Winterization with New DMCH Pump/Sender Combo - Full or Empty Tank?

[DavidProehl]

I'm winterizing my D this week for the first time since installing the new pump/sender all in one unit. Previously I would drain my tank as low as possible before winterizing to prevent my rubber fuel pump boot from marinading all winter in gas. Now that all the rubber is gone this is no longer a concern. In other cars however common practice is to fill up the tank so that water doesn't have a chance to build up in the tank.

Making matters potentially worse is that I still have about 1/8 of a tank of California gas in the car, so it is a water absorbing ethanol blend (here in MN I can buy real gas).

So my question is: Do I add stable to what I have and call it good or do I top off the tank with pure non oxygenated gas and some stable?

[DMCMW Dave]

Making matters potentially worse is that I still have about 1/8 of a tank of California gas in the car, so it is a water absorbing ethanol blend (here in MN I can buy real gas).

So my question is: Do I add stable to what I have and call it good or do I top off the tank with pure non oxygenated gas and some stable?

I'd still rather it be empty than full. I'd rather put fresh gas in next spring than have to burn off old gas before adding fresh. Wwater/condesiation is not a bid deal as the tank is plastic. That fear comes from old cars with steel tanks.

If you want to do the best thing possible, drain the tank and use the gas in your snowblower. Leave it empty until next spring.

Stabilizer (Sta-Bil or Sea Foam) won't hurt but isn't all that necessary for a 4-5 month sit.

[David T]

I'm winterizing my D this week for the first time since installing the new pump/sender all in one unit. Previously I would drain my tank as low as possible before winterizing to prevent my rubber fuel pump boot from marinading all winter in gas. Now that all the rubber is gone this is no longer a concern. In other cars however common practice is to fill up the tank so that water doesn't have a chance to build up in the tank.

Making matters potentially worse is that I still have about 1/8 of a tank of California gas in the car, so it is a water absorbing ethanol blend (here in MN I can buy real gas).

So my question is: Do I add stable to what I have and call it good or do I top off the tank with pure non oxygenated gas and some stable?

After seeing and helping repair many cars because of gas that goes bad my advice is to remove as much as you can of it. Modern fuel does not store well and anything you add makes it less volatile. Not exactly what you want in a fuel. Add fresh when you wake it up again. The other thing I see is a car that was put into short-term storage and then it becomes long term but was not prepared for it. You should also remove the battery and make sure to flush the brake and clutch fluid every 2 years. Other things you should do is cover the car, protect it so nothing can fall on it, over-inflate the tires, test the anti-freeze (change it if it is over 5 years old) make sure the insurance is up to date, make sure the keys and all of the paperwork is in a safe place, remove everything from the car and store it away. I recommend lathering the leather with Leatherique Rejuvinator and if where you store the car can be accessed by mice, some mothballs under the car. It doesn't have to be heated but the car should not be on dirt (a hard floor like asphalt of concrete) and protected from the weather. The area should not be subject to flooding. tornadoes, sinkholes, etc.

[DMCMW Dave]

....do is cover the car, ..

I've started to re-think car covers. In a normal dry residential garage they should not be an issue, but over the years we've seen two issues with car covers.

1 - embedded dirt in a humid garage - this can cause actual corrosion and pitting of the stainless. (This happens over decades, not a winter). A dry car won't corrode. Dust on a car over the winter won't hurt anything, just wash it come spring.

2 - "Invincibility". This is a human nature problem. When people see a covered car, it suddenly turns into a workbench or storage table. We see many cars with cracked louvers and dents/scratches from above that no way happened while the car was being driven. Sure, people can stack crap on a car without a cover on it, but they are less likely to do that if they see the car.

It is important to keep things from falling on cars, the most common dent repairs we do are from things falling on the car in a garage, not from road hazards. Put your old paint cans in the basement or out in the shed, not on shelving over the car.

[SS Spoiler]

Here in Montana I can still get ethanol free premium gas....

[DavidProehl]

Thanks much for the feedback. I'll leave the tank near empty then. Much appreciated!

I also cover my car over the winter, but it never becomes a shelf for me. I wash, pull the battery, and over inflate tires before covering, then let it sit for the winter. The only real change to the routine was the new fuel pump, but it sounds like I shouldn't change anything as a result.

No snow yet in the forecast, but could come any day now. Already had very light flurries.

[DMCMW Dave]

No snow yet in the forecast, but could come any day now. Already had very light flurries.

It missed you. This was the back lot of the shop this morning. No, that's not a DeLorean.

38172

[Ron]

You just made the Christmas spirit hit me, Dave. Thanks!

[DavidProehl]

Looks like winter arrived in full force!

