Sta-bil for diesel discontinued

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I used the last of my Sta-bil fuel treatment for diesel yesterday and needed some more so I stopped at my local TSC and couldn't find any. They had the red Sta-bil I use for gas but not the yellow for diesel. The manager wasn't there so I left a note for her asking if she could get the diesel treatment for me.

First thing this morning I got a phone call from her telling me that Sta-bil has discontinued the yellow diesel treatment and reformulated the red fuel treatment so that it can be used for gas and diesel (and, apparently, about anything else).

This could well be old news here (I was told the reformulation took place about a year ago) but I figured if anyone else was in my position I'd post this to save them the second trip I'm making today. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Our company distributes Gold Eagle products, Stabil is one of the items made by Gold Eagle. I checked with my buyer about this and he said that Stabil is a conditioner only it is not an anti-gel. So for the folks in cold weather areas, the Stabil alone is probably not the choice they might want. In warm areas it would be a good choice.

Gold Eagle does sell a line of diesel products called "Diesel Power!" and they have 5 different items in that line up. One of them is called "Diesel Power Fuel Treatment and Anti-Gel" the 12 oz bottle treats 35 gallons, the 20oz bottle treats 100 gallons.

 

[briggs_man]

Its amazed me that RED Stabil has been alowed as long as it has, Wonder the IRS hasnt had a Fit about it turning Diesel red,,, Well we all know who the Red fuel thats still being burnt up and down the nations highways benifits anyway,,,, Any one with a Countie,City,Sate Tag on the back , or front bumper of a semi, /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Bob,

First, thanks for the heads up on this. I'll avoid using Sta-Bil for now as, based on what you wrote, it won't do everything I think I need. Allow me to explain.

I'll be using whatever additive/conditioner in the tank of my Deere 4200 CUT, my International TD-9 bulldozer and in the 100 gallon tank I'm using for on-site fuel storage. Since your winter conditions have to be about what mine are, what do you use and what would you recommend for my situation? Thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rameye]

If your fuel may sit for a while I would highly reccomend a biocide for your storage tank.

I use that diesel power additive they sell at wallymart in my GM diesel cause my injection pump is sooo sensitive. Use in the tractor too, it likes it , less smoke, easier start, anti-gel and adds lubricity which is lacking in today's diesel fuel.

A little dab'll do ya. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

my $.02

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I do the same thing for my tractors at home that we do for our fleet of diesel trucks at work. Anti-gel when the temps regularly drop below freezing. I've used several brands, I have no preference. Whatever we have in stock in the warehouse is the brand that is used. I've never used a biocide product in diesel, BUT that is because I don't like to store large amounts. I keep the tractors full and I have 1 5 gallon can. So I may have the diesel for a month at the most.

Now with your storage, you may want to use a biocide, but you would only probably need it if you sit on your fuel for the better part of a season (maybe 90 days or more and subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations).

Occasionally I will add one of the commercial injector cleaners designed for diesel, but probably less than once a year. Lets face it, these tractors are rarely used as much as a truck so they really don't have the run times to get clogged too badly in most cases. Our trucks run 5 days a week, and some up to 12 hours a day. Most people on TBN run their tractor 1 to 3 hours a week . . . some folks much more . . . but most are probably putting 100 to 150 hours a year on a tractor. We do more than that in a couple weeks on our trucks so cleaners are more likely to be needed in a truck than a tractor.

But I think ANTI-GEL is the most important factor when the weather turns cold. And below freezing you really don't want to risk frozen fuel.

 

[Apollo]

Is power service a anti gel also????????

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Power Service products makes an anti-gel, it is called Artic Express Anti-Gel. It comes in quart and 96oz bottles.

Regular Power Service is a "conditioner" not a winter anti-gel, although it may have some anti-gel properties (but I'm not sure).

 

[Dargo]

Well Bob, did I screw up? After I had my tank filled a week or so ago, I went and bought a big bottle of Sta-bil (and it did say for gas and diesel on the label; I pulled it out of the trash and read it again after your post - thanks for making me go dumpster diving!) and put it in my tank. Well, as things go, and having a hundred things on my mind as usual, I also picked up a bottle of Power Service at Rural King and dumped it in the tank. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Whoopsie! It is a 300 gallon tank and I only put enough product of each in it to treat 200 gallons, figuring that I'd go through it by the end of January. Ya think there is any harm done? If so, I'm blaming you! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I'm not sure why, but I am just the same; my wife sure won't take the blame.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Dargo, no harm done. You have really really really conditioned your fuel. But you have done nothing to stop it from gelling this winter. Now I'll admit I'm not sure how far south in Indiana you are located, but if you are at the southern end of the state you probably only marginally need anti-gel treatments anyway. I'm not sure when diesel actually begins to gel, but I do know that at zero and below it can turn to goopy thick soup consistency (that is a technical term just in case you need to look it up). Realistically, if you have a 32 degree day and that is followed by a 5 degree day but then the temps bounce back to 32, the reality is that a tank of fuel is going to likely be fine. Now the fuel in the fuel line of your equipment might thicken up and stop flowing, but only at the coldest times. If your tractor is in the garage, it will likely never get down below 32 for very long in there, even if it is unheated. Now if you are in an area where you get cold snaps that run for days or weeks and the tems are in the teens or below, then you really need an anti-gel to keep the fuel flowing. Also remember that most places that sell diesel sell a winter mixture that contains some anti-gel properties so if you buy your fuel in the late fall, it is probably already conditioned to some extent with anti-gel.

I think some folks make a bigger deal out of conditioning fuel than is necessary. Toss in some anti-gel when the weather is regularly below freezing and don't worry about much else . . . unless you store fuel for more than 90 days at a time. JMO