Stabil for fuel

[VMAX1]

Have been doing a little research on Stabil. From what I found, the ethanol will start seperating in several weeks forming alcohol and water in the fuel ? This would have water sitting at the bottom of the tank. I have always thought that when I got down to 1/4 of a tank I had better performance, thought it was 3.2 magic fixing itself. So, I went and got a bottle of the stuff. Car hasn't ran this good in a long time. Just wondering if I'm the only one not using the stuff. Also, starts a lot faster than before. Anybody else had luck with this stuff?

[Dublinoh]

I use it in the snow blower, chain saw, anything that will sit with fuel for an extended period. It works....fast start up after eight to ten months.

But I have never used it in a car I drove regularly. I share your concern about ethanol fuel and water. Does Stabil address water?...I thought it just kept the fuel from breaking down/degrading.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by VMAX1

Have been doing a little research on Stabil. From what I found, the ethanol will start seperating in several weeks forming alcohol and water in the fuel ?

Hmmm, I have not heard that. In humid climates, condensation can form inside the tank and form water droplets that can settle to the bottom of the tank. This is independent of the ethanol content of the gasoline. Some Stabil formulations address tank water, but I think most of them are for long-term fuel stability (like overwintering lawn equipment or boats.)

[DanielDudley]

If you keep the water out, the ethanol will not separate. Marine Stabil is for damper, harsher environments.

[tobluforu]

This maybe just me and the butt dyno, but I swear that when I take my car out of storage and drive it with that stuff in it that it drives better then without. But I might just be happy that the car is out of storage.

[81 SC Ray]

I put two things in my fuel.

1. Stabil. I use the dosage for daily use not the dosage for long term storage. The amount is on the back, but, I believe it is 1 ounce for every 5 gallons.

2. I use Lucas fuel additive on every fill up.



I buy it by the gallon - it is very economical if you buy the $30 gallon instead of the one shot bottle in my picture.

My car runs and starts awesome. My CIS system works really well. Better than when I first got the car. I attribute it to the lubrication provided by the Lucas oil and cleaning properties of the Stabil.

Just my opinion and we all know about opinions.

Ray

[RSTarga]

I think there are some mistaken ideas here about water+ethanol+gasoline
In the old days when gasoline was just gasoline water would sink to the bottom of the tank .
Once ethanol was added water was absorbed by the alcohol and since most cars are fuel injected sprayed into the combustion chambers, ( it settles out at the bottom of carbs). The stabil keep s the gas from aging and lubricates and cleans the lines. Some just add marvel mystery oil.

[porwolf]

Talking about water in gasoline: It is my understanding that water in gas tanks at filling staions is not uncommon. Some crooked vendors supposedly are doing it on purpose. What better way of improving profitability by adding a little water to the gas pumped at the wholesale level or the stations, especially at the no name bargaing price ones. Does that happen?

[kodioneill]

I'm not 100% sure but I think Stabil is Propanol (alcohol) with dye in it.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

I think there are some mistaken ideas here about water+ethanol+gasoline
In the old days when gasoline was just gasoline water would sink to the bottom of the tank .
Once ethanol was added water was absorbed by the alcohol and since most cars are fuel injected sprayed into the combustion chambers, ( it settles out at the bottom of carbs). The stabil keep s the gas from aging and lubricates and cleans the lines. Some just add marvel mystery oil.

Not true.

I have personally performed this experiment in a real laboratory. Any liquid water addition to gasoline removes alcohol from gas. This is for any mix below E60 (60% ethanol/40% gasoline) At E60 and above, the amount of water it takes to get water saturation in the hydrocarbon phase is pretty small, until you start getting to E90 and above. It's not a straight-line curve, either.

For blends of E10 (or near it), any liquid water that gets into the tank will absorb ethanol out of the gasoline such that you get roughly a 30% ethanol/70% water mix, and then everything is in equilibrium.

