Corvette Action Center Deep Dive Series: Gasoline for your Corvette

[Rob]

The Corvette Action Center takes an in-depth look at gasoline, fuel stabilizers, octane boosters and their effects on your Corvette.

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[Tuna]

Good read. Thanks Hib!

[catbert]

Learned some things - thanks

[Hib Halverson]

Good read. Thanks Hib!

Capt. Tuna!!
You're welcome, bud!!

[Evolution1980]

Hib, I have a few questions that come from me hearing things over the years.

1) I've heard that higher octane fuel has a shorter shelf life. In the article, Wusz said that the average cradle-to-grave is 6 weeks, while it can last "up to a year", presumably as "non-detrimental" to the engine within that year.
Does higher octane gas degrade quicker than low octane gas?
If so (or even "if not"), I always have some concern buying race gas (e.g. CAM2) from stations since I no idea how long that gas has been in their storage tanks. At $4 or $5/gal, it's not exactly flying off the shelf. "How old is that gas down there?" Who knows? This question is always compounded by my being told that higher octane has a shorter shelf life. So you've got gasoline that's not refreshed nearly as often AND (possibly) degrades faster?
Whats your take on that?

2) Fuel stabilizers such as Sta-bil are pretty well known and for the most part, I believe, pretty well regarded. I've also found it to be a safe fix (i.e. "a cleaner") for small 2-cycle engines such as weedwhackers and rototillers that have gummed up carbs. That aside, I always put a healthy dose in the last full tank of all my engines (car, bike, lawnmower) before winter storage. Any comment on products such as these?

3) I noticed in the article it spoke of winter storage and having a full tank for reasons of avoiding condensation. As noted above, I do that with my 1980. However, my neighbor, with specific regards to a lawnmower engine (still 4-cycle like our cars), stores their lawnmower with an empty fuel system; basically runs the lawnmower until it putters out of fuel. I figure that what's good for the big engine is good for the small engine, so mine goes to bed with a full tank.
Do you have a position on winter storage for the 'little engines'?