The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gasoline Stabilizer

As much as I hated to, the '47 was taken for its last run of the season this afternoon. Snow is in the forecast for this weekend. I had just visited a local car dealership and was telling the gang there about adding some fuel stabilizer and topping off the gas tank. A couple of these guys said they quit using fuel stabilizer and now opt for 'no alcohol' premium gasoline. I don't think there's even $0.20 difference between the 87 and 91 octane gasoline in eastern Iowa. These guys are convinced it's no problem and are using it in their small engines and classics too! FWIW, I used the last of my gas stabilizer and topped off with no alcohol premium...........

Any opinions or experiences, good or bad?

I have switched to non/no-ethanol gasoline, if I can find it on a trip.

I can pretty easily get it near me in North Eastern NC (boat engines need it - maybe farm tractors need it?).
I also use it in my gas-run garden equipment.

I learned this after Home Depot and Toro lied to me about their "no ethanol" gas "policy" (until I showed them their "warranties").

The gas stabilizer also keeps the gas from going stale.

For years before I retired, I lived in a county that did not sell non-ethanol gas. I treated every gallon of gas with Sta-bil I put into my tractor, lawn mower, weed wacker, snowblower, rototiller, leaf blower, snowmobiles, and 4-wheeler. I had to clean out 5-6 carbs a year due the the alcohol gelling. Since I retired, I moved to a county that sells non-ethanol gas. I still treat every gallon of gas I buy but carb cleaning is at a minimum.

Yup! Non ethanol fuel is all I buy the last ten + years.
Separate hose at the Casey’s station so I know I am getting the real thing and not the leftover that may be in the hose.
Year old gas is still good for firing up a 50 year old engine.

Don

It's not either/or - it's BOTH. Fuel stabilizer and ethanol-free gas do two different things.

Ethanol is hydrophilic - it attracts water from the atmosphere. Vehicles that aren't driven daily need ethanol-free fuel.

Stabilizer keeps gas from going bad, ie losing its octane and turning to varnish. You need it if your gas isn't used up every few months.

I was in the wholesale petroleum business for 40 years.

OK

Fuel Stabilizer - this might be a good explanation?

I've always used a stabilizer in my tractors, mowers and trucks. This past year we got a new Casey's station in town which has the ethanol free premium. So now I'm using both. The premium gas is quite a bit higher, but if it wards off these other problems I feel it will be worth it.

ALL of the above are correct. The only thing I will add is that one of my 54-3100's which is a daily driver I add 1oz. per ten gallons of chain saw oil. This cushions the valves like the lead used to do. 70.000 + miles and runs great. No carb problems. If I have to let my project 235 set I add Sta-bil. I believe it was justhorsenround that shared a link regarding a comparison of additives (which were the best and which are the best to NOT use), a month or so ago. I unfortunately live in Central Florida so ethanol is hydrophilic 24/7, 365. Doc.

I am extremely averse to burning ethanol in any engine I own - especially in the older machines. The old engines like lead - not water.

For about a decade I flew single engine piston driven aircraft cross country , tracking migratory birds. Avgas contains no ethanol.
If an automobile or truck engine fails , you ease over to the side of the road , get out , cuss a few times and pull out the cell phone.
If an aircraft engine fails , the event is a bit more interesting. Especially single engine ... over the Appalachians.

Corn is for food and liquor.

Yes I am with PHAK1

We live in an area where there is a local gasoline station "Stewarts" that sells non-ethanol gas...it is like .70 cents more a gallon, but come spring...vroom vroom vroom....and we are off and running...all of my air-cooled garden type stuff is the same...the gasoline doesn't even smell like the current day gas...

I feel bad for you guys that don't have it...it works awesome...

MikeC

Very good topic. I only use non-ethanol gas in all of my gas powered lawn/outdoor equipment whether it's new or old. It's only in the fall that I mix 5 or 10 gallons with Stabil and run it through all of my equipment before winter storage. I do the same exact procedure with my '59 Viking (292 straight six). It doesn't leave my property anymore as it is no longer licensed or insured. The Viking is only utilized 2 or 3 times a year around my place while trimming trees. Just last week, I charged the battery, started it up and added 3 or 4 gallons of fresh non-ethanol gas with Stabil. I let it run for 30 or 40 minutes before retiring it for it's winter slumber.

This routine has been working well for me for the past 15 years.

John

I mix Sta-bil with my gas every time I fill the cans. The reason being is sometimes the equipment gets put away sooner than I think and this way, I don’t have to worry if I added Sta-bil, as it’s all been treated. Sta-bil is less than $10 to treat 80 gallons and I don’t go thru that much in a year. The only exception is my boat and jet ski. They use too much gas (always non-ethanol) and get treated at the end of the season.

Ethanol has ruined many a fuel tank & worse, not enough time now to get started on my rant!

Thank you all for your responses, I definitely learned a few things as a result of this thread. I can always count on Stovebolters to come through!

For those of us that don't have ethanol-free gas nearby... has anyone looked into running something like "TruFuel" through their carb/lines before shutting up for the winter. Supposedly its an ethanol free 92 octane gas - however runs about $20/gallon from places like menards/home depot/ lowes. Not a feasible option for filling the gas tank.
I have used this at the end of the season for the last few mows (push mower) and leave it in the tank all winter - usually starts up in 1-2 pulls, but never used it in anything else due to the cost.

Aircraft fuel has no alcohol, 80 octane is best but they might only have 100ll. Got to a small airport where they have no jets.

Ed

Did you check this website to find ethanol free gas?
https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=OH

Sta-Bil also make an additive for Ethanol fuels, I have used it in my mowers and chain saw with good results.

Sta-Bil makes 2 gasoline additives which can lead to some confusion. The "storage" product gives longer protection than the "360" product. Both products are good for ethanol. I only use the "storage" product.

https://www.goldeagle.com/shop/brands/sta-bil/?fwp_applications=fuel-treatment

I don’t have any of the ethanol problems people talk about. I don’t use any stabilizers, or additives. My stihl weed eater gets out away for 6 months and I have no problem starting when I get it back out and it’s 9 years old. My generators sits for the same amount of time and no problems there either. My 51 (with a 59 235) is fuel injected now and does well with ethanol fuel. My Mercury boat motor is the only thing I own that doesn’t like ethanol fuel.

Sludgeburner, I hope you have some wood to knock on, as you just jinxed yourself and ended you lucky streak! LOL

In case you didn’t know, most 2-cycle oil you mix in with your gas for chainsaws, weed wackers, etc, contains a stabilizer for gas.