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Should I add fuel stabilizer for a few weeks of car in garage?
Hey everyone - I hope this is the right place to post this. I am planning to be out of home for a few weeks, and I was wondering if I need to add a 'fuel stabilizer' in my new GLE 450 before I head out? I read online that for long vacations/periods where the car is sitting in the garage, it will be a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer. But how "long" is long exactly here? Months? or even just a few weeks (say 2-3)? Thanks in advance for any help.
I've read that fuel begins aging after about a month, so if you're parked longer than this it can't hurt. I store my X7 for about 5 months every winter, and a bottle of Stabil gets added to a full tank.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I think you will find info on sites that discuss gasoline powered tools and lawn equipment. Most will say gasoline deteriorates in three to six months depending on conditions. Personally, I've never had that happen. But, adding a fuel stabilizer is not a bad idea, though unnecessary if only for a couple of weeks.
I've read that fuel begins aging after about a month, so if you're parked longer than this it can't hurt. I store my X7 for about 5 months every winter, and a bottle of Stabil gets added to a full tank.
@streborx Thank you very much for the quick response. Right now, I am planning for being away ~3-4 weeks. I read about Stabil too, and was planning to get that. But I wasn't sure if adding it for shorter periods will have a counterproductive effect. I guess not!
I think you will find info on sites that discuss gasoline powered tools and lawn equipment. Most will say gasoline deteriorates in three to six months depending on conditions. Personally, I've never had that happen. But, adding a fuel stabilizer is not a bad idea, though unnecessary if only for a couple of weeks.
@JettaRed Thank you as well. I think you answered my question. I guess I'll hold off for this 'short' trip then.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
As @streborx and I said, it won't hurt anything to add Stabil to fresh gas. The article says more importantly to fill your tank full to reduce open space in the tank for moisture to form.
As @streborx and I said, it won't hurt anything to add Stabil to fresh gas. The article says more importantly to fill your tank full to reduce open space in the tank for moisture to form.
Got it and understood. Thank you @JettaRed . Yes, I also made note of that point about filling the tank full which I plan to do before I leave. Appreciate it.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
While oil additives are discouraged by most experts (even most manufacturers), fuel additives are not. Fuel additives are seen to be beneficial when used according to directions (i.e., don't over-use).
While oil additives are discouraged by most experts (even most manufacturers), fuel additives are not. Fuel additives are seen to be beneficial when used according to directions (i.e., don't over-use).
Great, thank you. Good to know. Appreciate your help.
Hey everyone - I hope this is the right place to post this. I am planning to be out of home for a few weeks, and I was wondering if I need to add a 'fuel stabilizer' in my new GLE 450 before I head out? I read online that for long vacations/periods where the car is sitting in the garage, it will be a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer. But how "long" is long exactly here? Months? or even just a few weeks (say 2-3)? Thanks in advance for any help.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Also, please chainge your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and not the absurd 10,000 mile interval recommended by Mercedes. Long change intervals are basically marketing hype to try to show cost of ownership is low. That is, until out of warranty...
Also, please chainge your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and not the absurd 10,000 mile interval recommended by Mercedes. Long change intervals are basically marketing hype to try to show cost of ownership is low. That is, until out of warranty...
Yup, I heard Japanese brands that also too use synthetic oil have half the intervals as most Germans.
As @streborx and I said, it won't hurt anything to add Stabil to fresh gas. The article says more importantly to fill your tank full to reduce open space in the tank for moisture to form.
Keeping the fuel tank full during storage is important as it minimizes air space which has moisture in it, and alcohol in gasoline will absorb moisture. An interesting phenomenon associated with alcohol blended fuel is the alcohol's ability to keep water in suspension up to a certain concentration. Beyond that point, the water suddenly precipitates and is present as if you poured a bottle of Dasani into your gas tank. An interesting article on this topic appeared in the February 2011 issue of Popular Mechanics (page 93) that can be found at https://archive.org/details/PopularMechanics2011-02. I've experienced this precipitation effect in two small engine machines. One had a steel gas tank that developed severe internal rust over just a couple months.
