dodge man
Super Star Member
Good test, it looks like Stabil did the best.
Stabil in the mix?
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John_Mc
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The Project Farm tests confirmed my own experience: Stabil does a great job at preventing corrosion. It does help a bit in keeping the fuel fresh and able to run an engine, but does not last anywhere near the 2 years they claim with ethanol fuel. I generally never let fuel sit for that long. It does seem to help non-ethanol fuel last significantly longer than untreated.
I used Startron briefly, but stopped using it when a small engine shop showed me pictures of corroded carbs on 4 cycle engines and some corroded bottom ends in 2 cycle engines (chainsaws) he serviced in which the owners regularly used Startron. (Most, but not all of these the owners said they were using ethanol-blended fuel.) I had no idea if other bad habits of the owners in the photos contributed to the problem, but figured why take the chance.
I no longer burn ethanol fuel in any of my small engines except in an emergency, and then I either use it up relatively quickly (less than a month) or drain the tank. Even the non-ethanol fuel I buy gets treated with Stabil. If it gets more than about 5 or 6 weeks old, it no longer gets burned in my 2 cycle engines. More than a couple of months, and it gets put in a vehicle where it will get used up quickly (and is diluted with that vehicle's large tank of fresher fuel).
I used Startron briefly, but stopped using it when a small engine shop showed me pictures of corroded carbs on 4 cycle engines and some corroded bottom ends in 2 cycle engines (chainsaws) he serviced in which the owners regularly used Startron. (Most, but not all of these the owners said they were using ethanol-blended fuel.) I had no idea if other bad habits of the owners in the photos contributed to the problem, but figured why take the chance.
I no longer burn ethanol fuel in any of my small engines except in an emergency, and then I either use it up relatively quickly (less than a month) or drain the tank. Even the non-ethanol fuel I buy gets treated with Stabil. If it gets more than about 5 or 6 weeks old, it no longer gets burned in my 2 cycle engines. More than a couple of months, and it gets put in a vehicle where it will get used up quickly (and is diluted with that vehicle's large tank of fresher fuel).
mrmikey
Veteran Member
Just watched that. Looks like Stabil is the one. Some nasty looking corrosion with the others.
Richard001
Veteran Member
I have a 1999 Dodge 8 passenger van that I don't drive in the winter. It has a 20 gal fuel tank. Every fall, I fill the tank to the top, add Stabil, drive it around a bit and then park it. Starts great next spring. The Stabil does the job.
Richard
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It's funny how fast a thread can turn on it's head. Three pages of "Stabil is trash", followed by today's rash of post claiming it's the only one that actually works. 
Need I remind anyone?
Need I remind anyone?
OP
CalG
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It appears...
That Stabil is better than nothing.
Which is what I've been mostly using .
I've got 5 power saws, two weed whackers, and a back pac leaf blower. This thread has made me feel that what I have done so far is just fine. ;-)
I have always made it a habit to put 50:1 mix in the tiller and mower tanks when I put them up for winter.
Rust prevention if nothing more.
That Stabil is better than nothing.
Which is what I've been mostly using .
I've got 5 power saws, two weed whackers, and a back pac leaf blower. This thread has made me feel that what I have done so far is just fine. ;-)
I have always made it a habit to put 50:1 mix in the tiller and mower tanks when I put them up for winter.
Rust prevention if nothing more.
LHF2019
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I don't use anything in my fuel. Have several vehicles that do not get ran in the winter. Have lots of small engines that don't get ran much. Have no starting issues. Just another expense I don't need.
RandyT
Elite Member
To each their own. I have personally worked on hundreds of small engine carbs that had what appears to be almost sugar crystals in the fuel bowls, and would say to the customer afterwards that I noticed you were using stabil, and their response was how do you know. Never saw the crystals with other brands of stabilizer. I have also carbs that ran badly and was planning on doing a carb clean and repair ,run perfectly after setting with startron treated fuel overnight.It's funny how fast a thread can turn on it's head. Three pages of "Stabil is trash", followed by today's rash of post claiming it's the only one that actually works.
Need I remind anyone?
I personally don't use any stabilizers in my fuel, but may do some experimenting with ethanol shield in the future.
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I should apologize for picking on your post, as it just randomly happened to be the first I saw when clicking back several pages, and it was just one of many similar posts from many people. I also didn't watch the video. But it's still amusing how the whole flavor of the thread changed so abruptly at page 4.
Red stabil is the one that failed me in Gen carb back when ran on ethanol. Even ran dry as could till ran out. So only stored with E-free now.
I wont ever use red stabil due to this.
I did laugh alittle at testing as it showed that star-tron to not protect worth a crap against corrosion.
My boat mechanic says if going to use stabil use the Marine 360 version like a green or blue version.
I went to K100 from red stabil myself in boat etc. Has never ran better since switching. So something in it cleans the carb I believe too.
That is also suppose to be in the Marine 360 stabil version.
I wont ever use red stabil due to this.
I did laugh alittle at testing as it showed that star-tron to not protect worth a crap against corrosion.
My boat mechanic says if going to use stabil use the Marine 360 version like a green or blue version.
I went to K100 from red stabil myself in boat etc. Has never ran better since switching. So something in it cleans the carb I believe too.
That is also suppose to be in the Marine 360 stabil version.
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