Fuel Stabilizer

nis350

For those of you who store the car during the Winter. What type of fuel stabilizer is safe to use and doesn't damage the O2 Sensors and the catalytic converters? Also, will the fuel stabilizer adversely effect the smog test? Thx.

viiv

Fuel stabilizer does very little and is unnecessary for just one winter. What you should be far more concerned with is ethanol, and ideally you should be putting in ethanol-free gas for winter storage. Watch this video to find out how ethanol will rust out your fuel system from the inside out. Fuel stabilizer will not stop the corrosion damage from the ethanol in your gasoline.

https://youtu.be/UvS_D4_lF5U


I know ethanol-free gas is a little hard to come by in California, but Jay Leno talks about where you can get it:

https://youtu.be/DL_8SkZjEPc

Quicksilvers

STABIL fuel stabilizer is what I have been using in every Nissan/Infiniti I have owned and it works very well. Before storage date change oil and filter, consider changing brake fluid, coolant, and gear oil it’s a good idea. Also clean engine compartment and check for any possible leaks. I definitely know the feeling but hope for a early spring next year! Tells all hope 2021 will be a better year than 2020 was.

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Mr. Clean

Quicksilvers

Try this I have always liked using this product.

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Mr. Clean

ZoomZ

I use Ethanol free gas (all the time anyway) but also add half bottle of REDLINE SI-1 Fuel treatment.

https://www.redlineoil.com/si-1-comp...system-cleaner

nis350

thank you all for the information.

I am in Southern California where the weather is quite mild. My situation is that my other car (not the z) is rarely driven. I just want to ensure the gasoline doesn't go bad while it is sitting in the garage.

I'll give Stabil a try and hope the car will pass the roller smog test.

Tractionless

Startron ONLY and it will freshen stale gas as well, from own experience. Use in the boat and garden equipment as well including a generator that sits. Never any water nor any other issue.

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Cyber370

Sta-bil fuel stabilizer is what I use every year and have been using it for the last 11 years right before winter storage. It won’t do any harm to cats, O2 sensors or any other part of the fuel/exhaust system. I also do not use gas containing ethanol. In Canada, the only ethanol free gas we can get is Shell Nitro V, for now. For any storage of 6 months or more, it is recommended to use some sort of fuel stabilizer just to be sure. Even if you don’t need it, it will do no harm. Hope this info helps.

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nis350

thanks again.

BrendenZ34

Alright so I have stored my 370z this winter and I a. Afraid the gas has gone bad somewhat. It rough idles, and doesn't sound quite right in the exhaust. Almost a little bit choppy. I saw this thread and was wondering if anyone has any idea on how to go about fixing the issue. It's a 2019 with 30k miles so spark plugs seem unlikely. There was no vacuum leaks. I was just wondering if anyone knew how to go about diagnosing that and potential fixes.

ZoomZ

I highly doubt the gas will go bad in 6 months. Even at 10% ethanol.

Are you parked inside or outside?

Was it a full tank?

The possibility of water in tank increases with being outside and having a less than full tank. (condensation)

I am not sure if our gas tanks have a drain plug. Someone can chime in. That would be the ideal situation, to be able to drain tank completely and start with fresh gas.

Obviously you can sample gas too and see whats going on.

Otherwise, check air intake system, moisture/oil on coils/plugs. Car sits, oil, water can creep into unwanted places. through a bottle of REDLINE S1 fuel treatment in tank, fill up, Take it for a drive first and see if problem persists.

BrendenZ34

I'm parked inside a garage under a cover and it was a little more than half a tank. I started it 2 months ago and at that point it sat for 3 months and it ran like a dream. That's why I'm so confused. I have no idea if there's a drain plug or not I'll have to look into that. If so I'll be doing that. And try the treatment you suggested. Let me know if there's any other possibility. I'll check the intake system for moisture as well.

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ZoomZ

I'm looking at the FSM and no drain plug is shown. They want you to siphon from fuel filler tube. (procedure for sender removal. Tank removal just states drain tank)

a. Insert hose of less than 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter into fuel filler tube through fuel filler opening to draw
fuel from fuel filler tube.
b. Disconnect fuel filler hose from fuel filler tube. Refer to FL-11, "
Exploded View".
c. Insert fuel tube into fuel tank through fuel filler hose to draw fuel from fuel tank.

BrendenZ34

So that can be done without dropping the tank out? Through the filler tube as in the gas cap hole? I'll see if I can find what your talking about is there a specific place you found that?

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Cyber370

I would simply siphon most (not all) of the old gas out of the tank. You can keep the siphoned gas since it’s perfectly fine for lawnmowers and such.
I would drive the car to the nearest gas station and fill up the tank with fresh gas, and go for a long highway drive. This should solve your issues.
Next winter prior to storage, fill the tank to the top with ethanol free gas (if possible) and add fuel stabilizer.

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"That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the f*ck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.”-Mia (Pulp Fiction)