Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

[Mark E.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

No leaks - do have a small oil leak (think from pan) however that was replaced in 2001 for NCRS judging.
The whole thing is probably classified as dumb luck.

Wow. Even the brake calipers/cylinders and water pump didn't leak?

[Larry E.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

OK; thanks for the nice responses. Always get good info on this message board. Will not start my 66 at this time; will put in the new

OmniDry Desiccant , add a little "stay fresh" and zip it up. Couple of comments from me on your comments:

1) Have used "omni"(CarBag) for over 25 years on my Corvettes/Camaro's with no problems. What you put in is what comes out;no
surface rust ever and no leaks. Yes it does smell like gas for 1/2 day or so but goes away fast. Bags are not cheap but they work inside buildings that don't have heat.

2)AFAIK Av-Gas will not get stale and have varnish. Always add some fresh now and then; have had no problems with it.

3)AFA storing (not using) cars it is hard to justify the risk of taking them out on the road when the cars have gotten a top flight/grand national AACA awards. To each his own on this.

Thanks Again--Larry

[Mark E.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

AFA storing (not using) cars it is hard to justify the risk of taking them out on the road when the cars have gotten a top flight/grand national AACA awards. To each his own on this. Thanks Again--Larry

I guess so. If you're worried about the risk on the road, every few weeks just start it, turn on the AC, drive it up and down the driveway a couple of times, turn the wheel lock-to-lock, press the brakes then let it run for 30 minutes. With this method, there's a better chance after a few years that seals won't leak (as much ), and the brakes and AC will work.

Not only is this easier on the car, but all said and done, it's less work as well. To each his own.

[Michael W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

2)AFAIK Av-Gas will not get stale and have varnish.

False. There's tons of publications in the aviation community on the subject. Shelf life is about 1 year.

[Jim D.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

False. There's tons of publications in the aviation community on the subject. Shelf life is about 1 year.

The same as regular pump gas, including E-10.

[Mark E.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

Isn't ethanol more hydroscopic? If yes, is gas with ethanol less prone to form rust in the system while sitting since it absorbs the moisture?

[Duke W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

The term is "hygroscopic", and the answer is yes, but ethanol acts as a cosolvent, which allows considerable water to mix homogeniously in the blend. Straight gasoline will not absorb much water, so any significant amount will drop to the bottom of the tank and can freeze causing the car to be inoperable... happened to my SWC once during a Seattle winter back in 1964, when it was parked in the frat house parking lot.

From tech papers I've read, corrosion with E10 is not an issue until so much water is absorbed that the water-alcohol blend drops out to the bottom of the tank, and that would take a lot of water.

If a car has a vented fuel system like vintage Corvettes keeping the it out of condensing humidity will not allow much water absorbtion. Modern cars with "sealed" fuel systems won't pull in water unless the tank pressure drops to about 2 psi below ambient, which is likely rare.

Back in the day there was a gasoline additive called Heet and other similar products to prevent "gas line freeze". Basically it was just ethanol, which allowed a slight amount of water in the tank to be absorbed into the fuel, which would purge it from the tank as the fuel was consumed. It wouldn't do any good with modern E10.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

The same as regular pump gas, including E-10.

Yes, the official word from most oil companies is that gasoline has a nominal shelf life of about one year, but I think that number is conservative, and it depends on storage conditions... the colder the better and minimizing exposure to oxygen also helps. Gasoline degrades by slowly oxidizing and chemical reaction rates increase exponentially with temperature.

That's the logic behind filling the fuel tank during storage, and during winter storage in cold climates, cold temperatures minimize the reaction rate, so in a cold garage that never or only rarely sees condensing humidity the fuel will be essentially "as new", when you take the car out in the spring.

Guys worry way to much about "storage". The key is proper preparation, which has been discussed here a zillion times, and WAAAAAAY more damage is done by rodents than "bad gas", so the number one preventative issue should be traps, bait, and frequent inspections for rodent activity.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

I like to change the oil when I start the car up in the spring

If due, you should change the oil prior to storage, so the engine has fresh oil in it during storage. The oil does not "age" or get dirty in storage.

I usually recommend changing oil every year or 1000 miles. If the car has only a few hundred miles, a good PCV system, and is not driven on short trips than don't allow the oil to come up to normal operating temperature (say about 15 minute of normal road operation) it's okay to let it go longer, especially if it still appears clean.

Duke

[Larry E.]

[Michael W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

I've been pointed to that article many times. The author does not substantiate his claim or explain why auto gas supposedly 'goes bad' in a shorter period of time. I can produce lots of anecdotal evidence that auto gas, including E10 is good for far more than 6 months the author claims and in fact as long as Avgas. I had an example in my hands just last week, should have taken pictures.

[Mark E.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

I had an example in my hands just last week, should have taken pictures.

I don't know if I'd want bad gas in my hands, let alone take pictures of that.

[Jim D.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

I've been pointed to that article many times. The author does not substantiate his claim or explain why auto gas supposedly 'goes bad' in a shorter period of time. I can produce lots of anecdotal evidence that auto gas, including E10 is good for far more than 6 months the author claims and in fact as long as Avgas. I had an example in my hands just last week, should have taken pictures.

As much as I hate to admit it, due to spending a lot of time on my current project, I've only driven my 60 a few times this summer putting less than 100 miles on it. The gas that's in it is what I filled it up with early last Sept. so it's over a year old. I did take it out today and guess what? It ran perfectly everywhere between idle and all 8 barrels wide open. I don't add Sta-Bil or any other snake oil garbage. Just fill it up in the fall and drive it when I can. My method appears to have worked just fine for the last 40 years, the majority of which I've been running E-10.

[Duke W.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

My recommendation is to drive the car far enough to consume nearly a full tank of fuel every year. That would be about 200-250 miles for most Corvettes in around town driving.

If the car is stored during winter months, fill the tank with fresh fuel just prior to storage. If the car is normally parked/stored in a non-condensing humidity environment and fuel system elastomers, like hoses, are made from modern materials and no more than 10-15 years old the chances of fuel system problems due to "old gas" are minimal.

Duke

[Gary R.]

Re: Current thoughts on how often a stored Corvette should be started?

If due, you should change the oil prior to storage, so the engine has fresh oil in it during storage. The oil does not "age" or get dirty in storage.

I usually recommend changing oil every year or 1000 miles. If the car has only a few hundred miles, a good PCV system, and is not driven on short trips than don't allow the oil to come up to normal operating temperature (say about 15 minute of normal road operation) it's okay to let it go longer, especially if it still appears clean.

Duke

Hi Duke
I am certainly open to ideas. What is the advantage with changing the oil before storage, 3-4 months, vs at start up? I always drive the car for an hour before storing it and figured the oil really isn't "dirty" per say with 1-2k miles on it.
Thanks