What is your experience with Stabil?

[arto98607]

Two kinds of Sta-Bil gasoline additives I have used:



Ever since it became available I have been using the marine 360 with ethanol gasoline in small carburetor 2 & 4-stroke engines, and have had zero fuel related carburetor problems.

I always add it at the station when buying the gas.

Cheers

 

[Paystar]

I have a small engine shop for the last 17 years in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

We have two clear seasons, thus, fuel storage related issues are common.

We consider Stabil a hoax from experience alone.

Theoretically, fuel stabilizers have two alleged functions.
1. These should bind to the highly volatile = explosive components of gasoline and not let those evaporate out of the fuel storage or equipment fuel tank through the gas caps - all of which are designed to be vented. This would enable old gas to start an engine, according to Stabil's claim, for two years, if mixed in the right amount. We have yet to see any two year old gas start an engine. Leave your lawnmower in the sun in the hot humid months, and the engine will not start after seven, even lesser number of days, even if the fuel stabilizer was added right away. Actually, the gas will turn orange with or without the stabilizer.

2. There is the myth of fuel stabilizers preventing the heavy chain hydrocarbons, collectively called varnish, from settling out of gas in long duration storage especially inside carburetors. Absolute nonsense. 95-98% of our work is overhauling/restoring carburetors. This myth is also promoted by many small engine equipment manufacturers. We sincerely believe that every single manufacturer is a crook, including Honda, and they wish that the carburetor gum up as soon as possible, owners break the recoil starters, and burn the electric starters. All these are parts sales. A $2-5 genuine carburetor at the the factory gate sells for at least $100 in Canada. Honda puts stickers on its snow blowers to turn off power switch first, then the fuel cut off valve. Really!

The only solution to prevent carburetor gumming is to install a fuel cut off valve, and turn fuel off after EVERY SINGLE USE. The engine will die in max two minutes. At the end of the season, remove all fuel in gas tank with a siphon (or burn it by running the engine till it dies); crack open drain bolt on the carburetor fuel bowl to drain all gas in carb and fuel line; snug drain bolt; close fuel valve so that any old gas remaining in the tank stays in the tank.

WATER IN FUEL:
We have recovered up to a liter of water from a 5 litre or one US gallon fuel canister. Ethanol is a pure alcohol. It mixes readily with water in air in tank, then this water+ethanol mix interacts with gas, and creates an acidic gel that corrodes carburetor metal. If water is in excess than what the ethanol can absorb, or fuel is ethanol free, the free water will go to the bottom of the tank.

There is a green colored plastic funnel that has a filter in the middle. I tested it. Water does not go past this filter. The method is slow.

Or, once you have removed the water by decanting it, and see no water at the bottom of the tank, shake the tank. If the fuel turns cloudy, water is mixed with gas. No choice but to discard it. Use it, and your engine should suddenly stop again and again.

I'm lucky, I'm in Northern Ontario and if I get my gas from Petro Canada and Shell it is not ethanol.....yet.
I have chainsaws, weed eaters, and lawn tractors that site for 3 years untouched and always start with no issues. I do use marine Stabil.

 

[Spike56]

For what it is worth:

 

[Hay Dude]

Two kinds of Sta-Bil gasoline additives I have used:

View attachment 2097007 View attachment 2097006

Ever since it became available I have been using the marine 360 with ethanol gasoline in small carburetor 2 & 4-stroke engines, and have had zero fuel related carburetor problems.

I always add it at the station when buying the gas.

Cheers

Do you store with a full tank?

I’m always like “if I store with a full tank, there’s no room for condensation” Or so they say.
There’s the store with tank full crowd and store with every last drop removed crowd.

 

[dodge man]

They also make a Stabil “Long Term Storage” that I’ve used.

 

[oldballs]

Gadsooks, now I'm becoming unstable with these Stabil alternatives

 

[stevem5215]

Since going to canned gas I've not had any problems with the rubber in any small equipment. I only use that in my small orifice devices lol. Anything larger I just siphon the old gas out and dump it in the car. I quit using Stabil and have not regretted it at all.

 

[Mike1955]

Dry gas is the generic term for additives like HEET or STP water remover (assuming you weren't being sarcastic).

Thank you Kenny. I had never heard it referred to as that. I’m one who. Drains the tank and lubes the little carbs. I have pretty good luck with it. My stuff is not sitting outside. And my shop isn’t heated. So the temp change is slow and I use pure gasoline with a little Marvell’s mystery oil in it. No sir I never mean to be Sarcastic on here, I try to help

 

[Mike1955]

Since going to canned gas I've not had any problems with the rubber in any small equipment. I only use that in my small orifice devices lol. Anything larger I just siphon the old gas out and dump it in the car. I quit using Stabil and have not regretted it at all.

Steven I bought a brand new stilh weed eater used can premix and carb messed up before the summer.

 

[arrow]

I've been using StarTron for years, and never had a problem. My local saw shop recommended I switch over to it, when ethanol fuel became our standard, around here.

But here's the thing... I never have had an issue with un-treated fuel, either. I think 99% of all beliefs and decisions regarding fuel storage are based on hope or religion, not statistically-valid evidence. I put StarTron in my fuel before storage, because it's too cheap and easy to bother debating otherwise, not because I have any evidence it's necessary.

Winter, My shop fixes equipment with old gas. The thing we see most with corn alchohol mixes is a tiny crud in carburetors build up that almost reminds me of miniature or micro scopic Frosted Flakes.
If you never had a problem, it could be several reasons why.
1. you use fuel constantly.
2. your containers are such that you are only pouring the gas and not the water.
3. the fill stations you use are more clear of water condensation build up in their tanks.
My evidence working on these things with 10% ethanol, is that the stuff is certainly a problem especially when ppl think they can use fuel they got last season or they left the stuff within the tool itself, the left over has evaporated and the residue is the stuff Tony the Tiger thinks is great.
We sell Strar Tron products and it is indeed good stuff.