Fuel Stabilizer ? Yes or No ?

[Bulldog13]

I’ve been using Stabil in my bikes for years now..back when I lived up North I would fill up the bikes tank add some Stabil and put them away until spring.They always fired up after sitting with no issues. I now live down in Florida where I only run non ethanol fuel in my bikes and I add Stabil if they are gonna sit for a bit. Long story short …both my bikes are dead after sitting for a few months…I rebuilt the Harley carb myself and it’s back up and running. My Kawasaki is going to the shop for a 4 carb overhaul..I don’t have the carb syncher to handle that. The tech at the shop said that Stabil will actually make matters worse by dissolving old deposits in the tank and gumming up the carbs ? Anyone ever heard of that ? Do I have to start draining tanks ? I know guys will say “Ride them more but sometimes work gets in the way …”

 

[wssix99]

The tech at the shop said that Stabil will actually make matters worse by dissolving old deposits in the tank and gumming up the carbs ?

I would not take this tech's advice until you know where they got their Chemistry degree from... I wouldn't get advice from the internet on this issue, either.

Your owners manual should have proper advice from the manufacturer and their engineers who study (and test for) these situations.

If I had to guess, it sounds like this person is confused between fuel stabilizer and carbon cleaner/Seafoam. (But even with the latter, there are a bunch of wild myths circulating and various cautions from manufacturers.)

 

[Poolshark314]

I use Sta-Bil in my cars that are stored for the winter and no issues.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Been using sta-bil in south Fla for decades. And in most cases, there is no need to sync your carbs after a cleaning.

 

[Nthill93]

I don’t think you should be getting gummed up carbs from non ethanol gas sitting for a couple months. I’d check the ethanol content and that gas first. I leave all my landscaping equipment with ethanol gas sitting all winter and never have issues. I just run the carbs dry when I park them for the off season

 

[PoorUB]

Non-ethanol fuel and Sta-bil.

I had a chainsaw, I tossed it finailly after 35 years of barely using it, but always put Sta-bil in the fuel and I could grab it after sitting for a couple years, give it 3-4 pulls nad it would start and run fine. I am sold on the stuff.

 

[kbs2244]

after a lot of investigation (they really do not want you to know this stuff) I found that all the gasoline fuel tabulators are between 75 and 80 percent acetone
since learning that I have been winterizing my stuff "wet" with paint department acetone
I do not run the carbs dry
I put a cup of acetone in the tank, fill with gas, run the engine for 15 min to be sure the acetone mix is in the carb and then shut down
the acetone has dissolved any gum in the carb and keeps it from forming over the winter
to prevent evaporation of the gas out of the tank I put a sheet of plastic bread wrap under the fill cap to block the vent
that prevents gum in the tank

after a north Illinois winter all my stuff has been running within 2 revs

 

[Bulldog13]

Been using sta-bil in south Fla for decades. And in most cases, there is no need to sync your carbs after a cleaning.

Idk…I tried draining the tank myself and running new fuel thru it…I can get it to start but it won’t hold a idle and dies off choke….I’m assuming it’s the fuel because after I tore the Harley apart and cleaned everything ….I set the CV carb up
As the manual said and it’s running great now. The Kawi carbs are a lot more work and I don’t want to screw it up…I’ve used this shop before and they have done good work for a fair price.I was just surprised about the Stabil comment…I use that Star-Brite Enzyme treatment in my boat so I may switch over to that for the bikes too….

 

[ericm]

You should turn the fuel tap off and run the carbs dry with the engine at idle when you're going to store the bikes. Then there's no fuel in the carbs to dry and gum up. I did this on all my off road bikes, it works great. Stabil in the tank would keep that gas from going as stale though.

You don't need to disassemble the Kawi's carb rack and potentially change the synchronization in order to clean out the carbs. Just keep it in one piece.

 

[Showkey]

Agree on the non ethanol fuel if available and Stabil.
This has been discussed at least 100 times in the last 12 months.
Draining the carb is a critical step no matter what your doing to prevent fuel storage issues.
The small volume of fuel in the carb is far more susceptible to evaporation and once the volatiles evaporate your screwed.

If you have a carb problem Stabil will not fix “rotten fuel”. Stabil is prevent.
Acetone or naphtha in these products is just the carrier.
Most agree the stabilizers work be floating a oil skim on the surface to prevent or allow less evaporation of the volatiles.

Stabil is very hard to get the actual ingredients even on the MSDS there are ingredients missing and are listed as proprietary.

 

[Mikeske]

I have never used a fuel stabiles in my equipment motorcycles and everything else that is stored for the winter. What I always done is drain the tanks and run the engine until the carb is empty and the piece of equipment is then put away. The following active season fuel it up start it and away I go after checking that everything is ready to go. To me it’s just a waste of your money to use something like a fuel stabilizer when drain it and run it out makes more sense.

