Winter Storage

Michael Barry

Member
Nov 2, 2015
13
4
13
Put the mustang up the other day have it on a tarp to block moisture and with the cover on it, took the battery out, put some drier sheets around the inside and engine to detour mice and other things that might come, and clogged up the exhaust pipe so nothing could make a home in there. I was going to use some HEET because it takes away the moisture in the tank but I didn't know if anyone used this for a few month storage? I already dropped the insurance on it so i cant drive it to fill it up is why i ask lol its a little above a quarter of a tank. It's been stored every winter and I've never done anything special too it gas wise but I'm feeling paranoid this year from reading so many threads lol.
 
Modern gas or "Obama gas" as everyone seems to be calling it is really watered down and has quite a bit of ethanol on it witch makes the gas turn bad and corrode pretty fast if your not starting her every once in a wile and its just going to sit idle for a few months I would consider just draining the tank and lines
 
You're going to want to fill the tank if you want to avoid problems in the spring. A 5-gallon gas-can and two trips to the gas station should do it for you (I've painted myself in the same corner a few times by removing insurance before winterizing). I've found that in a sealed tank, as long as it's full, there's no room for condensation to happen, and the gas doesn't weaken (the vapor has no room to flash off) and my springtime is problem-free (even with crappy ethanol mix). The Heet might help some, but several months of condensation from the tank walls might be too much for it to handle. Some people like to put Sta-Bil in there, I haven't had to (I live in a rotten climate so I usually store for 6 months a year).

Aside from filling it up, I'd suggest you also disconnect the battery if you haven't, make sure your coolant is in good condition, and pump up the tires to 40+ psi to avoid flat-spots the next time you have it out (just remember to air out in the spring). These simple steps have given me 20 years of single-crank first starts and vibration-free first-runs.

I don't recommend draining the lines because I've had problems with sticking injectors in the past after a period of keeping them dry (doing some engine work). These guys seem to agree: WitchHunter Performance - Injector Cleaning & Flow Testing Services
 
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You're going to want to fill the tank if you want to avoid problems in the spring. A 5-gallon gas-can and two trips to the gas station should do it for you (I've painted myself in the same corner a few times by removing insurance before winterizing). I've found that in a sealed tank, as long as it's full, there's no room for condensation to happen, and the gas doesn't weaken (the vapor has no room to flash off) and my springtime is problem-free (even with crappy ethanol mix). The Heet might help some, but several months of condensation from the tank walls might be too much for it to handle. Some people like to put Sta-Bil in there, I haven't had to (I live in a rotten climate so I usually store for 6 months a year).

Aside from filling it up, I'd suggest you also disconnect the battery if you haven't, make sure your coolant is in good condition, and pump up the tires to 40+ psi to avoid flat-spots the next time you have it out (just remember to air out in the spring). These simple steps have given me 20 years of single-crank first starts and vibration-free first-runs.

I don't recommend draining the lines because I've had problems with sticking injectors in the past after a period of keeping them dry (doing some engine work). These guys seem to agree: WitchHunter Performance - Injector Cleaning & Flow Testing Services
Yes it has been constantly on my mind bothering me so I came to the conclusion im going to do the gas can idea and put some stabil in, gas is at an all time low now so I might as well do it lol. I run 93 octane and its down to like 2.15 a gallon here. When i put the stabil in should I let it idle to get the lines full of it too or just dump it in and leave it? BTW I have taken the battery out and checked all my fluids and i got the oil changed a week before i put it up. Honestly not worried about the tires because they are shot and by the time i have it out next I will be having mickey thompsons put on it but ill still check out the PSI in them now.