[Darth Martel]

My Camaro has been in hibernation since late October. Yesterday I connected the battery back up and gave her a nice cleaning in prep for today's first drive of the year into work. No problems firing up and it drove fine for 20 minutes of my 30 minute drive but, that last 10 minutes I started feeling a shudder in the steering wheel. I'm not sure if it's the engine or the transmission but, it was there in 7th and 8th gears around 45mph(cruising). Dropping it to 6th seem to eliminate the shudder. I got rid of the factory torque converter and have a Circle D torque converter so the factory shudder is gone. Could this be from e85 that's been sitting since October in a half full gas tank? I'm wondering if it's just some water condensation. If so, would a fill up alleviate the issue? If it's not the gas, could it be the transmission? What else would cause a shudder like that? I won't rule out the Circle D torque converter but, would say it's unlikely since it's fairly new. Thoughts anybody?

thanks for any replies

[adamjwilson]

The stale E85 would cause the car to possible miss and have poor performance. I assume you put an ethanol additive in it before hibernation?

[Darth Martel]

I did not. I pretty much just parked it in the garage, disconnected the battery and put a trickle charger on it. In years past, I would at least fill up the tank with e85 but failed to do that this go around.

I'm going to fill up with e85 on the way home this afternoon. Would putting in an ethanol additive at this point help?

Originally Posted by adamjwilson

The stale E85 would cause the car to possible miss and have poor performance. I assume you put an ethanol additive in it before hibernation?

[adamjwilson]

I don't think so... you are past that point. Suggest you do that faithfully in the future if you store more than a month on any E blend. Suggest you fill up with 93 and move on now. What blend of E are you running? I normally run E50ish until summer hits here.

[Darth Martel]

I usually get my e85 from Meijer, one of the few places that offers e85 around here and they're usually pretty close to 80, according to my HPTuner anyhow.

So, you're thinking I should mix in some premium? Why not more e85?

Originally Posted by adamjwilson

I don't think so... you are past that point. Suggest you do that faithfully in the future if you store more than a month on any E blend. Suggest you fill up with 93 and move on now. What blend of E are you running? I normally run E50ish until summer hits here.

[adamjwilson]

Suggest you run a blend until you run that old E out of your gas tank. Not really going to hurt your performance as I don't see you are running a SC. Running one tank of blended E then press on to what you normally do after that shutter is gone.... (assuming the shutter is from some bad/stale E in the tank)

[Spaceme1117]

If it has been sitting for a few months, the tires are likely a little bit flattened on a spot. I find if my car sits for a few weeks especially in cold weather, it takes a few miles for the tires to warm up enough to fully flex out. Until then, I can feel a bit of vibration.

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117

If it has been sitting for a few months, the tires are likely a little bit flattened on a spot. I find if my car sits for a few weeks especially in cold weather, it takes a few miles for the tires to warm up enough to fully flex out. Until then, I can feel a bit of vibration.

Interesting... I store mine in my storage unit all winter. Non heated, on concrete. Never had this issue.

[Darth Martel]

I thought about that as well but, I would probably feel the flat spots at lower speeds. I don't feel a thing until I'm at cruising speed around 45mph. I also didn't start feeling it until 20 minutes into my trip into work. I was on side country roads with implied speed limits so stayed well above 45mph until I got onto a main road and had to maintain a cruising speed. Plenty of stop signs on the country roads too so several stop and goes increasing speed from 0. I'll try a tank of 93 and see how it responds to that. Will keep everybody updated. Thanks for the input all...

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117

If it has been sitting for a few months, the tires are likely a little bit flattened on a spot. I find if my car sits for a few weeks especially in cold weather, it takes a few miles for the tires to warm up enough to fully flex out. Until then, I can feel a bit of vibration.

[ctrlz]

Hook up a scan tool and see if it is logging misfires.
Personally I doubt it's the fuel.

[Camaro fanboy]

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117

If it has been sitting for a few months, the tires are likely a little bit flattened on a spot. I find if my car sits for a few weeks especially in cold weather, it takes a few miles for the tires to warm up enough to fully flex out. Until then, I can feel a bit of vibration.

mine does this after it's winter storage. takes about 100 times to remove the flat spots

[adamjwilson]

Originally Posted by Camaro fanboy

mine does this after it's winter storage. takes about 100 times to remove the flat spots

Why not purchase Race Ramps Flatstoppers?

[Camaro fanboy]

Originally Posted by adamjwilson

Why not purchase Race Ramps Flatstoppers?

because i'm a tight ass.

[Nothing like an SS]

Originally Posted by adamjwilson

Why not purchase Race Ramps Flatstoppers?

I overinflate by 10-12 lbs after parking for the winter, before removing in Spring, reduce pressure to normal, zero flat spot issues in 35+ years of storing cars over the winter.

I also think old E is the issue, gunks up bad when it gets old, practically jello