Howdy all..I could use some advice..I'm new to all this BMW stuff, but I do not have to drive the car over winter...It gets pretty crappy up here, and I'll probably live longer if I put it away..(i have waaaaay too much fun with this car) I've got access to a climate controlled storage, and a real good car cover. The facility wants the battery disconnected..gas tank mostly empty, etc etc..If anyone can give me some other thoughts on what should be done, i really would appreciate it...the car is absolutely cherry, and I would like to keep it that way...thanks all...
Putting My Car Away for Winter
- Thread starter newguy
- Start date
I've always heard to keep the tank full, mainly to keep fluid lines fresh, but if its climate controlled, it should be less of a problem. Just worry about mice, and make sure everything is cleaned out. And they can't get in, I would check it out every so often if you can as well, I had a friend who had a 507 and it sat in storage for 2 years he came back and all the upholstery was wrecked.
I don't understand why they want the tank empty. It's better to store a car with a full tank of gas mainly because it prevents condensation in the empty part of the tank from contaminating the gas.
If the storage place is saying they want an empty tank because of fire concerns, then that is completely unfounded: liquid gasoline is not flammable, it's the vapor that is flammable. So, a full tank is more safe to store than a nearly empty tank that is full of vapor.
I'd store it with a full tank if I could get away with it. Irregardless, put some fuel stabilizer in there before storing it, just like Eric suggested. Be sure you put the fuel stabilizer in before you drive the car to the storage place so that the fuel in the fuel lines also gets the stabilizer in it. I'd also go back throughout the winter and start the car up periodically, and let it warm completely up. Change your oil before you store it and again when you take the car out of storage after the winter.
If the storage place is saying they want an empty tank because of fire concerns, then that is completely unfounded: liquid gasoline is not flammable, it's the vapor that is flammable. So, a full tank is more safe to store than a nearly empty tank that is full of vapor.
I'd store it with a full tank if I could get away with it. Irregardless, put some fuel stabilizer in there before storing it, just like Eric suggested. Be sure you put the fuel stabilizer in before you drive the car to the storage place so that the fuel in the fuel lines also gets the stabilizer in it. I'd also go back throughout the winter and start the car up periodically, and let it warm completely up. Change your oil before you store it and again when you take the car out of storage after the winter.
If you check your owner's handbook that will have a very thorough set of instructions for you to follow with regards to long-term storage. That requirement with the fuel does sound very strange... When we leave our power-boat stored for the winter we always brim the tank with fuel to prevent the condensation that JRT alluded to. Perhaps its a good idea to disconnect the battery too and have the car fully serviced before it's put away.