Fill crank case full for long term storage?

[Hard-Deck]

Everyone, thanks upfront for your input. You are all helpful...mostly.

1983 911SC.

Comments: I will be storing my car for 3 years while I am OCONUS. It will be parked in a low-humidity garage in Idaho, inside a CarCapsule. I've read many of the threads for long-term storage, and I will follow the "winterizing" suggestions, plus emptying my fuel tank, instead of keeping it full. I read that for a long sleep, it might be good to completely fill the crank case.

Question: How much oil is need to completely fill the crank case? Is it filled this way through the normal oil fill location?

Thanks, Kim

[wayne robson]

No ,----before you store it,change oil and filter to the normal level
then drive it about 10 miles up to normal temp,then it is ready to store.

[scottrx7tt]

If you completely fill your crankcase, you will have a mess on your hands when you get it back out. Your heat exchangers will be full of oil.

[jlex]

Remove the plugs and "fog" the cylinder walls...

[turbobrat930]

Kim, Kim, Kim.... thanks for the good laugh this morning. April fools is not until Saturday. If you are serious about your question, please do not do ANYTHING to your car except put gasoline in it. For everything else, drop it off at a qualified mechanic!

Smdh....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by turbobrat930

Kim, Kim, Kim.... thanks for the good laugh this morning. April fools is not until Saturday. If you are serious about your question, please do not do ANYTHING to your car except put gasoline in it. For everything else, drop it off at a qualified mechanic!

Smdh....

Give a guy a wee break. At least he asked.

[turbobrat930]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Give a guy a wee break. At least he asked.

That WAS giving him a break.....

[darrin]

another thought -- would it make sense to add appropriate amounts of fuel stabilizer to the tank and drive it for a while to distribute the stabilizer through the fuel system before emptying the tank, etc. This should help stabilize the fuel in the lines/etc.

Also, would seeking out alcohol-free gas for this help too?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by turbobrat930

That WAS giving him a break.....

LOL Fair enough.

I remember pounding the snot out of a guy for asking what year 911's stopped having to have the valves adjusted. It was over the top "mean" and I still feel bad about it.

Yours is but a mild ribbing.

[911 Rod]

Kim. Where are you getting your information from? Corvette forum?

Doing the regular winterizing procedure should cover it. I would think emptying the gas tank without a flush will do more harm than good. Yes to running the fuel stabilizer in it and add extra as per the directions on the bottle.

[tharbert]

If it were me, I'd hunt far and wide for some ethanol free fuel. I'd be leery of letting E10 (ethanol/gas mix) sit in a car for that long. If you don't know where to look, many marinas will have E0 gas. Aviation gas won't have ethanol in it either.

[porsche930dude]

Id certainly be leary about leaving the gas in it. Id probrobly run it till its empty. But definately get non ethenol fuel and probably mix a bunch of 2 stroke oil in it. It works better than the fuel stabilizers in my experience.

[gtc]

Not sure where you are located, but I'd suggest finding a trustworthy buddy that could take it out for a drive every couple of months.

[TibetanT]

I am going to come to Idaho and find this car and drive it while you are away!

Just kidding.

The only way to completely fill the crankcase with oil would be to use the breather hose on the top of the engine and keep pouring.

BUT…That is a BAD IDEA!

IMHO, and I am no expert, you should be fine with your "time capsule bubble" and climate controlled environment. Idaho has NON-Ethanol gas at some stations.

BTW, if I were you I would put it up on four jack stands so your tires don't get flat spots. Just a suggestion.

Good luck

[Canada Kev]

I don't think even regular pump non-ethanol gas would be stable for three years. And commercially available stabilizer won't do the job, either. VP Racing fuel has a vintage car gas that they claim is stable for two years.

It's a tough call. I think Graham has the best idea: get someone to drive it a few times a year and put some miles on it to use up what gas is there then replace with fresh, and get basic maintenance done like changing the oil once a year.

[fanaudical]

"You are all helpful...mostly."

This has got to be one of the best quotes on Pelican - ever.

I agree that filling the crankcase is not a great idea. Fresh oil, running up to temperature to distribute, and fogging the cylinders are more appropriate.

Parking on jack-stands and unspringing the suspension also makes sense to me.

Regarding fuel: I have read anecdotal evidence that a product called PRI-G fuel stabilizer will keep gas fresh for 4+ years. I have yet to find a product data sheet that states this. Stabil only guarantees two years. Not sure what to recommend on this one. Having somebody take the car out midway through "hibernation" and refilling the tank with some non-ethanol (and Stabil-ized) fuel may not be a bad idea.

I would also consider changing brake fluid prior to storage.

Best of luck and safe travels.

[Bill Douglas]

Surely you have a friend you trust. As you know it better for the car to be driven occasionally than to be left in storage.

I left mine with my mother. She really liked the car by the time she had to give it back.

[Mark Salvetti]

Originally Posted by Canada Kev

I don't think even regular pump non-ethanol gas would be stable for three years. And commercially available stabilizer won't do the job, either. VP Racing fuel has a vintage car gas that they claim is stable for two years.

In a dry garage, with Stabil, I think it might be fine. I would fill the tank to the brim, add Stabil at the gas station, then drive to the garage and change the oil. Then probably fog the cylinders after it cools down.

When you get back, drain the tank, and add fresh fuel before trying to start it, although it might not be necessary.

My SC was parked for 20 years in a dry garage with a full tank of non-ethanol premium fuel plus Stabil. I drained the tank this past fall, and this is how things looked:







Fuel pump still worked too.

Mark

[Canada Kev]

Wow, that looks good. I guess the key would be to not try to run the car on the old fuel and just use it for storage and to keep the tank from corroding.

[Mark Salvetti]

I think the best benefit of the garage is the car never sees 100% humidity, and the temperature doesn't change that much so there is less chance for condensation. My garage is under the house, the temperature is rarely outside the range of 35F to 80F. Might have been a different story if the garage was detached and not climate controlled.

Mark