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Wet or dry gas tank in storage vehicle?

U

Unruh

Member
I'm going to be storing a gasoline tractor for 2-5 years. What is the ideal way to handle the gasoline tank situation? Will the tank rust if I drain all of the gasoline? Is there an additive that I can add to the gasoline to keep it from jelling? I know; drain the carburetor!
 
I would leave the gas in the tank, but turn off the gas at the tank and let the engine burn the gas in the carburetor.
 
I figure if the tank is full of gas, the exposed inner steel isnt exposed to all that oxygen which is needed for Rust/Oxidation.......HOWEVER the gas can get really really really stale and leave gum n varnish HMMMMMMMMMMM

What I do for say a one year storage is: Fill the Tank,,,,,Add plenty of Sta Bil Gas Stabilizer,,,,,,,,,Add a good amount of low ash Two Cycle Motor Oil (Like Mercury Quicksilver) which I believe leaves a thin oil film,,,,,,,Run the engine so the carb gets a good coating of the oil and sta bil,,,,,,,,turn gas off and let her die from carb gas starvation (drain carb),,,,,,,,,,,remove plugs and squirt plenty of oil in cylinders,,,,,,,,,turn the engine to a place where the points are open,,,,,,GIVE HER TWO ASPIRINS AND A LAYING ON OF THE HANDS,,,,,,,,put a light sheet dust cover over her (assuming inside storage)

Im sure there are plenty of different methods and opinions on this one, thats just what has worked well for me personally

John T
 
Assuming 5 years I'd drain the tank. Gas will either leak out, evaporate, or go bad in that time. If it does rust inside the tank it can be cleaned out with some vinegar when it's time to start it up again. Varnish is a lot harder to clean up.
 
Drain the tank and take the cap off to let the air move though it, I would cover the opening with a light cloth rag to keep the mud dubbers out. While you are at it you might as well pull the sediment bowl(it is going to leak after setting dry anyway)plug to keep the wasps out, but open for air.
 
Full to the brim from carb to fuel tank with aviation gasoline. Does not form gum or vanish. Fill to top reduces condensation.
Why add some miracle in a can snake oil to fuel that is inferior and has short shelf life? Instead of starting out with fuel that is designed for extended storage?
 
i think if it were mine i'd drain the tank, then fill it full to the brim with diesel/heating oil. run the tractor till it starts smoking and shut it off. close fuel shut-off. when you come back, just drain it and refill with fresh gas. i think i'd leave the carb full of diesel too. never heard of a diesel tank rusting.
 
This is what I have found to work best. Most tractors you can drain tank and carb. Pretty easy. I drain the gas and then put some kerosene in an make sure it fills the carb. Up. If you can afford it I'd about fill up the tank especially if it is going t sit in less then ideal conditions. I have had some diesel get yucky from sitting. Kerosene is cleaner to start with. If you know someone who services school buses then maybe you can get some clean used ATF free and fill with it.
 


Add the 2 stroke oil and plenty of it.Run the engine a few minutes after
it is smelled in the exhaust and shut it off.Oil down the cylinders. The 2 stroke oil should NOT be synthetic.
 
Since I have seen tanks where a tractor was stored unused under a lean to for a couple years with only a couple inches of gas in it, and the tank was clean below the gas and rusty above it, I would suggest storing it full, it appears that the rust was caused by temperature changes causing condensation on the walls of the tank and the moisture combining with oxygen in the air to cause rust. Another option would be to drain it and then uses either CO2 or nitrogen, or similar to fill the tank forcing the oxygen out then put something over the filler to seal it.
 
Every motorcycle I have ever bought has said int eh owners manual that for extended storage, drain the gas tank, dump 2 cycle oil in the tank, roll it around to coat every part, and then drain excess.


I bought a Farmall Cub that had not been run in 15 years. had pine needles and rust in the tank, and a good hard layer of varnish. It took 2 years to get it right again. I have a cub that has been sitting for 7 years right now and I put haldf a gallon of wd40 in it before storage with the old gas filled to the brim. so far, no varnish at all.
 
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