Stabil.... All that Stable?

[oldyellr]

Does your generator stay in the same garage?

Yes it does, near the back door. I'd have to drag it outside to run it.

Anyway, this is about Stabil, and my feeling is that it should keep the gas functional for at least a year. I don't bother with it for my summer car, but do use it in my mowers and snowblower (and the generator) as a precaution. The snowblower has a highly ineffective primer, so I don't want to exert more effort into starting it than it would to shovel the driveway by hand.

 

[5030]

...reading the label on a Stabil bottle, it suggests adding with every tankfull.

I wonder if that's merely just a way to increase the consumption and cause multiple buys (summer and winter) or if it actually provides some sort of cleansing action in the intake system?

I do use the Gold Eagle fogging oil in my small engines (same manufacturer).

I'm not too sure about draining float bowls and/or running engines dry (of gasoline) prior to storage. I've heard that the alcohol in gasoline dries out the gaskets and sealing rings in carburetors and injection systems and 'drying up' the fuel system can cause leaks later on.

At least my diesels are somewhat immune though I'm battling a case of red algae in my pickup with Bio-Kleen. I'll never use B20 again. I like being 'green' but the price of admission (red algae) is way too high to justify the expense of french fry exhaust.

 

[CurlyDave]

Every time I buy gas in a can for small engines, I add a double dose of red Stabil before I pump the gas into the can. Mixes automatically that way. Then I put in only premium gas.

Never a problem with gas or starting, even if I let an engine sit idle for 2 years.

Does it cost more, yes. Is it worth it, yes.

 

[Bird]

Every time I buy gas in a can for small engines, I add a double dose of red Stabil before I pump the gas into the can. Mixes automatically that way. Then I put in only premium gas.

Never a problem with gas or starting, even if I let an engine sit idle for 2 years.

Does it cost more, yes. Is it worth it, yes.

You obviously know that Stabil says the regular dose for up to a year and a double dose for 2 years, so the double dose obviously isn't going to hurt a thing. I usually don't use a double dose, but I sure don't skimp on the regular dose and just a little more. And I use the mid-grade gasoline.

 

[crbr]

I wouldn't do without it. Makes my engines very easy to start year-round.

 

[Scooby074]

Red Stabil in supreme gas here, works well. Lately ive been adding some SeaFoam to the mix. No issues, and things seem to be working better then just stabil alone.

My province hasnt added ethanol yet, but its on the way.

#1 - the alcohol is not blended at the refinery, it is not stable enough to ship from the refinery that way. The alcohol is blended by the distributor.


Ken

Im not 100% sure on that. This summer our "Local" refinery in Halifax had some problems and shut down. Gas stations were running out of gas. Replacement gas couldnt be brought from New Brunswick's irving refinery because they produce ethanol blended fuels and our gas stations wernt set up with the proper water filters to sell the ethanol gas, this makes me believe its blended at refinery level. If it was as simple as siphoning off some non-blended fuel at the rack it would have happened. I suppose the refinery could be called the distributor, at least here.

"
“The scary part is it would not be so bad if we didn’t have this federal mandate for ethanol,” said the Wilson VP.

“The market would be able to adjust if you could get product out of Saint John. But because we have this crazy federal law, we’ve created islands so that supply back-stop has gone away.”

A lot of the province’s gas stations can’t take gas from Irving Oil’s Saint John refinery because it is mandated by federal law to contain 10 per cent ethanol, he said.

“It’s a completely asinine regulation when it comes to Saint John,” Collins said.

“We’re displacing crude oil with ethanol that’s imported from Iowa. ... This is Canadian taxpayers buying ethanol to subsidize Iowa farmers.”

Gas stations that sell ethanol-blended gasoline, or E10, need special filters to keep water out of their fuel, Collins said.

A lot of Nova Scotia’s 380 gas stations don’t have those, he said, noting that they cost between $1,000 and $2,000 to install."

 

[Skyco]

Because the American consumer is always looking for ways to spend more money;if red Stabil is good at $.25 an ounce, blue Stabil at $.75 an ounce MUST be 3 times as good :confused2:

Actually if you look it up the blue marine Stabil treats 4x the fuel that the red does.
Quart bottle of red treats 80 gallons
Quart bottle of blue (marine) treats 320 gallons

 

[5030]

Red Stabil in supreme gas here, works well. Lately ive been adding some SeaFoam to the mix. No issues, and things seem to be working better then just stabil alone.