Trace amounts of water can be soluable in a gas/ethanol mix near E10. But once you get liquid water in the system, all bets are off.

In my experiment, I was able to get about 2 parts per ten thousand of liquid water to go into solution, but that was with *vigorous* mixing over the course of 10 minutes. After that amount went in, there was no amount of mixing that would do anything.

[VMAX1]

I was thinking stabil keeps ethanol from seperating? It sure has made a difference in my 87 3.2

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

Not true.

I have personally performed this experiment in a real laboratory. Any liquid water addition to gasoline removes alcohol from gas. This is for any mix below E60 (60% ethanol/40% gasoline) At E60 and above, the amount of water it takes to get water saturation in the hydrocarbon phase is pretty small, until you start getting to E90 and above. It's not a straight-line curve, either.

For blends of E10 (or near it), any liquid water that gets into the tank will absorb ethanol out of the gasoline such that you get roughly a 30% ethanol/70% water mix, and then everything is in equilibrium.

Trace amounts of water can be soluable in a gas/ethanol mix near E10. But once you get liquid water in the system, all bets are off.

In my experiment, I was able to get about 2 parts per ten thousand of liquid water to go into solution, but that was with *vigorous* mixing over the course of 10 minutes. After that amount went in, there was no amount of mixing that would do anything.

Just gotta love this forum!!

[Peter Zimmermann]

I've used Stabil since I've lived in Bakersfield, and my SC sits unused for four or five months during the summer. I also continue to use Chevron Progard, according to the directions on the bottle. My 911 can sit for three months, and start on the first two or three cranks. It idles perfect and passes bi-annual smog tests without doing anything special.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by VMAX1

I was thinking stabil keeps ethanol from seperating? It sure has made a difference in my 87 3.2

I don't think it will do anything at the volumes that you might use (assuming you then fill your tank all the way up).

As far as keeping the fuel ready to use, I think Stabil will do that just fine.

[suprxman]

I have used Stabil for probably 15 years. I keep it in my mower,motorcycles, collector cars, tractor, dump truck and Porsche year round. More concentrated in the fall because you never know when anything will end up setting for 6 months or better. I also use battery tenders on everything because I want to ride or drive when I want to. Even the el-cheapo Schumachers at W mart are better and cheaper than buying batteries. I've had bike and motorcycle batteries last 9-10 years.
Getting sidetracked.

I work at NAPA and Stabil now has marine use and Ethanol protecting fuel stabilizer.
It works well too. It's much cheaper than parts and labor charges.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

I'm not 100% sure but I think Stabil is Propanol (alcohol) with dye in it.

MSDS says Ingredient Name......................... 2-PROPANOL

may have other additives that they are not required to disclose

[S2GART]

I think people are getting a little confused here. Stabil recently introduced a product specificly for reducing/illiminating the effects of ethanol gas, like the aforementioned water build up.

This is presumably different then the stuff most people here are talking about and that is fuel stablizer to prevent gas from going bad during long term storage.

I have not tried this new ethanol product, but always use the stabilizer formula for winter storage.

[Bill Verburg]

There are lots of gasahol stabilization products, Sta-bil, Star Brite, Lucas. I've used Sta-bil and Star-Brite they both work well.

The issue is that as the temperature drops Gasahol can hold less water in suspension, so it separates out. If the ambients are relatively constant and high it's not so much of an issue. I can usually keep a gallon or 2 of mower gas all summer w/o much issue, same for the winter months where it stays uniformly cold most of the time w/ snow blower gas. The shoulder seasons where temps are up and down wildly on a daily basis is when I have issues unless a stabilizer of some sort is used. I would also use it for winter storage where the car isn't used at all for months at a time.

[Dublinoh]

If you are concerned that you may have some water in your tank....what is the best additive to address this?

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by Dublinoh

If you are concerned that you may have some water in your tank....what is the best additive to address this?

Drain it...

Also - I personally use the marine stabil formula. You don't want phase separation. Bad ju ju