 

[strantor]

I'm pretty sold on sta-bil working as advertised. I don't know what this tech is talking about.

 

[nadogail]

I will not argue with your method of putting your equipment away for the winter.

I buy and use fuel staibelizer so that my equipment will run on the fuel I have on hand during power outages or other events when it is not convenient to get new fresh fuel.

 

[tarmy]

I use Stabil in all my stuff…lawnmowers to trucks. I use Marine Stabil in 5 boats…never once an issue.

 

[strantor]

If your gas went bad after just a few months it was probably bad gas when you put it in the tank.

 

[rmanrman]

I use Stabil in all my stuff…lawnmowers to trucks. I use Marine Stabil in 5 boats…never once an issue.

I’ve been using Stabil for 30 years in outdoor power equipment and generators. In my EFI mercury boat engine started using marine Stabil last two years due to **** ethanol gasoline. Works great. NJ has no non ethanol gas anywhere near me and the boat sits 8 months outa the water due to weather

 

[tarmy]

I’ve been using Stabil for 30 years in outdoor power equipment and generators. In my EFI mercury boat engine started using marine Stabil last two years due to **** ethanol gasoline. Works great. NJ has no non ethanol gas anywhere near me and the boat sits 8 months outa the water due to weather

This **** state has that ethanol **** too. Phase separation is a real issue with that gas in boats like ours that sit for extended periods…mine only get to sit in the garage for 7 months!

Marine Stabil has worked great to address that…

 

[toyotadriver]

I run ethanol gas only. Love the stuff. Keeps the fuel system nice and clean. Alcohol is an excellent solvent which is why it is in so many of the fuel system cleaners. It cleans fuel systems. The secret is to get rid of your junk gas cans and get good cans. If your gas is going bad, the start of fuel failure is set in the cans you have. I only use genuine NATO cans (Valpro/Wavian) for fuel storage. Fuel in properly sealed cans will last for YEARS even without fuel stabilizers. I've done it repeatedly. That said, now days I run PRI G stabilizer. I have quite a few gasoline powered engines and no fuel system problems from the fake horrors of ethanol.

 

[428PI]

I have never used sta bil and use ethanol gas. I actually have a mower I bought new before I got married 37 years ago and same thing. Never even have had carb apart. My sons use it now! It had been sitting for years. I did put a carb on a weed eater a few years ago but it might have been more to do with setting up the hi and lo screws properly to begin with. Try to not go over 1/2 a year before I put fresh gas in something (except that mower). I do run fuel out of carb on my tiller because I might not use it for a few years. Had to drain old gas out of it once.

 

[firebirdparts]

Who knows. Sta-bil is a product that you're hoping, if you use it, nothing at all happens. Hard to judge a product like that. personally I take lots and lots of chances with fuel and generally I get away with it. So it's not super-obvious that I need it. I do have some here though.

 

[AP514]

Even If as the tech says STA-BIL takes gum out of the Tank.... your Fuel Filter should catch it ?
You do have a Fuel Filter ?

 

[The Cobbler]

I recently did a thread on stabil in a snowblower. I always use it in my seasonal equipment generator etc. always start the next season . last winter I failed to put stabil in my snowblower, this season the old gas would not start . drained & fresh gas fired right up . I'm sold on it .not sure I agree with the "removes gum" part tho

 

[aafadca]

This seems like a very good and honest test. Basically ethanol free gas should be all you would need. That's what I've been using for a number of years and haven't had any problems

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have never used a fuel stabiles in my equipment motorcycles and everything else that is stored for the winter. What I always done is drain the tanks and run the engine until the carb is empty and the piece of equipment is then put away. The following active season fuel it up start it and away I go after checking that everything is ready to go. To me it’s just a waste of your money to use something like a fuel stabilizer when drain it and run it out makes more sense.

At 1 ounce of Sta-Bil per 5 gallons, you're probably spending more to run the carb dry.

 

[Bulldog13]

Even If as the tech says STA-BIL takes gum out of the Tank.... your Fuel Filter should catch it ?
You do have a Fuel Filter ?

Fuel filter looks fine…I think the gas was bad since it happened to both bikes …I thought the consensus was to stay away from ethanol gas as it can degrade the carb components…it seems everyone here has a different opinion

 

[bobg03]

I was a Stabil user in New England for years on seasonal items, Outboard problems took me to using Stabil when needed and Startron every other tank on bikes and boats year round.

When I moved to South Carolina I followed that pattern here as I was still employed in New England so sometimes the bikes sat longer than I wanted. One day at a NAPA store the counter guy pointed out that Startron has the same stabilizer capability that StaBil has, and that NAPA sold a product that did also...

Point is no matter what concoction I have used for the last 40+ years everything started and I never had fuel issues. I also kept my bikes on a Tender year round also...

