[Print Dad]

Hello to all,
Well I am making pretty steady progress on my Mach 1.
Because I have been having some troubles, I have been running off
a small lawnmower tank. I put in a new tank in the car but left it unhooked and
capped.
Now my problem is the small tank is too small thus I need a bigger tank or use the
real tank in the car.

I am hoping to get the car on the road this summer but not sure....thus I am
uncertain what to do.
I am thinking of using the new tank but how long will todays gas last in the tank?
I know I can treat it with "seafoam" or other product but even if I do that how long will the gas last? I don't want gumming issues again.

I know this is a silly question but I need some opinions as to what to do.
I had planned to wait to use the actual tank until all was just about complete.

Any ideas what else to use to stabilize the gas?

Any advice really appreciated............Jim

[05horse]

stabil fuel stabilizer is the ONLY product i use in my truck car boat lawnmowers and chain saw!

[65BlueHorse]

We use stabil fuel stabilizer at Tractor Supply in everything. Lawn tractors, go carts, log splitters, rototillers, dirt bikes, basically everything that takes gas. The stuff may sit for months at a time without being started and they are never run more than a few minutes at a time. The stabilizer seems to work good to save the gas. I also use stabil im my snowmobiles which get parked for up to 9 months at a time without being started and have had no problems yet.

[Ivy66GT]

Originally Posted by Print Dad

I am thinking of using the new tank but how long will todays gas last in the tank?

Don't you have any easy questions like religion or politics?

You will get answers all over the map on this one since its a personal thing infused with a lot of FIS (fear, ignorance and superstition). The gas stabzlizer folks want you to believe that you MUST use their products. Maybe in some places you do, but I have NEVER used it and my 5 cars have gas in their tanks for months at a time and I have NEVER had a problem with any of them now, or in the last 35 years. Today's gas evaporates much more cleanly than decades ago and I have opened the carb on my Mustang to find it clean as a whistle after all the gas evaporates. It takes longer for the gas to reach us here through the pipeline than the short lifetimes that some claim the gas has. Last week I drove my Rolls with gas in that tank I bought last Christmas - nothing any different now than it was then except the weather is warmer. Since winter gas is more volatile than summer, if it were a really hot day I WOULD expect that gas to cause vapor lock type problems.

Since gas varies from one refinery to another as well as from winter to summer it amazes me that someone can claim to make a product that 'stabilizes' a witches brew of unknown and varying chemical composition. Possibly water in the air is a culprit here. If that is the case then us desert dwellers experience may not apply to you. Remember, your mileage may vary.

Personally, I wouldn't concern myself. I, also provide you no guarantees, just my thoughts and observations from 40 years as an auto-interested engineer.

[Print Dad]

Hello Ivy66GT,
I always seem to come up with beauties.

I had so much trouble because of my old (20+ years) gas that I am a bit nervous about using the new tank.

I know this is a real tuff question with lots of ideas and opinions, I appreciate your input.
When I post an open one like this...I am looking for ideas such a s yours.

The little tank is becoming a pain so I may just go for it.
Still not sure........Thanks for all yor input on this forum...I often see people like yourself clean up a reply I make. I never take offense and learn from it. I am just a backyard wrencher who started in the 60's.

Thanks........JIm

[dne']

Hi, dne' here!
I didn't have anything to do this evening, so I'm just going through the posts. My new tank has a plug. I figured if I had gas in it for an extended amount of time, I could at least drain it out vs using a siphon hose. Of course I wouldn't fill my tank brim full, just enough to get it running. Just more thought for you Print dad!
dne'

[Print Dad]

Hello dne'
Good point. When I bought the tank I was certain to get one with a
drain plug installed. i kinda forgot about that. (I Think it is age thing)
I am leaning towards using the tank and not messing with my little lawnmower tank. I must admit though, the small mower tank got me going.


Thanks for the post...........Print Dad

[Ivy66GT]

Originally Posted by Print Dad

I had so much trouble because of my old (20+ years) gas that I am a bit nervous about using the new tank.

20 years? Yes, I think that WOULD cause you problems. Even the stabilizer folks aren't going to have anything for archeological storage times.

BTW, I bought a new tank with the drain. For the life of me I can't get the $%^&*() drain plug out without mangling the plug. Ow well, it was for authenticity anyhow and the original one was never out in its 40 years so why should this one come out either?

By experimenting, siphoning out the tank contents from the filler only works well for the first few gallons. To get it really empty for removal I had to pull off the outlet pipe and essentially siphon gas through the fuel gauge pipe.