My province hasnt added ethanol yet, but its on the way.



Im not 100% sure on that. This summer our "Local" refinery in Halifax had some problems and shut down. Gas stations were running out of gas. Replacement gas couldnt be brought from New Brunswick's irving refinery because they produce ethanol blended fuels and our gas stations wernt set up with the proper water filters to sell the ethanol gas, this makes me believe its blended at refinery level. If it was as simple as siphoning off some non-blended fuel at the rack it would have happened. I suppose the refinery could be called the distributor, at least here.

"
典he scary part is it would not be so bad if we didn稚 have this federal mandate for ethanol, said the Wilson VP.

典he market would be able to adjust if you could get product out of Saint John. But because we have this crazy federal law, we致e created islands so that supply back-stop has gone away.

A lot of the province痴 gas stations can稚 take gas from Irving Oil痴 Saint John refinery because it is mandated by federal law to contain 10 per cent ethanol, he said.

çš„tç—´ a completely asinine regulation when it comes to Saint John, Collins said.

展eæ±*e displacing crude oil with ethanol thatç—´ imported from Iowa. ... This is Canadian taxpayers buying ethanol to subsidize Iowa farmers.

Gas stations that sell ethanol-blended gasoline, or E10, need special filters to keep water out of their fuel, Collins said.

A lot of Nova Scotia痴 380 gas stations don稚 have those, he said, noting that they cost between $1,000 and $2,000 to install."

Corn alcohol does have an affiniity for water and it is blended at the refinery not at the distributor here (in Michigan) at least. The corn liquor arrives via freight car tank and is blended in.

The only distributor blended item here is Bio diesel. The distributor blends in the soy bean oil prior to delivery. I've personally had enough of the 'going green' fuel for a lifetime. I've been having an ongoing war with red algae from biodiesel. Once you get it, it's like a bad cold, hard to shake and the 'medicine' is expensive just as new fuel pumps are.

 

[5030]

Actually if you look it up the blue marine Stabil treats 4x the fuel that the red does.
Quart bottle of red treats 80 gallons
Quart bottle of blue (marine) treats 320 gallons

That's good information that I didn't know (but should have)........

Just bought a quart (blue) at Menards on sale.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My one "test" with Stabil Red was with my riding lawn mowers. I put stabil in my small 17 hp Troybuilt because I knew I wouldnt be using it much but forgot to put it in my new zero turn 26 hp. Both sat all fall and winter. Next spring, the Troybuilt started right up but the Craftsman ZTS would not fire a bit. I thought for sure I had a carb rebuild coming. However after replacing the gas with fresh stuff, it started right up. I poured the "stale" gas that I drained from the ZTS into my truck and had no problems. The Troybuilt was stored under my deck out of the rain but subject to all the weather fluctuations. The ZTS was stored inside my well insulated shop so it should have been the one with less problems I would have thought. Now I only use the non-ethanol pure gasoline that is available at a station nearby and usually cheaper than ethanol blended gas and I dose it all with red Stabil. I guess I need to use the blue that I have had for a year or so now that I hear it is only good for a year. Dont quiet understand that logic though if you keep it tightly sealed it should be pretty much same as factory sealed.
One thing I noticed on my new Poulan weed eater is that it say not to use gasoline additives in the 2 cycle mixed gasoline.

 

[orezok]

Ethanol is hydroscopic.

(From Wikiedia) Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or adsorption with the absorbing or adsorbing material becoming physically 'changed,' somewhat: by an increase in volume, stickiness, or other physical characteristic of the material as water molecules become 'suspended' between the material's molecules in the process.

I believe that much of the damage done to small engines is from the absorbed water, not the ethanol it self.

 

[oldyellr]

Ethanol is hydroscopic.

