The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all
What does everybody do in regard to fuel in the tank over winter, do you brim the tank to avoid rust and add a stabiliser to stop it going off.
Thanks ian

I used to use enginewise V2K corrosion inhibitor in my tank. It was used in aircraft tanks & engines in long term storage. Nowadays I just brim the tank and this hasn’t caused me any issues. My cars also stored in an air chamber over winter with a continuous airflow.

I've never found the need. Fuel doesn't go that bad in the three months or so that my car rests while the roads are salty.

I was told to drain fuel by a very well respected Aston Martin restorer. Every car that came into him with running issues in the spring was almost always down to fuel. I asked him the same question and he said without a doubt drain the fuel. Sadly I dont always take his advice as I have a few cars. Some cope with it much better than others, such as my early low compression Range Rover which seems to almost run on anything. The XJ12 on Strombergs really doesn't like stale/old fuel, and I can say it is usually stale within 3/5 months from my experience. Thank you for reminding me, I will have to go and drain some petrol not my favourite job.

ps, I have just purchased some Millers stabiliser so will see how that will go.

I have sort of solved the problem for this year as I have realised my boot drain pipe is not connected to the outlet fitting, it just discharges into the boot. I am going to have to drain and remove the tank to get to it, can't say I am looking forward to that

When you do tackle the project, If your fuel tank sump does not yet have a drain plug, you might want to add one a la the later cars. Will make the next time much easier to get the last bit of fuel out of the tank before manhandling it out of the boot area.

Simplest way to drain the fuel tank is to remove the fuel line from the filter to the carbs and fit a length of hose draining into a Gerry can. Then power up the fuel pump and wait. Until the Gerry can is full. Then repeat. Or until the fuel stops coming out.

Who needs to mess around with drain plugs in sumps, or fuel dripping down arms while under the car?

Didn't suggest you drain the bulk of the fuel via the sump.

You can't remove the tank from the car without removing the fuel sump.

Even when you pump out the fuel with the fuel pump until it stops, there will still be some fuel in the sump. Which is where the sump plug comes in handy.

Steve, Good point.

Good idea, I can easily drill and tap the bottom of the sump for a drain bolt,

I’ve always used STA-BIL product in all my classic cars and bikes over the winter months and which have proved to do as it says on the tin.

https://www.sta-bil.co.uk/products/sta- ... er-4-sizes

Paul,
How much do you add to a full E Type tank? Just gauging how much to order.

Ordered

This is the recommended quantity taken from their fact sheet.

USAGE DIRECTIONS:

30ml treats up to 9.5L of fuel. Use STA-BIL only with fresh fuel, and keep petrol tank 95% full to avoid condensation build up in tank during storage. Run Engine for 5 minutes after adding product to treat entire fuel system. Product does not contain alcohol.

Hi I have owned my Etype for 35 Canadian winters,have never used stabilizer,fired up every spring no problem,clean oil in the engine more of a priority to me.
Regards Gerry Ontario Canada.