How Much Petrol ??.

[Courthouse/Tom]

Hi,everyone.I'm just about to lay my car up for the winter,in an unheated garage.Is there an optimum amount of petrol that i should be leaving in the tank ,to prevent rusting,condensation,etc.??. [frame][/frame]

[MarkyB]

Full to the brim.
You can get stuff to put in it so it doesn't go off I think.

[MColes]

You can get stuff to put in it so it doesn't go off I think.

Is there really any need for this just over the winter? We just started my friends car up with the petrol that was put in it by the previous owner 18 years ago

[mike.perry]

Laying it up for the winter? And spend half the summer sorting out the electrical gremlins

[bmcecosse]

Indeed some do say to brim the tank - but I wouldn't bother about additives. Unfortunately - I still haven't won the Lotto - and so can't afford to buy all that petrol in advance! The TR7 holds 14 gallons.........

[Courthouse/Tom]

Strueth,bmcecosse ,i hadn't thought of the cost,many thanks. I think i'll just be leaving an eggcup full in it !!!!!!!!!!! [frame][/frame]

[lesrollins]

Think if you fill it up this year it may be cheaper than filling it up next year. VAT goes up to 20% in jan so that will probably put prices up even on non vat items. Anyway you may get a few nice mild days in the winter to enjoy the car. Happy days !

[bmcecosse]

Petrol will go up - there is VAT on it - and on the TAX already built in to the price - Tax on Tax!!

[MarkyB]

I'd be very surprised if the price of fuel goes down, so a tank of petrol counts as an investment.
Little danger of the interest rate going up either, so probably a good investment.

Who knows, there might be another tanker drivers strike, then it would count as being prepared too .

[bmcecosse]

Aye - but 'evaporation' should be considered too........

[mike.perry]

Still got a jerry can of 4 star, I wonder if I should put it on ebay

[rayofleamington]

You want to leave about a quarter of a tank - this is enough to cover the pickup strainer so it won't get dry and crusty (blocked).
Also as the fuel will gradually go off, you can top up on your first run out after winter to get it back to normal.

If you have to leave it for years instead of over winter, then there is a lot more to worry about.
My pickup had been stood for 6 months without even a battery charger, and not used on the road for over 14 months - and the darn thing started first time!!