON98 fuels dont age that much compared to 95 fuel, and fuel stabilizers also work good. 6 months wont be any problem.
I think if you store it full with a high octane fuel or normal fuel with some fuel stabilizer thats the better option.
RON98 fuels dont age that much compared to 95 fuel, and fuel stabilizers also work good. 6 months wont be any problem.
Jollyjoiner said:Your all Wrong........
Don't store it as we can still have some nice days to get it used
+1!
Mike
Thanks.
Based on this condensation data then, pretty sure that unless you have really drained the tank down, then the amount of water present to condense in the sealed system as a fraction of the liquid left, is very small and unlikely to have any affect on .... well anything, unless left outside in a climate that swings and for a very long period of time ?
Therefore faced with the question empty or full for 6 months, then full will win, but really sounds like either is not an issue.
My winter layup is really to work on it over a prolonged period and tick off all the jobs realized from a summer season, so most of it will also be up on stands eg DIY wheel refurb will consume a few w/s' alone
Thanks again everyone
Based on this condensation data then, pretty sure that unless you have really drained the tank down, then the amount of water present to condense in the sealed system as a fraction of the liquid left, is very small and unlikely to have any affect on .... well anything, unless left outside in a climate that swings and for a very long period of time ?
Therefore faced with the question empty or full for 6 months, then full will win, but really sounds like either is not an issue.
My winter layup is really to work on it over a prolonged period and tick off all the jobs realized from a summer season, so most of it will also be up on stands eg DIY wheel refurb will consume a few w/s' alone
Thanks again everyone
I've always spouted the 'full tank' mantra because it made sense with old cars with big steel tanks that were probably rusty when they left the factory (BL! 
). But a quick check found a guy who's done the math (for boat fuel tanks specifically) and called BS on the whole theory.
Basically at a garage temp of 10 deg C the air in a half full 15 gallon tank like the e85 contains less than .5 of a gram of water vapour (= 0.1 of a tea spoon) and there is no reason to think it will condense on the inside anyway. If it did the tank is plastic and the fuel filter would deal with it the same as the rest of the year you run around with a half-full or near empty tank. Tanks are sealed so fuel degradation over a few months cant be too much of an issue. Based on this guys calcs I can't see a problem.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/myth_of_condensation_in_fuel_tanks.htm
). But a quick check found a guy who's done the math (for boat fuel tanks specifically) and called BS on the whole theory.Basically at a garage temp of 10 deg C the air in a half full 15 gallon tank like the e85 contains less than .5 of a gram of water vapour (= 0.1 of a tea spoon) and there is no reason to think it will condense on the inside anyway. If it did the tank is plastic and the fuel filter would deal with it the same as the rest of the year you run around with a half-full or near empty tank. Tanks are sealed so fuel degradation over a few months cant be too much of an issue. Based on this guys calcs I can't see a problem.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/myth_of_condensation_in_fuel_tanks.htm
earthdweller
Senior member
There’s some serious overthinking going on around the various threads about winter
For me
My car isn’t sorned .. it will come out at some point over the winter ... in fact it nearly did today but I bottled it as it was -9 outside and I refuse to put the roof up unless it’s lashing down
It is in the garage ...
It was put away ... clean
It does have a cover on it ..because of dust .., wife and children .. it offers a little protection
The tyres have the correct level of air in them .. I don’t think a few weeks will turn them into spongebob square wheels
It is hooked up to CTEK charger
It has whatever fuel it had in it when I parked it .. about a 1/4 tank iirc
And I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of it
For me
My car isn’t sorned .. it will come out at some point over the winter ... in fact it nearly did today but I bottled it as it was -9 outside and I refuse to put the roof up unless it’s lashing down
It is in the garage ...
It was put away ... clean
It does have a cover on it ..because of dust .., wife and children .. it offers a little protection
The tyres have the correct level of air in them .. I don’t think a few weeks will turn them into spongebob square wheels
It is hooked up to CTEK charger
It has whatever fuel it had in it when I parked it .. about a 1/4 tank iirc
And I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of it