MTFCA Forum

Hi all,
My good buddy (acar collector) wonders if anyone knows of a good system/app which could keep track of gas levels/condition in his collection. I know he could use pencil and paper. Just wondering if anyone has found an easier plan. Thanks so much!

I'll be folloing this thread to see what the responses are. I have vehicles in multiple locations with batteries disconnected, but gas in the tank. I only run ethynol free gas, so not worried about gumming up fuel system, but gas does get old and I need to keep track of how old.

I wonder if Jay Leno has a system, one of his several talented employees probably runs it.

I use lite stick blue painters tape and write critical info on the tape with a sharpie. radiator has anti freeze info. Radiator also has oil change info. Gas cap has last fuel date. i also disconnect and charge all batteries. I do not use battery tenders as I do not like having extension cords and 110 v in the unattended garage,
Jon

Tape a sheet of paper to the window and write down info and dates.

Hi John,
In some states you can get ethanol free gas as Robert mentioned but not here so when I get home & have boutique gas in my tank. I either treat
it or drain it. I try not to keep more than a gallon in the tank. I treat gas with Sea Foam, Stabil, Star-tron or synthetic caster oil. All will keep gas
safe for at least a year. I find no gas is best & just ad some when needed to drive. I have treated gas on hand all the time for mowers, chipper,
& other yard equipment. Batteries I keep on a solar charger all the time ( this is also one of the reasons I use 12 volt as 6 volt solar charge
controllers are not common ) also a 5 watt solar panel will work fine for 12 vdc without a controller. This also doubles as a power supply for
lighting in the small buildings that I keep cars in that do not have 120 volt ac power to them. I find that the charge cycle supplied by solar seems
to help batteries last longer. If I need to keep track I use a sharpie & painters tape.
Craig.

I'm thinking the fill gas/drain gas is almost a catch 22 type of thing. I have restored vintage cars with varnish gas in the half tank, but after cleaning, that half of the tank is nice and solid. The empty half of the tank is rust and thin. So, not good for driving, but some sort of liquid in the tank might help preserve it. Most of my vehicles, including my ambulance project which has a dispatch box, have gloveboxes. I guess I should start keeping a small log book in the glove box with the maintainance items in it.
On the WWII jeeps, there were actualy lubrication charts and a slip rack under the hood, so the chart stayed with the vehicle and, when anti freeze started being used, they just stencil painted under the hood the date of the Prestone and painted over it when it was changed. No pencil and paper for those guys.

I think that gasoline is hygroscopic so it attracts water so more in the tank may attract more? If water gets in a vessel the change in temp will
cause it to condense coating the top & as it evaporates rust will form a at a higher rate.
Craig.

As to the title of the OP - If it won't start, it is likely out of gas.

Gasoline can hold water.. but it will keep the Air away.. you need both to rust..

Cap

When the engine stops running is a good indication. I knew a fellow that used one that quite often.

I have 12 cars in my collection now. Those I know will sit over 6 months have the gas and carburetors drained and a paper and string tag hanging from the steering wheel stating “ no gasoline in tank”. Others being driven or worked on have the gas tanks filled to the top to keep moisture out and a dated tag on the steering wheel. Spare portable gas tanks also have a dated tag on the handle for rotation and I only use ethanol free gas in the older cars. I don’t mind excess gas around during hurricane season as it might need to be used for power outages and I mow our property a lot. Diesel for tractors kept in a 100 gallon tank with pump and filtered.
Keeping batteries charged is a whole other problem…