Fuel Stabilizer for new Z Turn

[Little Red Tractor]

I've been using Star-Tron along with non-ethenol fuel in all my small engines for years. That would be a generator, weed-eater, chain saw, and leaf blower, along with a 21 horse Husqvarna mower.
I do try to run things dry; but sometimes it's not feasable to do that with some equipment. Last week, I tried to find Star-Tron and couldn't find it locally (supply chain problem, I'm guessing) so I went with Sea Foam--which I've used in the past as well. The two products seem to work about the same.

 

[greenerdreams]

best answer on here was one of the first replies. SARG stated to put in a fuel shutoff and run the thing until it dies from no fuel. I do that with anything i am not going to use that month. has kept things like generators or compactors that are rarely used from ever having gummed up carbs. I once had a kids dirt bike sit for a long time without running it before i started using that principle of running it dry. somehow the fuel completely solidified into what almost seemed like a huge chunk of silicone in both the fuel tank and carb. was a PITA to get working again, might not have fixed the issue with the fuel tank but would have kept the carb clean, which is usually the hardest or most expensive repair.

 

[tomplum]

best answer on here was one of the first replies. SARG stated to put in a fuel shutoff and run the thing until it dies from no fuel. I do that with anything i am not going to use that month. has kept things like generators or compactors that are rarely used from ever having gummed up carbs. I once had a kids dirt bike sit for a long time without running it before i started using that principle of running it dry. somehow the fuel completely solidified into what almost seemed like a huge chunk of silicone in both the fuel tank and carb. was a PITA to get working again, might not have fixed the issue with the fuel tank but would have kept the carb clean, which is usually the hardest or most expensive repair.

Was it that white gel stuff? Some carbs seem to get it bad, others not so much. I dunno if the type of metal casting or the fact one isn't sealed as good as the next come into play or not. Seems to be a product of ethanol and moisture to me.

 

[N80]

Its funny. You search the internet about why Sta-Bil works or how it works or the same about Seafoam and you get four primary answers:

1) It works by doing "A".
2) It works by doing "B".
3) I use it and it works great.
4) I use it and its terrible.

The people who respond with 1 or 2 come in two varieties:

1) People who use big words, claim years of experience and sound very confident.
2) People who repeat what they've heard from the people above.

Since there are typically an equal number of opposing responses by the smart confident people they are of no use.

Then there are answer types 3 and 4. Those are anecdotes. In science and medicine anecdotes are considered just about the worst form of evidence and are the primary technique for selling snake oil.

Since I requested all four types or responses and since answer types 1 and 2 are useless I am going with the anecdotal evidence.

The tally in these responses is pretty good regarding Sta-Bil. So that's what I'm using.

Until I install a fuel shut off.

 

[John0829]

Use ethanol free gas and 95% of your fuel problems will disappear. I also put about 1/2 ounce of 2 cycle oil in all my off road gas. Never have any problems even if it sets for a year.

Thing is, there are a LOT of us that have no access to ethanol free gas

 

[N80]

Thing is, there are a LOT of us that have no access to ethanol free gas

I think it is available in South Carolina but I do not know of anywhere to get it around here.

 

[arkbound]

To be clear, I'm considering a fuel stabilizer because that is what _Kawasaki_ recommends in their manual. And again, they did not specify which one.

I normally do not add anything to fuel or oil in any vehicle. I generally think it is snake oil. I know a lot of folks feel otherwise. (I do put Sta-Bil in gas cans that store gas for a long period of time.)

I read an article a few years ago discussing fuel stabilizers. Of Sta-Bil it said that its function is to sit in layer on top of resting gasoline in a tank. This forms a barrier to water absorption into the gasoline which I guess is hygroscopic to some extent and/or is made more so by ethanol. The article said that adding Sta-Bil to a tank or can that is constantly sloshed around (when being used) is useless.

From that article I believe that Sta-Bil performs that particular function as advertised. But I'm not sure it does anything else and I also don't know what the downsides are.

But, since the Kawasaki manual says run it dry or treat with stabilizer....and running it dry is not practical at this point, I'm going to add something, as instructed, and at some point a choice of stabilizer has to be made. I picked up some Sta-Bil this weekend.

I will also try to remember to start it and run it periodically. There is nothing keeping me from doing that other than neglect.

First I do not recommend using gas with ethanol in anything except your car. Next Sta-bil works in all my gas cans in storage for two years, and also in my standby generator which is not run periodically. The carbs stays clean and fires up in one or two pulls. Same for my two cycle outboard motor gas tank (plastic 6 gal w/oil 50:1 mix). Yep gas storage can into my Wheel horse 8HP gas engine works great starts first time any weather. I do recommend Sta-bil products.

 

[Bearsixty7]

... I also put about 1/2 ounce of 2 cycle oil in all my off road gas. Never have any problems even if it sets for a year.

Early on when we wouldn't use my boat for 7-8 months I would winterize it (2000 Wellcraft) by removing the fuel filter, add in a few ounces of Amsoil 2 stroke oil and then also spray in some Engine Fogging spray, reinstall the filter and run the engine until it sounded a little different, then I'd spray fogging oil into the intake until it killed the engine. Let the engine cool for 15-20 minutes, pull the spark plugs and spray the fogging spray inside each chamber for a couple seconds and done.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/engine-fogging-oil-fogsc/?code=FOGSC-EA

 

[tomplum]

I think it is available in South Carolina but I do not know of anywhere to get it around here.

This link has been posted before. https://www.pure-gas.org/ Hopefully it works for you. By me, all I can get is premium clear gas. It's over 5$ a gallon right now. I mainly use it in things that I rarely use. Stores up better for sure.

 

[N80]

This link has been posted before. https://www.pure-gas.org/ Hopefully it works for you. By me, all I can get is premium clear gas. It's over 5$ a gallon right now. I mainly use it in things that I rarely use. Stores up better for sure.

Great resource. There are a good many near me but according to the list most of them are low octane or midgrade. Manual on the Kawasaki recommends high octane. Not sure which tradeoff would be better. Maybe a tank of ethanol free midgrade for storage and then 10% ethanol 93 octane for regular in season use?