From the Marine Formula Stabil website-
How does MARINE Formula STA-BILï½® Ethanol Treatment and Performance Improver work, and how is it different from Regular STA-BIL?
MARINE Formula STA-BIL Ethanol Treatment is a new, enhanced formula of STA-BIL, America's top selling fuel stabilizer, that was designed to fight many of the unique problems related to ethanol in gasoline in the moisture-laden marine environment, and fights those problems in three ways:
Fights Fuel System Deposits Ethanol in gasoline acts as a solvent on the accumulated deposits in marine fuel tanks, fuel lines, carburetors, injectors. These loosened deposits can cause engine performance problems, including hard starting, rough running and stalling. MARINE Formula STA-BIL cleans-up power-robbing deposits from carburetors, fuel injectors and intake valves to improve engine performance. MARINE Formula STA-BIL contains more than FOUR TIMES the fuel system cleaner in Regular STA-BIL it is a Complete Fuel System Cleaner.
Fights Fuel System Corrosion Ethanol in gasoline attracts water from the moist marine air. Since virtually all marine fuel systems manufactured through 2007 vent to the air, the ethanol continually attracts water which can cause corrosion damage to marine fuel tanks, fuel lines, carburetors and injectors. MARINE Formula STA-BIL contains DOUBLE the corrosion preventer in Regular STA-BIL, to fight the unique problems of ethanol in gasoline in the marine environment, including marine fuel tanks which vent to the marine air.
Fights Fuel Degradation Pumped gasoline starts to degrade immediately. MARINE Formula STA-BIL keeps fuel fresh for up to 12 months in marine gas tanks. Just like Regular STA-BIL, adding MARINE Formula STA-BIL Keeps Fuel Fresh , and eliminates the need to drain fuel prior to storage.
So it appears it works by protecting from corrosion caused by the water picked up from the atmosphere by ethanol laden gas.....it apparently doesn't do anything to prevent the gas picking up the water in the first place.*
Sure wish I could find somewhere to get gasoline without the ethanol in it for my power equipment and toys. I find many stations that lack the required posting, its the law here in SC they be posted on the pump if they have ethanol and how much, but I suspect rather than actually not having ethanol, they are just in violation of the law....sort of like the one near me that has a low price out by the road for kerosine but the pump is $.20 higher....told them about it twice now and they still haven't changed the sign, for over a month, again a violation of state law.
*used to run Redline Racing 2 stroke synthetic oil in one of my dirt bikes...kept finding a water bottom in the tank and petcock filter sump. Finally determined the oil was hygroscopic removing moisture from the air. Switched back to Yamalube, a petroleum based oil, and never found water again....