That would be hygroscopic. So is methanol and isopropanol. That's why it's used as gas line antifreeze because it mixes with the condensation and keeps it liquid so it does not freeze. Winter gasoline contains alcohol for that reason. However, the reason gasoline now contains some percentage of ethanol in most states and provinces is because it, in part, replaces the function of tetra-ethyl lead for anti-knock properties. Also, it appeases the greenies, who think it's a good idea to raise the price of corn by using it for motor fuel.

 

[beppington]

I think ya'll can save your money.

From Mercury Marine (Ethanol Fuels FAQs | Storage & Maintenance MerCruiser FAQs | Mercury Marine)

What is phase separation, and how do I deal with it?

If significant amounts of water are present in a fuel tank with gasoline that contains ethanol, the water will be drawn into the fuel until the saturation point is reached for the three-component mixture of water + gasoline + ethanol. Beyond this level of water, phase separation could cause most of the ethanol and water to separate from the bulk fuel and drop to the bottom of the tank, leaving gasoline with a significantly reduced level of ethanol in the upper phase. If the lower phase of water and ethanol is large enough to reach the fuel inlet, it could be pumped directly to the engine and cause significant problems. Even if the ethanol water phase at the bottom of the tank is not drawn into the fuel inlet, the reduced ethanol level of the fuel reduces the octane rating by as much as 3 octane numbers, which could result in engine problems.

The level at which phase separation can occur is determined by a number of variables, including the amount of ethanol, the composition of the fuel, the temperature of the environment and the presence of contaminants. It is very important (A) that the system is inspected for significant quantities of water in the tank before using gasoline with ethanol and (B) to limit exposure of the fuel tank to excess water. If phase separation has occurred, it is necessary to completely remove all free water from the system and replace the fuel before continuing operation. Otherwise, engine problems could occur.

Is an additive available that can prevent phase separation?

There is no practical additive that can prevent phase separation from occurring. The only practical solution is to keep water from accumulating in the tank in the first place.

Are there any additives that can allow the phase-separated mixture to remix when added to the fuel tank?

No, the only way to avoid further problems is to remove the water, dispose of the depleted fuel, clean the tank and start with a fresh, dry load of fuel.

 

[sw03]

I use the marine since 2 years ago I used the normal red and had issues. Marine none...

 

[oldyellr]

Issues? Please elaborate.

 

[5030]

Maybe I can interject...

The original formula makes no mention anywhere (on the container) about compatability with alcohol laced fuels whereas, the marine (blue) formula does as well as the new red 'for ethanol fuel' Stabil.

I see they (Glod Eagle) is branching out. I saw a new blend of Stabil for 'cleaning injection and fuel systems' on the shelf at Menards on Friday.

 

[valley]

Well, just bought my first bottle of stabil, never used it before. Last winter the power went out and both generators acted badly. I still haven't worked on them, hope I can run something through to clean things up don't want to pull carbs, too much to do.

Can Stabil be put in older gas to bring it back?

So you say there are a few Stabils, there was only one where I bought this bottle, I saw no mention of ethanol?

 

[dlauffenburger]

+1 for Seafoam. I put some in every can of gas i get from my mower and weed eater and both engines start and run better. It does not perform the same function as Stabil but it does an excellent job of cleaning your fuel system.

 

[Ken45101]

Well, just bought my first bottle of stabil, never used it before. Last winter the power went out and both generators acted badly. I still haven't worked on them, hope I can run something through to clean things up don't want to pull carbs, too much to do.

Can Stabil be put in older gas to bring it back?

I don't believe Stabil will "bring back" bad gas. Just reduce the probability of fresh gas going bad. Notice the bottle says to put it into fresh gas.

I think Seafoam does a better job of cleaning gunked up carbs. Mix some in to the tank, agitate well, run it for a while to get the Seafoam into the carb, let it sit for a while for it to work, then run the engine some more.

I use Stabil whenever I get fresh gas for the small engines. When I have an engine not running right, I use Seafoam. Sometimes that fixes the problem.

Seafoam may also stabilize fresh gas, but I use them separately.

Ken

 

[5030]

I'm a Seafoam addict as well.... beats using tools and carb cleaner to eradicate gum and gunk inside the carbs left over from Obama ethanol.

I tend to put it in and run the bejesus out of the engine to blow everything out the exhaust.

I use the stuff on the cars too.