Fuel Questions - New FFH Owner

[Easy Rider]

I use so little gas that the trip meter is the only way I have to measure gas usage. I filled the tank last June and it's still very close to being full.

Let's talk about that just a bit.

 

Gas gets "stale" if it sits too long; that is especially true of ethanol blends.

 

The Volt, for instance, forces you to use most of the gas in the tank once every 6 months or so.

If the Energi does not do that, you REALLY should do it yourself.

 

AND you should seriously consider keeping some Stabil mixed with that unused fuel in your tank too.

[murphy]

The Energi will purge the gas, force the engine to run, after 18 months. It's a sealed pressurized system so there is no oxygen getting into the tank to affect the gas. It takes around 10 seconds for the system to depressurize after the open gas door button is pushed. I am not going to second guess the Ford engineers on how to operate the car.

[Texasota]

18 months is a very long time for storing gas. I am a northern boat owner and the boat is stored through the winter season and Stabil is very important to prevent problems in the spring. It seems like the concerns would be the same for a car but I am not an expert. Stabil does not cost very much for a tank (maybe a couple bucks) and that would be a very cheap safeguard spread over an 18 month period.

[murphy]

Did you miss the point that it is a sealed pressurized system? Ford says 18 months is fine and they provided a warranty that backs that up. I use Stabil in my lawn mowers but there is no way I am dumping an unknown chemical in my car with a non-standard engine and computerized fuel injectors. If Ford felt it was necessary they would have said so. They monitor fuel usage and will burn it off if it needs to be burned off.

 

Edit:

Actually the manual does say to add stabilizer if the gas will be in the tank up to 18 months. I'm at 7 months and expect the gas to be used long before 18 months rolls around.

Edited January 19, 2015 by murphy

[Easy Rider]

The Energi will purge the gas, force the engine to run, after 18 months. It's a sealed pressurized system so there is no oxygen getting into the tank to affect the gas. It takes around 10 seconds for the system to depressurize after the open gas door button is pushed. I am not going to second guess the Ford engineers on how to operate the car.

Ethanol added to the gas is classified as an oxygenate, isn't it ??

 

Anyway, oxygen is not the only thing that cause gasoline to change chemically over time.

It probably isn't even the biggest factor.

 

Somewhat like the people who just can't bear to let the oil go 10,000 miles between changes, I am not comfortable to leave gas sitting around for 18 months unused......especially not without some stabilizer added to it. Stabil says that their product is only intended to be effective for 12 months.

 

Does Ford really say that it's perfectly OK to leave gas in there unused for 18 months.........or is that a fail safe, outside edge type thing just to prevent some REALLY ridiculous interval ??

[murphy]

From the 2013 Owner's Manual.

 

Fuel Freshness Mode (Energi Vehicles Only)

This feature helps keeps the fuel system
functional and the fuel fresh.

If you operate your vehicle mainly in plug-in
power mode using electricity from plugging
in without refueling, the gasoline in your
tank eventually becomes old. Old fuel can
damage the engine and fuel system.

To prevent the fuel from becoming old,
your vehicle will automatically enter fuel
freshness mode. In fuel freshness mode
operates, your vehicle will operate in hybrid
mode causing the gasoline engine to run
in order to consume the fuel in the fuel
tank.

Note: If new fuel is not added during an 18
month period, fuel freshness mode will
consume fuel until about 1 gallon (3.8 liters)
is left in the tank.

During fuel freshness mode:
• The information display screen will
indicate that fuel freshness mode is
active.
• The vehicle will only run in hybrid mode.
EV Now will not be available.
• Most of the plug-in power will be
stored until fuel freshness mode is
completed.

Note: EV Now can resume if less than 1
gallon (3.8 liters) of fuel is left in the tank.
Note: In most cases, when the fuel level is
below 1/4 tank, refueling the vehicle will end
fuel freshness mode and EV Now will now
become available. Refueling after
consuming a full tank in fuel freshness mode
will end the mode.

Note: It is recommended to use a fuel
stabilizer if you consume less than a full
tank of fuel during an 18 month period.

[Texasota]

Sorry, Murphy, if my post came across as lecturing. I was not familar with the "fuel freshness mode" of the Energi. As i said, I am not an expert on this.

 

The note about about recommending a fuel stabilizer:

 

 

It is recommended to use a fuel stabilizer if you consume less than a full tank of fuel during an 18 month period.

 

Does seem to indicate that Ford says it is okay to use a stabilizer such as Stabil (i.e. it will not harm the car).

[murphy]

Sorry, Murphy, if my post came across as lecturing. I was not familar with the "fuel freshness mode" of the Energi. As i said, I am not an expert on this.

 

The note about about recommending a fuel stabilizer:

 

 

Does seem to indicate that Ford says it is okay to use a stabilizer such as Stabil (i.e. it will not harm the car).

Not to worry. I learned a long time ago that the lack of body language in online communications can make interpretation difficult.

 

My favorite example of language differences. Where I was raised, north of Pittsburgh, PA, a milkshake has milk, flavoring, and ice cream in it. In New England that is called a Frappe and a milkshake is just milk and flavoring.

 

I had not remembered that statement until I pulled the quote out of the manual. My take is that if you intend to let it go to 18 months then put the stabilizer in. If you expect to use the gasoline before 18 months comes around then don't worry about it. I'm at 7 months so not time to consider it yet.

[Easy Rider]

My take is that if you intend to let it go to 18 months then put the stabilizer in. If you expect to use the gasoline before 18 months comes around then don't worry about it. I'm at 7 months so not time to consider it yet.

 

Notice another part of the quote:

"Old fuel can damage the engine and fuel system."

 

Given the fact that there is no way for you to actually KNOW the age of the fuel when it goes into your tank........or the quality of said fuel.......and the fact that Stabil says it is only good for 12 months........ my take is that letting it go 18 months is more of a gamble that I would be willing to take.

 

But you seem to be stuck on letting it sit in there for the full year and a half without doing anything so I wish you the best of luck with that. :)

[tr7driver]

Have you seen my gumbands? They were in box where we keep the pop so I could use them to keep the wrap on the jumbo after yinz eat.

[acdii]

You know, I have this 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis that has sat in the garage for more than 2 years with a full tanks of gas. Just for kicks I started it up and drove it to town. Dang that car runs fine! I have to worry about the car stopping, not going, the brakes were really bad the first few times I stopped.

[Easy Rider]

You know, I have this 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis that has sat in the garage for more than 2 years with a full tanks of gas.

You got lucky but it is not likely to last.

 

Even Stabil says that the gas will only be good for a year with their stabilizer in it.

 

At this point you REALLY should get that old gas out of there, either by running it or draining and refilling with fresh gas and stabilizer.

 

If you don't, the odds are very high that you will be sorry.