[DMCMW Dave]

Looks like winter arrived in full force!

Yeah - we're gonna make like a tree and get outta here for Thanksgiving. Hopefully we won't see any of this crap in South Carolina.

[micmak]

Personally I am not a fan of putting a cover on the car in Winter. It depends on your own situation, I guess. Because I live out in the country, I get a lot of mice coming in from the fields and making several homes in my workshop for the Winter. I use tons of mothballs around and under the cars and bounce sheets too, but the mice still pose a problem. But I have found that when the cover is on the car for months on end, the mice get under the cover and build a nest on the car! This can really cause a problem with stains on the SS panels. Its even worse on a painted car. As Dave says, all you have to face by not using your cover is dust. Dust won't hurt the car. You can wash it off in the Spring without any problem.

……Mike……


BTW, anyone got any tips on keeping mice away from cars in Winter? I have tried all sorts of things over the years and although I will catch a few dozen every Winter, between snap traps, live traps and poisons, they still invade my space every Winter and pose a problem.

[DMCMW Dave]

... and bounce sheets too, but the mice still pose a problem. ..

We got a car in a few months ago with Bounce sheets all over the inside. One had a mouse wrapped up in it. He was apparently thankful for all the blankets someone left him.

[davidc89]

BTW, anyone got any tips on keeping mice away from cars in Winter? I have tried all sorts of things over the years and although I will catch a few dozen every Winter, between snap traps, live traps and poisons, they still invade my space every Winter and pose a problem.

Get a cat

[David T]

We got a car in a few months ago with Bounce sheets all over the inside. One had a mouse wrapped up in it. He was apparently thankful for all the blankets someone left him.

The best solution so far is to place mothballs under the car all over. Don't put them in the car or you will never get rid of the smell. The very best solution is to try to seal the garage up tight enough so they can't get near the car in the first place but that is not always possible, especially in a very old garage. Their bones are flexible enough so mice can get through very small openings. I still prefer a cover to keep the car from getting scratched up but you should not pile things on the car. Before you know it you can add a LOT of weight and damage the car. If the stuff falls over it can break the windshield or dent the hood. I always check out the bag for the jack. Mice seem to go for that first. Must be tasty.

[micmak]

Get a cat

I tried that David. I had a cat in the workshop, never in the house. I used to say it was a working animal not a pet! But the darned thing used to climb up on the cars. That normally wouldn’t be a problem aside from whatever dirt she would bring up there, but this cat couldn’t get up onto the cars without scratching and scraping her way up. She used to leave scratch marks on the panels and on the painted surfaces of my other car. After about 2 months of this, and zero mice caught, I gave her away. The only good thing about her was the name I gave her: Cat Benetar.

......Mike......

[davidc89]

I tried that David. I had a cat in the workshop, never in the house. I used to say it was a working animal not a pet! But the darned thing used to climb up on the cars. That normally wouldn’t be a problem aside from whatever dirt she would bring up there, but this cat couldn’t get up onto the cars without scratching and scraping her way up. She used to leave scratch marks on the panels and on the painted surfaces of my other car. After about 2 months of this, and zero mice caught, I gave her away. The only good thing about her was the name I gave her: Cat Benetar.

......Mike......

Hahaha Cat Benetar is awesome! My cat had always been good at catching mice, but they like to climb... I've also had good luck with the five gallon bucket with antifreeze style trap. Don't know if you've tried that yet.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Hahaha Cat Benetar is awesome! My cat had always been good at catching mice, but they like to climb... I've also had good luck with the five gallon bucket with antifreeze style trap. Don't know if you've tried that yet.

But the cat would drink the antifreeze so the mice would win.8)

[DTOUR]

Get a bottle of Peppermint Essential Oil (Amazon sells it) and a bag of cotton balls.
Put some of this oil on the cotton balls and throw the balls in to the cockpit, engine bay and trunk areas. Since the car is basically "in storage" these areas will not get much exchange of fresh air, so the peppermint "fragrance" will linger thru storage. It dissipates quickly in the spring when opening the car up again. Mice hate peppermint!

Putting some soaked cotton balls near the doors of the storage building also helps prevent intrusion of the critters in to the building/garage as well. Peppermint is nowhere near as offensive as the smell of moth balls. We have been doing this now for a couple years, and yes, it really does work! Mice really do hate the smell of Peppermint!

[ILM1010]

Dave! I live 10 min from you......I get my gas level as low as possible with some stabile added


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[DavidProehl]

Dave! I live 10 min from you......I get my gas level as low as possible with some stabile added


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Yes, that is the plan! Did that before too, just had to confirm the new pump setup didn't change it.