Would you use Fuel Stabilizer ?

[Dac]

Hi everybody,i have a concern regarding my other car not the Pilot so if i may ask this.It's my BMW that won't be driven much at all during the winter months (about 6 ) should i use some type of fuel stabilizer in it or if i just start the car like once every 2 weeks should do ?
Thank you all.
Dac

[Sunday Rider]

Hello Dac,
You should use the stabilizer for sure. Drive it around for a while with the stabilizer so it gets into the fuel system. Make sure the tank is filled to the top.

I would do an oil and filter change. Use cheap oil and filter this time. Charge up the battery every month. Do not start it to just let it idle. The oil doesn't get hot enough and the acids just build up.

In the spring, change the oil and filter to the good stuff.

I have done this with my motorbikes for the last 15 years, and have never had any problems getting them started. I also take my bike battery in the house, it can't take the winter too much, they are small. I trickle charge it in the house.
Have not done it with a car battery, and not sure what would happen to your electronic settings on the BMW, I am not familiar with Beemers.

Good luck.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Dac
Hi everybody,i have a concern regarding my other car not the Pilot so if i may ask this.It's my BMW that won't be driven much at all during the winter months (about 6 ) should i use some type of fuel stabilizer in it or if i just start the car like once every 2 weeks should do ?
Thank you all.
Dac

Drop a note on the BMW forum. They are even more crazed enthusiasts than we are and will have 100's of conflicting answers.

[Dac]

Thank you Sunday Rider and N_Jay,i appreciate the input and as far as BMW forums....they seem to be a different bunch plus i like here better among Pilotphiles .
Dac

[john802]

You need to add fuel stabilizer to the gas tank whenever you store a vehicle for more than a month, since gasoline start to breakdown after a month (phase separation). Also, if you store the car long enough, the old gas should be removed and replaced w/ fresh gas before starting the vehicle. This is just my $.02 sounding off...

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Dac
Thank you Sunday Rider and N_Jay,i appreciate the input and as far as BMW forums....they seem to be a different bunch plus i like here better among Pilotphiles .
Dac

LOL, every car group is different.

BMW people are pretty nice. I'm partial to the PCA (Porsche) gang.

Ferrari on the other had, as ALMOST as bad as Lamborghini owners!

I think us Honda folk, are just average (Generic, as one of the other companies commercials says).

[Bugshu]

Hi Dac,

Id recommend getting some Fuel Power. It will help stabilize your fuel and also give you some cleaning benefits when you run your car.

More info can be found here.

http://www.lubecontrol.com/fuel.htm

Its probably not a bad idea to use a little fuel power in your vehicles even during normal operation. Its a fairly cheap additive except that you have to buy a fairly large quantity of it in the one gallon size and shipping can be a pain.

Still, its a cheap stabilizer and gives you added benefits over other stabilizers.

Happy Piloting to You,



Bugshu

[RSeery]

I usually err on the side of caution, but in this case not. I think it depends on how much fuel you are talking about. I use a stabilizer in the tank of the Harley after filling the tank (5.2Gal), but I never have in a car, and I have left them sitting for >6mo. Top off the tank first and just leave it. It'll be fine.

Now, the battery is another story... They start to sulphate after 8 days of disuse. If you leave it for 6 months, count on buying a new one. Get one of these:

http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12v_1a.htm

Hook it up and forget all about it.

I have a few of these. I use them on my car, motorcycle, Power Wheels, and Sump pump batteries. I have done an obscene amount of research on battery maintenance, and these guys have it right.

[Dac]

Thank you all for the great info (RSeery,Bugshu,N_Jay),i very much apreciate it,i love the Honda bunch .
Dac

[Dac]

Hi everybody,
So i went to Canadian Tire and bought some fuel stabilizer and a battery charger,Motomaster Eliminator (for our American friends,Canadian Tire is our version of your Pep Boys,basically car parts and more,Motomaster is a Canadian Tire house brand and Eliminator is their high line... ) Intelligent Battery Charger with Digital Technology ($ 140 CAD... ) but in the summer months (unless we are camping...) the Pilot will be parked and it too will benefit from having a nicely charged up battery.I checked in the garage and the BMW has 100% charged battery with fresh oil in the engine.
For gas i only got half tank with stabilizer in it and in the spring (or about 10 months from now ) i'll top it up with some fresh premium Shell Gold and i expect it to be fine.
Thank you everyone for the help on this topic since this the first time i'm storing a car for the long Canadian winter .
Dac

P.S. I also got a Kimberley Clark car cover that's big enough to cover the Pilot when it too will get parked.

[Sunday Rider]

Hi Dac,
Well done, that is a good charger too.

How come you didn't top up the gas tank? I would be worried about the condensation. Since you have already put clean oil, maybe you should top up using a gas container.

One more thing, if you are able to get at the air intake, plug it up with a rag, to keep mice out.

I had a nice family in my motorbike a few years ago, they left behind a big mess, you also don't want that stuff going through your engine.

Also write a note and stick to your rearview mirror that there is a rag in the air intake, in case you forget. Don't ask how I know.

[Dac]

Thank you Sunday Rider,the air intake....hmm,i wish i new how to get to it !,you referring to the opening where the fresh air enters to the air filter then into the engine ?,wouldn't the air filter block the passage way ?,the rodents could chew thru a paper filter but i got a K&N air filter,could that stop them from entering into the motor part ? (the K&N does have a wire mesh... )
Now you got me thinking ..... !
Dac.

P.S.
About the gas tank being half full,would it make a difference if i allow some air to it ?,but then the gas will evaporate (some of it) ,thank you.

[Sunday Rider]

Hi Dac,
Yes blocking the opening where the air gets to the filter will be enough. It keeps them from setting up house in there.

Filling up the tank, leaves very little room for moist air to get in the tank, and corrode the tank. The stabilizer will keep the fuel in good shape until the spring.

Also, I forgot to mention, put a rag in the muffler opening too.

The more you do now, the fewer surprises you will have in the spring, when all you want to do is get in and drive.

Every year I forget about the muffler and all these sunflower seeds blast out as I watch the motorbike start up, and who knows who else is in there.
I just came back from putting the rags in both bikes' mufflers, and air boxes.
Good luck

[Dac]

Sunday Rider thanks again for the tips on vehicle storage,i think i will fill the BMW gas tank all the way to the top (the gas tank is made of some collapsible material for safety i guess so i'm not to worried about rust but that's a good point ) and i have to say that inserting something in the muffler it's a good point,those pesky mice can die in there and plug up something.My garage is not heated (unless i'm in there to do something... on the Honda or the BMW ) so i hope that if there are any mice in there they find a warm spot.
Thank you Sunday Rider and i hope you'r having a great weekend.
Dac

[Dac]

Sunday Rider,do you think the air filter being a K&N will provide some "protection" against mice ? or i still have to find the air intake to plug that up ?
Thank you and sorry for asking so many questions,i appreciate your help.
Dac