Sponsored Content Presented by Sunoco.
Think fuel cleanliness isn’t important for classics that don’t get driven much? Wrong.
If anything, explains Zachary J. Santner, senior quality specialist at Sunoco, a Top Tier fuel that’s high in detergents might be even more important for an older car that spends a little extra time in the garage.
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You talk about detergents going through engines. The real damage happens in the tank and fuel deleivery systems before it gets to the engine. Pump gas by virtue of environmental law has alcohol or ether in it that damages gaskets and rubber seals when the car sits around. It also attracts water to cause tank rust and corrode every metal part along the delivery path. It has an extremely short shelf life (Don't believe me, go sniff that gas can with old gas in it. 6 months and it smells like urine).
Collector cars that are stored for months should be purged of pump gas and have racing gas or avgas without alchohol additives to keep the gaskets moist. Racing gas and avgas have a shelf life measured in years, not months.
Don't get me wrong, Sunoco has a great product, but pump gas with environmental additives and classic car storage don't go together.
In reply to Bardan :
My cars stored with sober fuel / Ethanol-free have suffered no long term storage issues...
In reply to Bardan :
Glad to see the discussion and, yes, some fuels are better for storage.
Some more reading on the subject of fuels for storage:
Fuels for storage: Good, better, best
Ideal fuels for wintertime storage
Are high-octane fuels more stable?
The right fuel in the fall might help your engine start in the Spring
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