Fuel Level

[JRNY13]

It seems having a full tank of fuel lowers the front ride height a little bit. For the sake of having it sit low I tend to keep the fuel tank pretty full, generally filling it up before the gas gauge hits halfway. Is there a problem with this in terms of the age of the gas in the tank? Would the old and new fuel sufficiently mix in the tank for this not to be an issue? I'd rather ask the experts here first before I develop any bad habits.

Thanks.

[Rich]

A DeLorean isn't any more susceptible to damage from stale gas than any other car of that era.

So the answer to your question depends more on how often you drive the car than anything else. And there are several good "fuel stabilizer" additives should you need them.

And, yes, the old and new fuel will mix.

The difference in weight between a full tank and a half-full tank is about 40lb and that weight is not entirely on the front axle. So you might be talking about 35lb or so to the front end or a bit more than 1% of the total weight of the car.

You say it seems to make a difference. Do you have some data about that?

Feel free to measure from the front crossmember to the ground to see how much of a lowering effect you get. And try it several times. Is it likely that just the friction in the suspension could cause as much front ride height variation as that extra fuel?

You do know there are more conventional ways to adjust the front ride height. Since you did not ask about it no need to answer here.

[JRNY13]

I don't have any data other than just measuring with a tape measure from the ground to the wheel well. It seems to be about a quarter inch difference. I have Eibach springs. I ask for purely aesthetic reasons. To my eye, the lower it is, the better it looks. Maybe my eyes are fooling me.



A DeLorean isn't any more susceptible to damage from stale gas than any other car of that era.

So the answer to your question depends more on how often you drive the car than anything else. And there are several good "fuel stabilizer" additives should you need them.

And, yes, the old and new fuel will mix.

The difference in weight between a full tank and a half-full tank is about 40lb and that weight is not entirely on the front axle. So you might be talking about 35lb or so to the front end or a bit more than 1% of the total weight of the car.

You say it seems to make a difference. Do you have some data about that?

Feel free to measure from the front crossmember to the ground to see how much of a lowering effect you get. And try it several times. Is it likely that just the friction in the suspension could cause as much front ride height variation as that extra fuel?

You do know there are more conventional ways to adjust the front ride height. Since you did not ask about it no need to answer here.

[Rich]

I don't have any data other than just measuring with a tape measure from the ground to the wheel well. It seems to be about a quarter inch difference. I have Eibach springs. I ask for purely aesthetic reasons. To my eye, the lower it is, the better it looks. Maybe my eyes are fooling me.

Your eyes might or might not be fooling you. The tape measure and several readings on a level surface and then averaging the heavy ones with the light ones will tell the tale if you really want to find out.

The Eibachs give a pretty good ride and a good look.

Everybody gets an opinion. Mine is that lower-than-stock tends to look better but only up - or, rather, down - to a point and then it looks slammed and is more likely to bottom onto something than it used to. Eibachs alone are a good compromise.

Fill'er up. It's your car so run it the way you like it.

In any case, old gas shouldn't be a problem as long as you regularly enjoy taking your good-looking D out on the road.

[David T]

Your eyes might or might not be fooling you. The tape measure and several readings on a level surface and then averaging the heavy ones with the light ones will tell the tale if you really want to find out.

The Eibachs give a pretty good ride and a good look.

Everybody gets an opinion. Mine is that lower-than-stock tends to look better but only up - or, rather, down - to a point and then it looks slammed and is more likely to bottom onto something than it used to. Eibachs alone are a good compromise.

Fill'er up. It's your car so run it the way you like it.

In any case, old gas shouldn't be a problem as long as you regularly enjoy taking your good-looking D out on the road.

If you like the lowered look try filling the luggage compartment with sandbags! I am kidding, you can very quickly overload the car's max gross rating that way. The ride height should not change all that much between a full tank of fuel and an empty one. At 6 lbs/gallon, 12 gallons is 72 lbs. Not all that much difference between empty and full when you consider it doesn't all fall to just the front tires since the fuel tank is between the front and rear tires. The ride height is best measured with 1/2 tank of fuel and one person of average weight sitting in the car or some sandbags on the driver's seat of about 150 lbs.