The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Gasoline turning to varnish

I saw this short video on Jay Leno's Garage. In the four minute seqment Jay and his mechanic discuss options for dealing with modern gasoline.

My question comes from one comment where Jay mentions to add "top end lubricant" to the gasoline. What is "top end lubricant".

Jay also suggests Automatic Transmission Fluid as an alternate additive (8 - 10 ounces) to the gasoline. What ratio is correct if this method is used?

Here is the link:
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/index.shtml?vidID=126269

If you're looking to preserve the gas for long term storage, you'll want something like Sta-Bil, which is a feul stabilizer. For top end lube, Marvel Mystery Oil (yes, it does work) or Lucal Feul Treatment is what you'ld want to use.
The correct ratio of stabilizer/top emd lube to feul amount is listed on the container. Usually about 3 oz. to every 10 gallons of feul.

Sambear...you've asked a good question. Car collectors need to be very aware of this issue. If one stores their collector rides for the winter and don't do something like 'longbox55' suggest anything from gummed up carbs to bent pushrods may greet you in the spring. The oldtimers know all of this but as 'newbies' get their rides running, they need to get the heads-up.

A collector I know with a substantial collection (not near the size of Leno's) uses a quart of 30-weight motor oil for every 10-gallons of gasoline in his pieces that are started and brought up to operating temp every 90-days to keep gaskets serviceable. He says that's the only method he's found that stabilizes gasoline for long periods of time. On his museum and long-term storage pieces there is no gasoline in the systems.

thats funny oil in the gas is what makes gas varnish up nothing smells worse then old saw gas

Got Sears, lawn boy, and no name B&S push mowers, a Sears rider and three weed whips, two chain saws and a blower and they sit all winter, with fuel in them and start up fine in the spring, 38years now for some of them, wonder why?
Bought a Coleman 5000watt generator in 2000 for the 2k disaster filled it up and start it once a year and run it for 10min. Original gas from seven years ago, wonder why?
I think the myths about varnish and only using fresh gas a few months old are fruit for urban legends. Had a F-150 that sat behind the barn for 15 years and I would start it up only when I needed a load of dirt or lumber, i.e., every couple of years, it always started.
That said, I have used "Sta-Bil" in everything that sits including my airplane for 25years when I talked to the guy that invented it. At the time he was mixing it up in his garage in Chicago and packaging it there. Since then it's been sold to Gold Eagle who also own "Heet"
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I have had only one experience with gas going bad over the winter and it was with a motorcycle. That gas did not varnish up everything, but the cycle just would not run right (missed, quit, poor idleing) until I got a new tank of gas in it. FWIW: I was told in colder climates, gas going bad is less frequent than in warmer climes.

I'm pretty sure temperatures have a lot to do with it. Snowmobiles usually give me fuel system greif unless it's parked either completly empty or completely full, stabil or not. Seems my trucks are more inclined to give me problems if they sit through the heat of summer as opposed to cooler times of the year. It also seems to me that in recent years, gasoline is harder on rubber parts and hoses than it used to be, turning them into sticky mush.

HI...can Marvel Mystery oil be used along with Sta-bil and is there any danger of the combination hurting the old Rodchester B carb?
T/C and thanks, Steve

I don't think there is anything that can hurt a Rochester "B" carburetor any more than it hurts already!!! If you have a “B” that is not leaking fuel into the throat and Ooooozing or weeping out of the sides then your one in a thousand, don't touch it or do anything to disturb it!!
There shouldn't be anything in either one of the additives that could hurt anything inside the carb Steve. Basically there is only a gasket, a Viton needle, and the pump leather in these, a real simple carb, no rubber inside.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

YEP...it works great I had it re-built by Re-carbo here in CA thanks for the advice Denny and T/C Steve