DogWagen

After nearly 2 years in storage (covered/dehumidified with monthly run-up) it's getting close to time to get the DogWagon back on the road My thoughts are a Service B plus all fluids (brakes, coolant, ATF). Grateful for any other suggestions you might have plus things to look out for based on your collective experience.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

PJmak

nice

I might store mine when I go back to college here in a couple of months

MarcusF

After two years, the fuel should probably be drained.

v0ac

Brake fluids, fuel filters, air filters and oil change, transmission oils + filters.
and normal check up..!

mine will be stored as well in 2 weeks for long time

DogWagen

Thanks Marcus - that's one I hadn't thought about - is it because the fuel degrades or something more sinister like water separating out?

MarcusF

Yes, it degrades. [caution, more than you wanted to know alert]

Good gasoline is volatile, meaning it vaporizes quickly (one reason for the charcoal canister). This allows it to mix well with the intake air. Unfortunately, it’s volatility means it evaporates quickly too, but not all at once. It separates then evaporates. What’s left doesn’t burn very well in a high compression engine. I’d drain it and use it in a lawnmower.

DogWagen

Thanks - and no, it wasn't too much detail!!

NitrogenBalance

Hey Marcus, how do fuel stabilizers stack up? and how long is "too long" for a tank of gas to sit?

MarcusF

Being in SoCal, I've never used a fuel stabilizer, so I don't have first hand info. The longest I've gone is a couple of months - when it was too cold to ride the ZXR. I do know when parking for extended times, you're supposed to park with a very full tank. The fuller the tank, the less room for evaporation. I've heard of guys who've parked their bikes for two years (with stabilizer) and it firing right up, but I wouldn’t do it. Sportbikes run between 12 and 13:1 pistons. Old gas in one of those is asking for trouble. That’s if it doesn’t ruin the spray pattern on the injectors. Sticking with cars, 15+ gallons is a LOT of fuel to try and dispose of, but if it were two years old, I'd siphon 10 gallons into two five gallon cans and siphon another five gallons into my daughter’s Civic - those heaps run on anything, but I’d top her car off with premium. Her car would see a diet of half premium – half 2-year-old gas until the cans were empty. With an almost empty tank, I’d take my car to the gas station for a fresh fill. If the gas were 1 year or under, I’d drive my car with a light foot and try to burn off half a tank as soon as possible. 3 years would be too old for anything other than killing grass.

silence

I've done some research into this with storing my car as well-

I store with a full tank and additive each winter and burn that tank before I do anything spirited.

I agree you need to drain that gas

PTE

Funny you should bring this up. My 2003 CLK 5.5 AMG Has been laided up for 2 years & 8 months. I just started to get energize again, over the last 2 weeks and I'm going to finish up the project.the Motor was pulled & the heads were ported reassembled & a Kleemann Blower kit installed ,all but the fuel system update to run this blower. So at that time I just parked the car, it had about 5 gallons of Hi test (93oct) No Fuel stablizer. I didn't expect the project to take over 2 years. What I did know was that there is a switch up by the motor , which came off the vaccum side the the intake manifold.I think it is controled by the ECU ( I may need help here Marcus ) which helps control the gas tank vapor system . So no vapors are release into the atmosphere and captured by the carbon canister with at rest. So I as I see it the fuel system is Sealed , so to speak when the engine is not running.

I found the gas tank access pie caps (2) under the rear seat , got the special Spanner wrench & opened up the tank fuel and removed the passenger side fuel pump & canister. What a Pain. . Ther was only 2 gallons left on the passenger side & the Drivers side had a pint. . So for grins I stuck a hose down the filler ? gas cap neck.only to see if I could siphon out the remaining 2 gallons. The hose didn';t come close to the bottom of the tank. BTW the gas was pretty bad. UCK! and the pumps were lock up with varnish. Thats another story for another Thread.

Ok , whats this really about. From My experience from winter storage of marine engines. Fuel stabilizers are good for about 6 months on an open vent system & 8 months on a closed system. Starting the car once a month & bringing it up to operating temp Is a very good thing. But after 2 years of storage, siphon as much old gas out as you can . Add fresh gas , Change the gas filter ( THATS A MUST), Change the engine oil & Filter, get the brake system flushed , The brake fluid is HYDROscopic . , Just absorbes moisture . This is not good for the ABS. Your tires are probably flat spoted from sitting in one spot on Cement., Add some more air ,5lbs more that spec.. Also look at your engine belt. It may be weather checked. Hope this helps _PTEngineering

MarcusF

You've got it right. That’s part of the vapor recovery system and a basic part of OBDII. The gas vapors are routed to the storage canister. Occasionally while running in closed loop mode, the engine consumes the canister's contents (gas vapors) in a purge cycle. It does this with intake vacuum. Every now and then, the purge cycle is suspended while the vapor recovery system is under vacuum. The ECU then waits to see if the vacuum holds. If that leakdown test fails, the check engine light comes on. That’s why the gas cap has to be on and tight – it’ll cause te vacuum test to fail

DogWagen

PTE - good reassuring advice, thanks for the pointer on tyres. The car comes out of store next month for it's MOT (UK annual safety inspection) and I've asked a Benz specialist who I trust to go through pretty much all that you and Marcus have suggested in slow time. Will let you know how it all goes in Nov when I get back to the UK.

Mike

Emin

Drain the fuel and take car of every possible fliuid. Do a quick run through to see if all electronics work

knvs

how the hell do you let a car sit for 2 years? I DD my C43 and Stage 3 s4. and even if I had a second car, I don't think I can let it sit for more then a month...

DogWagen

Dead easy when your employer directs you overseas and the cost to register the vehicle in the new country is circa £3000 (say $6500 US) which is non-refundable. Anything over 2 litres is asking for a big bill in this part of the world

silence

or if you have winter...

mine had almost 8 months off last year over winter etc.

DogWagen

Well, surprise! The car sailed through its MOT this week with no issues identified. The battery is a bit weak so it had ABS and ESP captions on initially - the guy who runs the storage company tells me it's undriveable without ESP - sounds like he's got a heavy right foot! Next stop the service and a new battery