What is your experience with Stabil?

[caver]

In the late 90's I spent my weekends crawling around exploring caves with other organized cavers. You learn a little about geology.

 

[WinterDeere]

I obviously overshared and muddied my point...

Sorry about that. When I saw half a page of discussion about a spring, I thought "what's this have to do with Stabil?", and just answered according to the title of the thread. Sometimes details matter, sometimes it's context.

 

[arto98607]

.......................snip.................. I change the oil every 100 hours using 10-30 syn-blend, with no particular brand loyalty. By my rough calculations I am approaching 6000 hours on a Honda GX 120. It still starts on one pull, but it does feel like it is starting to lose compression and uses a little oil..................snip....................

Oil change interval of 100 hours on a little 4 hp air cooled engine is way too long, but hey that's just my opinion.

I change the engine oil in my little non oil-filtered air cooled engines every 40 - 50 hours max and engines made in the 70's are still running like new!
(They have been set up for easy to drain oil on purpose)

Oil is cheap.

 

[NYlumberman]

Oil change interval of 100 hours on a little 4 hp air cooled engine is way too long, but hey that's just my opinion.

I change the engine oil in my little non oil-filtered air cooled engines every 40 - 50 hours max and engines made in the 70's are still running like new!
(They have been set up for easy to drain oil on purpose)

Oil is cheap.

I value your opinion, and I think you are spot on. The mills where I used to work used fuel consumption to establish maintenance intervals (a program recommended by Caterpillar), along with a conscientious sampling program. I have sort of followed the same approach at home. And found that changing the oil every other fueling gave me pretty clean used oil, and no observable consumption. That was roughly 10 gallons of fuel and about 100 hours run time. I thought it worked because the water pump application helped keep the engine temperature down and it ran at constant speed at less than half the throttle setting. That said, you can’t argue with success, very impressive to have 50 year old units still running like new. I may have to rethink my program next year, though at my age I probably won’t be able to get another 25 years on my pump.

 

[Bronco82]

I've only started using Stabil. Last year after using the wood splitter, I never put anything extra in the fuel and this spring had to take the carb off and clean it out as it kept stalling, even after I drained the old gas and put new gas in. With any luck, next year when I fire it up, with the "old gas" and Stabil mix, it hopefully won't keep stalling.

If the local dealer adds it to any boat winterization with a built-in gas tank as a preventative measure, it's gotta do something I would THINK for short term periods.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve used Stabil for years and had good luck but I either run my small engines dry or keep the tank full. I suspects it’s keeping fuel fresh has as much to do with it more than the Stabil. 5 gallon cans can be a pain but the smaller quantities tend to keep your fuel fresh.

 

[Paystar]

I watched a video from a trusted motorcycle accessory place here in Canada and they tested all the stabilizers.
Stabil, while not perfect was better than all the rest. All the others caused more problems than they solved.

Some actually attracted moisture, some cause corrosion, etc.

So I just been sticking to Marine Stabil.

 

[John0829]

I use Stabil Marine or Amsoil Stabilizer and have not had issues with gas since I started. I always keep the tanks full, every machine fires right up and runs fine even on gas that is a year+ old.

 

[Paystar]

I use Stabil Marine or Amsoil Stabilizer and have not had issues with gas since I started. I always keep the tanks full, every machine fires right up and runs fine even on gas that is a year+ old.

That's one of the biggest things....I also try and keep tanks full when not in use.

 

[Oaktree]

I never put anything extra in the fuel and this spring had to take the carb off and clean it out as it kept stalling, even after I drained the old gas and put new gas in. With any luck, next year when I fire it up, with the "old gas" and Stabil mix, it hopefully won't keep stalling.

A better idea would be to drain the tank/carb or run it dry at the end of the season. Some say they've had seals dry out doing this, but I've never had that happen (yet).