my 05 wdp was parked in my driveway for about 2 and a half months..i left it with about a half tank and when i went back in it after the 2 months was done, my tank was only a quarter full..did she get thirsty while being alone

 

did you screw the gas cap on all the way?

 

I hope you put gas stabilizer in the tank before leaving it sitting for that long.

 

no didnt put gas stabilizer..i'm guessing that was the problem

 

If you left the car for 2.5 months, I'd do the following:

1) Burn out that entire tank of gas, and don't fill up until empty for the next few tanks to "flush out" as much of the old gas as possible.

2) Change the oil/filter...in case of any possible "rust" on parts that were left without lubrication.

 

thanks for the help guys

 

You're gas should not evaporate unless your tank was wide open. Stabil does not stop your gas from evaporating. Stabil stops your gas from breaking down.

I used to store several of my cars for the winter. I will fill them up when going into storage and they would come out with a full tank.

 

Yes. I was asking about stabil regarding the breakdown of the gas. Having that much gas disappear sounds like someone came by in the night with a hose and a can and a little sucking.

 

The same thought crossed my mind also. To the original poster.... was your car parked outside or in a shared garage?

 

You got duped...somebody definately had to syphon your gas! That much loss would not happen in this little time...and likely wouldnt even happen after a years time given the gas tank is capped. It would just go back and break down....wouldnt evap much.

 

my car was outside the whole time and it was cold out if that makes a difference

 

Its true, gas should not evaporate out of a gas tank at all. All the cars have systems to prevent fumes from getting out, the systems will hold a few psi and vent above that into a charcoal cannister to be burned on the next start.
2-3 months of sitting in the cold under pressure should not result in any loss you could measure.
Someone drove the car, or got gas out of it somehow, or you forgot just how much was in there.
You should always fill a tank if the car is going to sit a long time.

Brett

 

BrettG brings up and EXCELLENT point here....fill the tank up, add stabilizer and you should be good. Reason....stabilizer is obvious....but fill tank because temperature differences can cause condensation within the tank and this helps prevent that from happening. Actually....at winter...we fill our motorcycles to the brim with gas leaving no visible air space whatsoever for this same reason....same on lawnmowers, ect. Little to no air = little to no condensation! At least I think that is why we started doing this years ago..

 

Sounds like someone took her out for a burn!

:dog:

 

I'm willing to bet somebody drove the car a little. Not such a bad idea as it rotates your tires and lubricates things...or you may have just remembered the fuel level wrong.

 

Guess what..Just found out that my dad used to go and put the car on here and there and just let it sit there to get the engine warmed up..I don't know how good this is but now I see what happened to the gas..the car had been in a crash so I knew nobody was driving it..anyways guys thanks again for all the info..never knew we should fill up the gas tanks in winter months if car is left alone

 

Its not so much because of condensation, but the less air in there, the less oxidation will happen to the fuel. Just like any food you leave out, gas will go bad from interacting with the oxygen in the air.

I have read someplace that adding vitamin E to the gas works like stabilizer type products. I never tried it though....

Brett

 

I knew it had something to do with having less air present! More gas...purges air...less air present? Ok...I get it!

 

As long as your dad drove it enough to get the oil fully warm, he did you a favor. Kept the battery from going flat (alarm system always draws current even when the car is shut down).

I heard a story from a mechanic who serviced a car that the owner brought in that was running rough/hard start. Couldn't figure out what was wrong unti the owner mentioned that he never kept more than 1/4 tank in the car. Turned out the tank had water it it, blocked the fuel filter with rust/debris.

You should never let a car go into storage without a full tank.

 

I've stored multiple cars for a lot longer than 2.5 months. I think going out and starting them is completely worthless, and I doubt you're battery would have been dead. Unless you're really heating up the engine and exhaust system (which idling doesn't do) you are just creating more moisture in the engine than just letting it sit there for the 2.5 months. If your Dad drove it around while you were gone, that's fine... but there is nothing wrong with letting a car sit for 2.5 months. Cars sit on the dealers lots for a lot longer than 2.5 months.

 

I would also not start an engine unless I was going to use it.
Lots of people seem to think things go bad from just sitting, while I think they go bad from not letting the moisture cook out of things. A charger on the battery is great, full tank of gas, recent oil change (to get the acid out), extra air in the tires, and let it sit.

Brett

 

Ah Brett....seen this happen many times....guy starts dirtbike at home to "make sure it starts ok" and then loads it to truck....takes it off truck and it wont start! Fowled plug not letting it warm up ect! Since I have seen this happen so many times I live by this...dont start it unless you are gonna use it! Good advise!

 

man, next time put ur key in somewhere secret.

 

nah my dad didn't drive it around i guess he just thought that things would go bad if it was to just sit there without having it turned on here and there as Brettg stated

 

some1 opened your tank and siphoned out the gas

jk