Here in the Pacific Northwest the off-season is pretty long so my SR3 stays tucked in the shop for many months over the winter.
My car is equipped with fuel tank pump-out provision. During the long storage period is it recommended to fill the tank to the gills so everything is immersed, or is it recommended to pump the fuel out to leave the tank innards free of fuel? It's not obvious that the foam (and the pump) would fare better letting it dry and crumble than it would keeping it immersed so I can imagine arguments for either.
Right. I'm interested in opinions as well. Gasoline is a solvent, air is an oxidizer. I couldn't say which is more harmful.
One thing I can recommend: don't use months-old gasoline. If you keep the tank full, you'll need to discard the 75l somehow when track season rolls around.
This is a great question. Part of the answer depends on the fuel you are using. Most unleaded fuel contain 10 to 15% ethyl alcohol (ethanol) which is bad for fuel cells and other fuel system components such as hoses, pumps, seals, etc.. When fuel is exposed to cold temperatures the heavier alcohol tends to separate from the fuel and and settle on the bottom of the tank which can attack the bladder. Because of this most fuel cell manufactures recommend pumping out your fuel if your car is going to sit for an extended period of time.
Harmon Racing Cells Recommends: If a vehicle or Fuel cell is going to be stored for a period exceeding 60 days we recommend draining any remaining fuel and replacing it with 1-2 gallons of racing fuel (without ethanol additives). For extended storage this should be done every six months to prevent premature deterioration and extend the life of the fuel cell bladder.
ATL Recommends: 1) Agitate the fuel to help homogenize the gasoline and ethanol mix, 2) drain the fuel bladder after each race or practice.
