679
STORAGE
This section provides tips for storing an XJ-S for extended periods.
GUMMY FUEL: Walt Osborn of Vintage Jag Works: “We have the third car in the shop this year with stuck valves.
This is becoming more of a problem as people collect more cars than they can take care of. Some of the cars have been
sitting for several years and the gasoline evaporates and leaves behind a syrupy varnish-like substance which gets on
the valve stems in the cylinder head and causes them to stick in their guides. They stick in the open position, the owner
attempts to start the car and/or turns the motor over with the starter, and the piston fouls the valve. Now the engine may
start and run for a time and then start missing. The miss is usually a bent valve.”
FUEL STABILIZING: Fuel doesn’t store well, it goes “stale”. Fuel lines and other components may be affected by
“varnishing”.
In the old days of carburetors, it was usually recommended to cut off the fuel supply and run the engine until the fuel
lines and float bowls are empty. Unfortunately, this is more difficult to accomplish on an EFI system -- and may do
more harm than good. The electric fuel pump is immersed in fuel, and running it for any length of time with air in it is
probably not advisable. The worst thing for injectors is water, so condensation in empty fuel lines wouldn’t be good.
The local auto parts store sells fuel stabilizers that can be added to fuel. Before storing a car, add some fuel stabilizer to
the tank and drive the car for a while to get it circulated throughout the fuel system. Gregory Wells says, “Sta-Bil is
one brand and these things are almost always available at boat dealers, since they are highly recommended for use in
boat engines stored over the winter.”
SOUR GASOLINE: Arthur Smith says, “I found a reference to "Sour gasoline" (gasoline which has developed
peroxides). I found that enlightening since some of our British cars get stored for a period of time. The reference was
to a certain special rubber with stabilizers added that could withstand the "Sour Gasoline". That makes me think that
when one of our cars is stored for any length of time the "varnish" that forms will eat any rubber that is in the fuel
system.
“The information came from a BF Goodrich pamphlet and the distributer said the special rubber is not available.”
ENGINE FOGGING: The auto parts stores sell aerosol foggers for preparing engines for storage. For the Jaguar V12,
you will need two cans of aerosol fogger and three people. When ready to park it, take both air cleaner covers off and
disable the ignition and EFI -- you can disable both in one move by disconnecting the white/slate/blue wire to the
ignition amp right on top of the engine. Have one person stand on either side of the car with a spray can of engine
fogger in hand while the third person holds the throttle open and turns the starter. A good blast for a few seconds in
both sides at the same time. Turn off the starter and foggers at the same time, so you don’t run any fresh air through
behind the fog.
When it comes time to drive the car again, it is generally considered a good idea to change the oil promptly. There may
have been condensation during storage, which will contaminate the oil.
TIRES: The following was attributed to a Yokohama tech rep: “He recommended two methods for storing vehicles.
First, inflate the tires to 65 psi and leave the weight of the vehicle on the tires. 65 psi? Modern tires will accept 65 psi
for storage without damage. You just can’t drive on them at this pressure without damage. He did caution, however,
that old stamped steel rims may not be able to take this pressure with out damage. His second recommendation was to