How long will gas last in storage with Sta-bil?

[sw03]

seafoam will suck on a fuel stabilzer...Now Marine Stabil is great..I use it on engines from oct to April in MA/CT...

 

[Gonerafting]

I've had good luck with Sta-bil, but I dump it in my power equipment at the end of the season and run the tank dry. I've disassembled carburetors that we run dry without fuel stabilizer and found the float bowl totally gunked up if stored for a prolonged period. I know Lawn Repair Services who love people storing untreated gas and doing a simple carburetor rebuild. Just my opinion.

 

[Lawnjocky]

Can't say how many years stabilized fuel will last but I do know on average untreated 2 cycle goes bad in about a month and gas with ethanol about 3 months.

Gonerafting's post is very close to what I do.

I have a lawn care business so I have a fleet of small engines. I start using Sta-bil the first of November and then store everything with a little fuel in it. I don't run them dry because I think the seals and gaskets dry out and crack. Plus if I need to move something around I can. In the spring we add fresh gas. Normally there is not a condensation problem in the winter. I used to run the equipment dry but this way seems to work better. All the fuel I buy has ethanol in it.

 

[vabiker23518]

In my experience Stabil has worked well...before ethanol...I have always winterized my small engines (lawnmowers, edgers, chainsaws, tillers) with NO problems. With my sailboat, I have an older, 30ho inboard gas motor that I've winterize the last three winters with stabil....to NO avail. The last two springs, I've had to drain the old gas off and replace with new after cleaning the carbarator. Will see what spring 12 brings, but expect the same! **** ethenol!

 

[2manytoyz]

I put Stabil in at end of each year in all my lawn equipment. Run them at least 10 min. Store them over the winter and they fire up next spring within a few pulls. I've had this luck for last 26 years. I guess the stuff works.

 

[big bubba]

i used to be of the "run it dry" school of thought for long storage, but now use red stabil/fresh fuel in 2 & 4 cycle equip (non automotive) & maybe start a few times in winter. no problem. i have had seals & solenoids, per stated above, go bad by running dry. luck of the draw....

 

[twinjayhawks]

Okay, I am going to dump the fuel out and start over. What is the best thing to use to rinse out the tank?

 

[big bubba]

i just use fresh fuel....i also change in line fuel filters @ end of season for any moisture that may have gathered.
think u'll be fine w/ fresh fuel, stabil, and starting occasionally (monthly) if the engine is well maintained. best of luck

 

[Cat_Driver]

Looks like 10 years is my experience. I bought a 10 year old Motor home that was last started 10 years ago. It was a ford 460 V-10 and it only has 7,000 miles on it.

I put in a new battery and she fired right up. No one was more amazed than me. There was less than a 1/4 tank of fuel and it sure did smell coming out of the exhaust, but ran fine to the gas station on the way home.

I dumped in a couple of cans of fuel cleaner and a couple cabs of seafoam and she never have me a problem.

Because they had the tank below 1/4 of a tank I needed a new fuel pump a few thousand miles down the road. They let it dry out.

So that was 10 years with gas and I personally did 15 year old diesel in a tractor.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Looks like 10 years is my experience. I bought a 10 year old Motor home that was last started 10 years ago. It was a ford 460 V-10 and it only has 7,000 miles on it.

I put in a new battery and she fired right up. No one was more amazed than me. There was less than a 1/4 tank of fuel and it sure did smell coming out of the exhaust, but ran fine to the gas station on the way home.

I dumped in a couple of cans of fuel cleaner and a couple cabs of seafoam and she never have me a problem.

Because they had the tank below 1/4 of a tank I needed a new fuel pump a few thousand miles down the road. They let it dry out.

So that was 10 years with gas and I personally did 15 year old diesel in a tractor.

I guarantee that was not a Ethanol blend fuel. It was real gas. Today, with this new crap gas 2-3 years would be the absolute max.

Chris