Bought and received my Battery Tender Plus today - thanks for the tip guys - and spoke with the service manager of my Jaguar dealership who suggested I put a bottle (and an appropriate amount based on instructions I'm sure) of Sta-bil Marine gasoline stabilizer in the car as well. FYI and FWIW. (He mentioned that the Marine version better suited to the [winter] conditions).

 

You received good advice from your JLR dealer. The "marine" version of Stabil is designed to neutralize the damaging effects of ethanol which is 10% of most US gasoline these days. It's not a problem if you're constantly burning the fuel and replacing it, but when left in the system for long periods, it has a tendency to damage the fuel delivery systems.

After you add the Stabil and fill the tank, don't forget to run the engine (preferably driving it) long enough for the mixture to circulate through the entire fuel and injector systems.

 

Although it will do no harm, such additives are not required for vehicles that have sealed fuel tanks as fitted to any modern car. No air, no moisture, no damage.

 

just make sure your tank is full to reduce condensation forming in the tank.

 

Alternatively, I can look after your car for you over the winter.

I can guarantee that the brakes won't seize, the battery won't go flat, the fuel won't go stale, and there will be no mildew in the interior (there may be some tire wear).

 

Not a bad idea! Oh yes, it's good to be bad....

 

What a selfless offer!!

 

I'd just add that if you're taking the car out and driving on salt crusted roads, an undercarriage wash is a must before the car is put back in hibernation. Most car washes don't do a good job of washing down undercarriage and wheel parts.

The F-type has an aluminum body which avoids some of the issues with steel, but it's still true that metal and salt really don't mix well, especially when salt is left sitting in damp or condensation environments.

You may also want a chair in the garage so you can sit and stare at the car when it's snowing outside....

 

Stopped into a local marine hardware shop to buy the Stabil Marine fuel stabilizer - which they had, in both "regular" and Marine - but when I told the owner of the shop what I intended to do [hibernate the car] his exact words were "I wouldn't use Stabil if you gave it to me" (he said he carries it merely because some of his customers demand it). Instead he swore by something called Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment (a bottle of which is sitting next to me even as I write). His reasoning was something along the lines of Stabil not being nearly as efficient as the Star Tron stuff - to put it nicely - and he added that if the car is gonna sit for at least 6 weeks, using this makes sense (and said it certainly is not going to hurt anything).


Just thought some of you might like to know...

 

I've been winter storing all sorts of cars and toys for 40ish years and have yet to use any products or have any problems come the spring. Pretty amusing to hear that product X is better than product Y under those circumstances.

 

Sounds like he gets a better deal from Star Tron. More "efficient" . . . really? It's likely 99.999% chemically identical.

 

If what you say is true Foosh - and I have zero reason not to believe you - then you're probably right. That said, I doubt that he had that much vested ($) difference in selling me one brand over another. Everyone tends to have their own favorite brands, but the way he - to put it bluntly - "dissed" Stabil I have also have no reason to doubt him either...especially since he sells both. And I used the words "more efficient", he didn't. He used a lot stronger language...or shall I just say, "different" words. Nothing foul but firm.

In any event, I'll use what I bought and be done with it (and if I get the chance I might swing by to get the detailed dope of what his reasons are for recommending one over the other).

Thanks!

 

RJ,

It's not worth worrying about. You probably don't need either product, but it's just an extra measure of protection, whichever one you use.

Stabil is just the one that's been around the longest, and has become the generic name--kinda like the "Kleenex" of fuel stabilizers.

 

Agreed! And appreciate your reply.


Best regards,
RJ52


P.S. I still actually harbor visions of clear (salt/sand-free) days during winter taking it out for a nice long drive.