 

[johninct]

JUNK. Run it dry . Also, I found that if you run a carb dry, the needle and float drop so they do not get stuck .

 

[gunguy]

I run stabilized (Stabil) fuel all the time, not just at the end of the season. ZT mower and Goldwing I store with a full tank. Been doing it that way for 20+ years with no problems either because of or in spite of what I do. All run with E10 fuel. Same with the small mower and pressure washer I had before I moved.

Jim

 

[Davegvg]

Stabil works for a year or so.

Better yet run it dry then splash a little bit of Sunoco Optima 95 (bottom left) in it and restart.

It'll be fresh for about 2 years.

 

[Mikeske]

At 1 ounce of Sta-Bil per 5 gallons, you're probably spending more to run the carb dry.

It is whatever works for the individual. I really never used fuel stabilizer just drain and run the seasonal equipment out in the carb

 

[Renegade1LI]

Every 5 gallon can i add it before i fill it, Also add a little marvel mystery oil too.

 

[toolmiser]

Is your Sta-Bil new? It does have a life span, and the company says so. Old stuff won't hurt an engine, but it won't work like it was new.

 

[JunkBonds]

So maybe 2 ounces per 128 ounces is used?

Sure, at that concentration it works....lmao

Stabil is one of those concepts that works in theory, won't hurt anything if you use it, but since nothing happens anyways people swear it works. Snake oil.

 

[AP514]

Five STA-BIL Myths Debunked | Get the Real Fuel Stabilizer Story

Does STA-BIL really work? Is there a difference between the Fuel Stabilizer and Marine products? Get the truth about the brand's most common misconceptions.

www.goldeagle.com

 

[Showkey]

So maybe 2 ounces per 128 ounces is used?

Sure, at that concentration it works....lmao

Stabil is one of those concepts that works in theory, won't hurt anything if you use it, but since nothing happens anyways people swear it works. Snake oil.

Submitted your comment to Stabil myths heard.

 

[exmaxima1]

I ditched Stabil in favor of Engineered Fuel (aka Tru-Fuel) for winter storage. It lasts 2 years opened, and 5 years in the original sealed can. I use the 50:1 mix for my small 2-cycle engines, and the straight version for storage. I run the engines dry and put enough of the fuel into the tanks to keep the carbs wet. The straight fuel is too expensive to use all the time, but definitely worth it for storage use.

BTW, the engineered fuels are so good that Husqvarna extended the warranty on my new leaf blower from 2 years to 5 (yes, FIVE) just for buying 3 cans of it at the time of purchasing the blower.

 

[blacksporty]

I run ethanol gas only. Love the stuff. Keeps the fuel system nice and clean. Alcohol is an excellent solvent which is why it is in so many of the fuel system cleaners. It cleans fuel systems. The secret is to get rid of your junk gas cans and get good cans. If your gas is going bad, the start of fuel failure is set in the cans you have. I only use genuine NATO cans (Valpro/Wavian) for fuel storage. Fuel in properly sealed cans will last for YEARS even without fuel stabilizers. I've done it repeatedly. That said, now days I run PRI G stabilizer. I have quite a few gasoline powered engines and no fuel system problems from the fake horrors of ethanol.

Ethanol has its issues, the main one being it is hygroscopic, so it actually pulls moisture out of the air and it ends up in your tank but more importantly in the float bowl of small engines where is fowls up the jets.

I agree fuel stored in a sealed air tight container will last years, just like sealed brake fluid but once it is exposed to the atmosphere is starts absorbing water.

 

[toyotadriver]

Ethanol has its issues, the main one being it is hygroscopic, so it actually pulls moisture out of the air and it ends up in your tank but more importantly in the float bowl of small engines where is fowls up the jets.

I agree fuel stored in a sealed air tight container will last years, just like sealed brake fluid but once it is exposed to the atmosphere is starts absorbing water.

Common belief and, while not 100% wrong, is greatly over blown. Gasoline exposed to air, even non ethanol gas, evaporates the important stuff out and what’s left is the gums and varnishes. That’s why fuel injection works so well because once in the fuel system, it’s sealed from air exposure.

My last boat we ran nothing but ethanol fuel through it. Worked fantastic because if any water gets into the fuel the ethanol absorbs the water and then burns harmlessly.

There are a lot of misconceptions and untruths about ethanol spread around the internet.

 

[JeepYJ]

BTW, the engineered fuels are so good that Husqvarna extended the warranty on my new leaf blower from 2 years to 5 (yes, FIVE) just for buying 3 cans of it at the time of purchasing the blower.

They sold you three cans of overpriced fuel to cover the extended warranty cost. They’re not asking you to use the fuel, just purchase it.

 

[laser3kw]

doesn't hurt for a couple of months. After that no fuel additives fall short of promises.
Drain the tank out the fuel line , run the carbs dry.