Keeping the fuel tank full during storage is important as it minimizes air space which has moisture in it, and alcohol in gasoline will absorb moisture. An interesting phenomenon associated with alcohol blended fuel is the alcohol's ability to keep water in suspension up to a certain concentration. Beyond that point, the water suddenly precipitates and is present as if you poured a bottle of Dasani into your gas tank. An interesting article on this topic appeared in the February 2011 issue of Popular Mechanics (page 93) that can be found at https://archive.org/details/PopularMechanics2011-02. I've experienced this precipitation effect in two small engine machines. One had a steel gas tank that developed severe internal rust over just a couple months.
Also, please chainge your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and not the absurd 10,000 mile interval recommended by Mercedes. Long change intervals are basically marketing hype to try to show cost of ownership is low. That is, until out of warranty...
Much depends on your driving habits.
Short trips (bad) don't heat the oil enough to evaporate moisture that accumulates via condensation, causing oil breakdown and loss of lubricity, among other things. (It also causes your exhaust systems to corrode.)
If you get your oil to full operating temperature it's less of, or not an issue.
Every time I start my car I drive a minimum of about five miles, to protect my car's innards. (I also use that as an excuse to drive my 53, since it's such a pleasure.)
I change at 10,000 miles. Have since I started using synthetics in the 70s.
I've taken this approach for decades. Never had wear issues when I had oil analyses done, or oil consumption.
I seldom replace a car before 100,000 miles. My best was 700,000 miles, kept outside, but with a block heater to ward off condensation.
Condensation is the enemy, not mileage.
3,000 mile oil changes are a waste of money and resources. Just warm up your engine always.
Short trips (bad) don't heat the oil enough to evaporate moisture that accumulates via condensation, causing oil breakdown and loss of lubricity, among other things. (It also causes your exhaust systems to corrode.)
If you get your oil to full operating temperature it's less of, or not an issue.
Every time I start my car I drive a minimum of about five miles, to protect my car's innards. (I also use that as an excuse to drive my 53, since it's such a pleasure.)
I change at 10,000 miles. Have since I started using synthetics in the 70s.
I've taken this approach for decades. Never had wear issues when I had oil analyses done, or oil consumption.
I seldom replace a car before 100,000 miles. My best was 700,000 miles, kept outside, but with a block heater to ward off condensation.
Condensation is the enemy, not mileage.
3,000 mile oil changes are a waste of money and resources. Just warm up your engine always.
I put 175,000 miles on my 2005 e320CDI using the engineer recommended 10,000 mile intervals. 1999 Honda CRV was approaching 250,000 miles and 23 years old when I passed it on using the factory recommended 7,500 mile intervals (synthetic oil since new)
Synthetic oils are a game changer when it comes to oil change intervals. 3000 mile oil changes are a waste of money if you use fully synthetic oils.
Please remember when sharing your experiences with oil changes that you need to compare apples to apples. Lets not compare a diesel with a gas engine. We should all know that Diesel fuel is oily and that helps those engines last longer, and new diesels need fuel additives and TONS of maintenance to last. GDI engines are not the same as port injected engines and the maintenance is not the same. GDI has only been popular for 20 years. Spray in cylinder liners are also relatively new. Engines that cost 50k plus are relatively new. You will never convince anyone that extra maintenance is bad but everyone can be convinced that its better be proactive vs reactive. YMMV but my oil would be tar if it even would be in the engine at 10k miles with a biturbo GDI... and I would be burning up 5 liters along the way. Ive never had to go to a mechanic because I changed the oil too soon.
Fuel stabilizer is not needed for a one month storage BUT if a five dollar spend makes the op feel better, the value to them is worth at least five dollars and will have no negative consequence. My cars regularly sit for up to a month at a time in poor weather season with zero issues.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
To each his own, but I have over 250,000 miles on my 2004 Audi TT 225 quattro. I have change the oil no less often than every 5000 miles using manufacturer (i.e., VW/Audi) specified oil and have the same engine and turbo in the car. Would changing the oil half as often made a difference? Who knows? For me, shorter oil change intervals is not a waste of money.
I'm currently doing some renovation of the interior and refreshing the suspension. Will be applying some paint repair and clear coat to the roof and hood once the weather improves.
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Should I add fuel stabilizer for a few weeks of car in garage?
Enjoy the smiles per miles.
