Prevent Gasoline Problems In Low Use Truck?

[velvetfoot]

It looks like I'll be getting a truck that I'll use only once in a while. How do I prevent gas problems? With my little engines I turn off gas, if possible, and run them till the stop; maybe drain tank. If nothing else, can I put in a fuel shutoff valve in the truck and run it til it stops? Any other ideas? Does the Stabil additive stuff work?

 

[charly]

Startron or SeaFoam.. I've had really good luck with seafoam.. 20 years use and never a fuel issue with anything it's been in... My brother in law bought some used Yamaha sleds this past winter,,, we added seafoam to them and noticed a starting difference and they way the engines ran and idled after about an hour of running them.. Now he uses it in his boat engine as well and noticed it runs better as well.. I'd use the Seafoam...

 

[DuelburnJake]

I worked at a powersports dealership for a couple of years. We would use startron and it seems to work well for storage. We didn't have any issues with it. I haven't heard about the stable ethanol stuff, but they put out a good product. The ethanol binds with water and makes a mess of everything. I use the startron on my own sleds and have never had an issue.

 

[basod]

Truck carbs wont suffer as badly as small engines because ports/jets are larger. Fuel injection shouldn't really see any issues - throttle bodies do gum up but that's more high mileage/age related
My truck has seen long periods of no use, 3-4 months and then works like a rented mule for a week. The only issue I've ever had with fuel is flooding it out - probably some shaken crud that keeps the float seat open just floor board it and crank to start then get the four barrels open to "clean" it out.

 

[JustWood]

I've been using a product called K100 on stuff that sits over the winter for the last few years. Not one issue yet.

 

[simple.serf]

Unleaded Avgas works well. It's expensive, but is pretty stable.

 

[firefighterjake]

I guess I would want to know the definition of "once in a while." Short periods of a few weeks . . . no issues. Longer, maybe look at some stabilizing agents.

 

[velvetfoot]

Months.

 

[TreePointer]

If you don't start it for months, you might have a battery issue before a fuel issue. I try not to let my vehicles go 2-3 weeks without starting. I stretch this to a month in the summer. If in storage, the battery goes on a battery tender.

 

[Johnpolk]

Drive it more often

 

[save$]

I've had my truck 6 years now. I have put on about 9000 miles in those six years. No special gas treatments. I try to run it at least every two weeks. I try to keep the tank at least half full.

 

[Bocephous]

I've used Startron and Seafome having positive results from both.

 

[velvetfoot]

Thinking about it, putting a fuel shutoff valve on a fuel injected vehicle could be a problem, like with the pump. Or would it? The pump would be in the tank, I imagine; would the pump just recirculate the fuel if it was cutoff to the injectors?

 

[charly]

I would just put the fuel additive in and be done with it. For the last 8 years my Stihl string trimmer has sat all winter with fuel and after a quick shake of the fuel tank, it's always started on the first or second pull... I run Seafoam in all my stroke mix.. That's proven to me that the fuel has stayed fine.. Still running all the original fuel lines and carb diaphragm parts as well.. Startron is suppose to keep fuel good for 2 years..

Gas and diesel fuels break down rapidly which results in lost power and poor performance. Star Tron stabilizes the fuel chemistry for up to two years in gas and in
diesel.

 

[charly]

Seafoam states the same length of time:
As a fuel system additive, Sea Foam helps, clean carburetor jets, clean passageways, clean fuel injectors, clean deposits, stabilize fuel for up to 2 years, control moisture and adds lubricity to fuel.

 

[kingston73]

I would use either the previously recommended SeaFoam or the Marine Grade Stabil. I never use the standard stabil (red) but I know the Marine grade (green/blue type color) works well. I use it and it works great for my 2 stroke equipment and my riding mower and motorcycle, so it would definitely work with your truck. If you go with an additive like either of these make sure you try to get close to the recommended amount of additive to fuel, too much will make it run poor and not enough won't be effective in preserving the fuel.

Also, make sure after adding it that you allow it to run so the additive can circulate through the entire system. If you know you're not going to be using the truck for a long while I'd pull the battery and take it with you, keep it stored somewhere relatively warm and maybe use a trickle charger while it's stored.

 

[clemsonfor]

Buy nonethonol gas and premium if u can so that as it ages you still have minimum octane. Months at the time are no problem. I have 5 vehicles and batteries die before fuel trouble. Use a stabilizer and or sea foam which is a stabilizer also. I don't drive my big truck for months sometimes. I got a harbor freight battery tender solar charger but if an outlet was closer I would get their $5 battery tender. I have a farm truck with one yr E gas in it. Other than battery die sing between start the thing starts fine.

 

[basod]

Don't put a shutoff valve on a fuel injection vehicle it will dead head the pump(not a good idea on a gear type fuel pump) - and it won't really do anything as the stale fuel will sit in the injector rail anyways.
The fuel recirculates off a regulator(kind of creates a back pressure on the injectors and releases the remaining to the tank)
It's still a good idea to go crank it up every month or two - I notice it'll take a while for the oil pressure to pick up while cranking mine and refilling the bowls.
Leaving valve seals un -lubricated for long periods will just lead to early oil consumption - may not even be a huge concern with oils nowadays

 

[shawn6596]

Drive it more often

just drive it. I don't do anything to my equipment. I feel it is harder on carb seals to sit dry than have to clean it out once in awhile. Go ahead start throwing rocks. all my gear sits with gas in it. I use it, shut it off, and store it. I never have any problems. on a side note my gear doesn't sit for long. If I have to store anything indoors for more than 3 months then odds are I don't need it, so its got to go.

 

[bioman]

I use HEET in all my vehicles.

 

[Abner]

Make a habit of a fuel stabilizer of some sort and every 1st and 15th of the month start it and allow it to get to operating temp including a run around the block not just idling in the driveway. Modern fuel is crap I add stabil to every tank just to prevent issues This way you keep all seals oil, fuel, coolant, trans, differentials soft and lubed and started 2 times a month makes sure it's ready when you need it and don't have to spend 3 hours getting it running when you do

 

[Giles]

I have several engine operated equipment that I only use occasionally. Regardless of how often I will use equipment, I always treat gasoline for long term storage when I unload it. Of course I don't treat gasoline for my daily use engines, like my vehicles.
Sta-Bil and Sea-Foam work.
One example is that I didn't use my 40 hp outboard motor for app. THREE YEARS and thought I had emptied the fuel tank. I decided to use it again and was surprised to find that it contained about 4 gallon of treated gasoline. I was even more surprised to discover the gasoline had no apparent odor of ruined gas!! I disposed of the old gas and replaced with new and it cranked and ran perfect.
With all my small engines I always shut off fuel and run until dry--as you have stated-- when stored for several weeks.

 

[aussiedog3]

Find some premium gas that has no ethanol. In my area some CITGO premium gas is no ethanol.

 

[basod]

The one thing you may find more problematic than fuel issues, being EFI, is brake calipers sticking

 

[Flatbedford]

When I still had my '70 F350 it would often sit for a month or more. It always started after it cranked enough to get fresh fuel to the carb. I always used 89 octane 10% ethanol pump gas and never used any treatment. If fact, if I was concerned about using older gas in my small engine stuff, I'd dump it in the old truck's tank to get rid of it. I've also never really had any fuel related problem with my tractors, mower, or saws without treatment.