The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sta-Bil or Seafoam?

Just wondering what your favorite brand of gasoline additive is.

My question actually centers more around my old tractors than my trucks, but it could apply to both.

Since they are basically just toys, they don't get driven that much, and certainly don't get worked very hard. As a result, they never seem to run right, and the carbs are always getting gummed up, etc. It seems that the gas we get now has a shelf life of only a few months, yet, it sometimes sits in the tank for a lot longer.

I've always used Sta-Bil in all my gas. But lately, I've had people suggest that I switch to Seafoam, as it supposedly has more of a cleaning effect on the carb, valves, etc.

Just wondering what everybody's thoughts are, and what you all are using?

i use sta-bil but i think it is one of the things that you use and really can't be sure that it works. ron

A friend of mine had a 94 Buick LeSabre that was giving him all sorts of problems. About a year ago, he was driving up to northern minnesota to visit his parents and it started chugging to the point where he couldn't get over about 5 mph! He had it towed the rest of the way. His dad poured the Seafoam into the tank and ran the car for a while and it cleared everything up! The car ran fine for the rest of the time he had it. He just bought a 04 Pontiac and his parents, so far as I know, still drive the car.

I can't tell you much about the ability to stabilize the gas, but it sure seems to do a good job cleaning!

I use both products, but there for two differnt things. Sta=bil is for maintaining the fuel, as in not letting it go to varnish. Seafoam is for after it has started to go bad. Seafoam is really great for small gas engines

I use Sta-bil when I know that the gas is good.

When I know the gas is bad, I drain it and use to to start a bonfire.

I've never used seafoam. Sounds like a good product, though.

Sta-bil with todays gas is must. The gas formula they have now sours much faster. Don't about the Sea foam but Sta-bil is great. I have sevral old trucks tractor and cars and use Sta-bil with good success.

I have tried sea foam with uncertin results, I don't know if it helps or does nothing?
A few people I know claim seafoam is the cause of many carburetor problems on small engines, I don't know about that either?
The one thing I put it in occasionaly will sit for a few years before I start it, and it always starts with only one carburetor cleaning in the past 8 years or so. But the gass always smells bad and I change it before I try and start it.

Bad gas is bad gas, just change it after something sits for a year or two when you eventualy want to start it. and turn it off and run the carb dry when you think it will sit for a long time.

I have Sta-Bil in my lawn tractor and my generator. Both started on the first pull last week after being stored; the mower since November 2, and the generator since mid-September.

Grigg is correct. If you're going to store any engine for a lengthy period, disconnect the fuel source and run the engine until it sputters and stops. Can't go wrong.

And when it sputters choke it to get that last drop out...

I learned the hard way about draining the gas. I had to park my boat for nearly a year due to an overseas assignment. I put Sta-Bil in it and ran the engine for a while to make sure it was all through the fuel system and parked it up. When I came back 9 months later the carbs were gunked up...a $900 carb rebuild later it ran fine.

I left the boat place and went immediately to a hardware store and bought a quarter turn ball valve to put in the fuel line. Now I run it dry every it comes out of the water.

As for the bad gas, I usually mix it in with good and burn it up. A small amount at a time. Won't dump it in the environment.

Sea foam works great for cleaning carbon out of your engine. Up here in ct they have the emissions test for cars and light trucks. One gas they test for is Nox gas. Carbon builds up in the combustion cambers of the cylinder head and that raises the temp in the combustion camber creating Nox gas. You can slowly pour half the can in the carb or let it get sucked in through a vacume hose. Then put the rest in the gas tank it will clean the carbon out. In most cases it will help pass the nox gas test. Not sure about a gas stabilizer.

I've always used Sta-Bil and about 4 oz. of Marvel Mystery Oil per 10 gallons gas in my bolts.

Bob

I've used sta-bil with good results not had any problems up to a year and a half setting. Always put some in gas can when I get it filled winter or summer

Thanks for the replies. I'll probably continue to use the Sta-Bil. What happens if you use both?

Running the carbs dry is kind of a catch 22 in itself. If you leave the gas in them, they get gummed up. And if you drain them, then they get condensation in them, and rust!! It seems you can't win!

It sure isn't like it used to be, where they could set for 5 years and still fire right up! :confused:

I can vouch for the performance improvement aspect of seafoam. I have a 96 Ranger, 4 cylinder 5 speed with 224,000+ miles. It was running like crap, topping out @85 mph. My buddy builds motors told me to try Seafoam. it runs like a sewing machine now, I hit 93 on same straight stretch and got 40 more miles to the tank. I'm sold. BTMO!

I use stabil in my bike over the winter, but I don't burn the gas in it because it looses too much octane. I drain it out and use it in the lawnmower or stovebolt. I have to leave gas in the tank all the time to keep the POR-15 fuel tank liner from drying up and flaking off. It has held up great so far.