Sta-Bil or other fuel stabilizers

[mikesride]

How do they work?? I just parked the car for the winter. Do I want it to sit on top? Do I want to drive it and mix it up? Do you want the mixed fuel in thru the whole fuel system???

[wdfifteen]

I recently had this conversation with my small engine shop. He has a service of preparing lawn mowing companies and home owners for overwinter storage of their mowers. He told me his "secret" fuel mixture is just premium, summer blend no-alcohol gasoline and fuel stabilizer. Fill the tank, run the engine a few minutes, and put it away. I guess if it didn't work his customers wouldn't keep coming back.

[KNS]

Finding a no-alcohol gasoline is a real trick around here...

[Hard-Deck]

Use Star-Tron for wicked, evil ethanol.

[Oh Haha]

I use SeaFoam in my vehicles and yard equipment. Not only does it keep the fuell system clean, it also acts as a stabilizer.

[M.D. Holloway]

Oxidation inhibitors - yes, they work and should be used in all engines that sit for more then 2 weeks...

[azasadny]

I've used StaBil in my Porsche and my lawnmower, snowblower, edger, etc... It works.

[Brando]

I use the green sta-bil for evil ethanol. Blend it in per the instructions, keeps the fuel and ethanol from separating, attracting water and turning to varnish.

[MT930]

Sea-foam works great as a stabilizer, I am a believer after using it for years on the lake with boats and snowmobiles for storage.

I use it with 100 LL aviation fuel mixed 50/50 with the best pump gas for winter storage with the P-car- I run the same mix at the track.

So far so good, November to April 1 never had any issues.

I also use it in my standby generator which sometimes does not run for 90 days at a time.

[89911]

I've bee told more then once the best method is to run the engine dry or at least shut off the fuel for small engines.

[aigel]

You want to fill the tank all the way to minimize exposure to air (O2). You also want the fuel stabilizer everywhere, including the fuel lines. This means you have to run the car for a few miles after putting the stabilizer. I recommend to go to the station, put stabilizer in the tank, fill it to the gills and directly drive home and park it for the winter.

I had really good luck with stabil in my 993 when it went down for a trans rebuild.

G

[Hard-Deck]

I disagree. It is much better IMO to have CONDITIONED fuel in the tank/system, especially carbs, instead of a dry system which means dry hoses, dry gaskets.

I've bee told more then once the best method is to run the engine dry or at least shut off the fuel for small engines.

[manbridge 74]

After years of small and large engine experience I've found that storage under 80F degrees can dramatically increase life of fuel. Stabil or not.

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

After years of small and large engine experience I've found that storage under 80F degrees can dramatically increase life of fuel. Stabil or not.

how far under 80F? anywhere near that and you should be driving and not storing

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by KNS

Finding a no-alcohol gasoline is a real trick around here...

I remember someone posting here a website that shows gas stations that have gas without ethanol.
I remember It showed Pure gas stations (I didn't think they were still around) having non ethanol gas.
Shell premium up here has no ethanol. Maybe it's the same where you are.

I use Sta-Bil as well. I fill the tank, add the Sta-Bil, then run the car for a bit. I've never had an issue in the spring.

[wcc]

I use sta-bil as well but the sta-bil I use is the marine grade. I use it in everything. Boat, car, snowblower, motorcycle, P-car, etc. Costs more but I believe it's better without proof. Kinda you get what you pay for thing.

[manbridge 74]

Originally Posted by teenerted1

how far under 80F? anywhere near that and you should be driving and not storing

Great question.

I am not a chemist, but can say this. I am in CO and we have a shed in the shade that rarely sees the sun. In the winter temps can drop to -20F and when we get our small equipment out we don't have to clean carbs etc. Our wood splitter is on the sunny side of the valley and it can get varnished up between seasons.

At my house I have a garage which rarely gets above 75F and after 7 years I started a Toyota which took a bit of extended cranking to run, but run well it did.

Our blend of gas might be different but, FWIW, my 2 cents.

[MT930]

Climate is a large factor

I have far less issues with internal combustion engines in cool dry Montana (Now) than Indiana, Florida, Michigan growing up.

Moisture and heat are the killers of carbs and fuel systems.

You have to help mild steel rust here.

[72doug2,2S]

On Pure Gas..

Our local farm Coop carries the pure stuff. Ironic I think, the only place that sells pure gas here is the place that farmers buy fuel to grow corn to make ethanol. Go figure.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

I remember someone posting here a website that shows gas stations that have gas without ethanol.
I remember It showed Pure gas stations (I didn't think they were still around) having non ethanol gas.
Shell premium up here has no ethanol. Maybe it's the same where you are.

I use Sta-Bil as well. I fill the tank, add the Sta-Bil, then run the car for a bit. I've never had an issue in the spring.

There is a website: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

also a free app for iPhone and suposedly one coming for android