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Car parked in the garage? See how long gasoline can stay in the tank
Anyone who thinks it's okay to leave a car parked with a full tank is wrong. The natural depletion of fuel can lead to numerous headaches, where switching to gasoline will do nothing to save your car. Antonio Alexandre Ferreira, senior consultant at Petrobras Distribuidora, explains. Find more here: how long can a car idle on a full tank of gas
“The big issue is oxidation. If too much time passes, sludge can form, which will lead to engine malfunction. It won't burn the way it should." Based on this, the recommendation is only one: the tank must be completely drained first. Fuel is made for you to use. It is recommended not to spend more than three months with him.
In case there is no option for the owner, Antonio also recommends the use of fuels with high oxidation stability, such as the premium fuels sold at gas stations. “The oxidation stability is very high. Generally speaking, you can wait up to six months, maybe a year, with high-quality fuel in the tank.”
Concerns other than fuel
But it's not just the fuel that the driver should be concerned about. Lubricating oil is another item of paramount importance. Despite its validity period being, in fact, indeterminate, especially when exposed to ideal temperature conditions, its correct maintenance is vital for car maintenance.
“The moment it enters the engine block, the contact with its metal walls already triggers the reaction of some of its additives. The oil already starts to degrade, even when you are not using the vehicle. So, the recommendation is that you periodically change this oil, not exceeding one year.”
The concern with temperature, in fact, is another issue for the owner, explains Antonio. Since the oxidation rate of gasoline is lower than that of oil, it ends up suffering more from its effects. However, this does not prevent it from being equally affected by the weather. “If you keep the vehicle in a cooler environment, it will suffer less oxidation. Already in a warmer environment, greater oxidation. Humidity is also another problem. The more you have, the worse”.
Leave the tank empty or full during quarantine?
Better to keep the tank full . Keeping the compartment empty accelerates the conditions of fuel degradation, as the tank can oxidize with particles that were left inside, and when filling it again, the fuel can suffer from these particles and lose octane.
But until the tank degrades when empty the period is more than a year . The tip that Rafael Serraalvo gives to those who have their car parked in the garage is to keep it with a full tank and try to take a walk, following the hygiene and safety recommendations, at least once a week to mix the fuel.