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C5 1997-2004 TECH & PERFORMANCE

STORING YOUR C5-C6 or C7
George Borke
12/13/2018 11:49 AM
If you store your C5, C6 or C7 Corvettes for the winter/summer or whenever, you should watch this video from Paul Koerner, a GM World Class Technician who can be found wrenching on Corvettes at Jackson Chevrolet in Middletown, CT.

In the video, Paul highlights Chevrolet engineering’s recommendations for storing C5, C6 and C7 Corvettes with only a quarter tank of gas. And to demonstrate why, Paul is showing a fuel system out of a 2014 Corvette with the emphasis on the fuel level module that includes the float, fuel sending unit, and fuel pump.

When you store your later model Corvette with a full tank of fuel, Paul shows how the sending unit sensor card contact point on the float would actually be submerged in fuel. That’s not an issue with normal driving because the sending unit float moving up and down helps keep the contacts clean. However, should it remain submerged over long storage periods, sulfur contaminants in the fuel can change the resistance of the sending card, causing issues with the fuel system.

The reason why most people were taught to fill up their tanks before a long-term storage would be to keep moisture out of the fuel tank. Paul then shows how the Corvette fuel system is a closed system designed to keep moisture out and that’s why you can store your Corvette with just a quarter tank of fuel.

Sulfur contaminated fuel level sensors due to storing Corvette with a full tank can happen and create huge expense, so do NOT STORE c5/c6/c7 with more than a 1/4 tank of fuel. Let’s see why!!!
As you may know, starting with the C5 Corvettes and continuing through C7, the Corvettes utilized a “saddle bag” design for the fuel tanks and you can see in the video what a pain it is to remove them. So take Paul’s advice and if you store your Corvette for an extended amount of time, make sure it only has a quarter tank of fuel!


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