can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

[mariob]

I was wondering how close you need to be when measuring out the stabiliser to add to the fuel tank.

I'm assuming that putting too much won't do any harm, can someone confirm this for me.

also, I picked up some non-toxic anti-freeze from canadian tire , but I'm not sure if I should use it. When I got home I read the label and found out its for the boat , rv , trailer , but I think it was meant for plumbing.

what kind of anti freeze do you guys recommend putting in for the winter? and where do I go to find it?

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

Hi maribob, I like SeaFoam. Use it in everything; 4 outboards, lawnmower and snow blower. You can't over do it. Low dose for storeage, higher dose for decarbon. Any NAPA store.

Looking back in your posts you run a Honda? Don't need any antifreeze for that but what you bought will be fine for the plumbing in the boat.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

Yeah, too much might not be good. The problem is not knowing how much is too much. I'm guessing that if you're off by a couple ounces in a 30 gallon tank of gas, you'll probably be okay. But if you dump a quart of the stuff into a gallon of gas, you'll possibly have problems.
Personally, I like to stick as close to the manufacturers suggestions as practical. But I don't see a problem with reasonable overages.

 

[nlain]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

Some people double the amount of stabilizer for over the winter storage with no problems. I think you would have to use an awful lot of it to really cause a problem.

 

[Vanover]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

Don't think it would hurt anuthing, but i would not go over the double amount listed on the back of the bottle. It says a double dose is good for a year so i wouldn't overe do it.

 

[superbenk]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

The back of the can/bottle says you can't overfill. I'd think the worst you'd get is some smokey exhaust, but you'd probably have to use an awful lot of it I'm sure.

 

[royal0014]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

Yep, best to follow the directions on the bottle/can. While using more won't hurt the engine, it won't do any more for the fuel, so it's just wasteful.

Better yet, go use up the fuel! Then get fresh fuel in the Spring and roll with it!

Antifreeze is antifreeze, as far as putting up for the winter. Again, follow the directions.


<<)))(((>>

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

When I was buying some at WM one of the guys working there told me not to add more than it says or I would have problems. But on the back of the bottle it says no harm from adding too much.

I think for normal maintenance its 1oz per 10 gallons of fuel.

For decarbing or treating old gas it either double or 5 times.

It says on the back of the bottle.

 

[109jb]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

The RV antifreeze is fine. I would actually say it is preferred because of its low toxicity. After all, the excess antifreeze is going to go either on the ground or in the lake.

 

[themaniam1]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

If you add less than double you will be fine. I use the non toxic pink antifreeze and never have had any issues. I pour a little in each sink and in the head. I run some through the fresh water lines and then hook up a couple of gallons to the water muffs and run it through the engine then pull the engine plugs. Come spring I just run the engine with the hose on the muffs and flush the fresh water lines.

It is bio safe so I do not worry about contaminating anything. It does make the water taste funny until it is all flushed out.

 

[rwidman]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

............ Antifreeze is antifreeze, ..........

Not really. There is your antifreeze you put in car or truck engines or in the closed side of marine engines with closed cooling systems and there is the "RV" antifreeze that is used to winterize plumbing systems and the raw (sea or lake) water side of marine engines.

The "regular" antifreeze is toxic and will kill you if you drink it. It will kill pets and wildlife if they drink it. This antifreeze must be collected after use and disposed of properly as toxic waste.

"RV" or non-toxic antifreeze does no harm to the environment and what remains in a winterized engine can be drained onto the ground or even into the water.

It's important to know the difference and use the appropriate type. To winterize a raw water cooled marine engine, the appropriate type would be the "RV" or non-toxic antifreeze. The same antifreeze would be used in the boat's potable water system and holding tank if so equipped.

 

[gstanton]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

The marinas at our lake in Maryland use the pink anti freeze to winterize engines. If they are caught by Natural Resource Police using automotive antifreeze, they will be fined.

Consider this, when you put your boat back in the water in the spring, all that anti freeze is being flushed out into the water. Not a good thing.

 

[mariob]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

thanks for all the advice everyone.

how do I pump the antifreeze into the engine, though? if I use muffs as themaniam1 suggested , how much of a reservoir do I need to have ? I don't want to start the engine and then have it run dry and damage the water pump.

and , just to clarify , the anti-freeze I want to put into the engine is what rwidman mentioned, for the raw water intake. its an outbard honda , I guess I should have mentioned that in my original post. I think there may have been a bit of confusion about that.

I know that regular automotive coolant is toxic and should never be released into the lake.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

The marinas at our lake in Maryland use the pink anti freeze to winterize engines. If they are caught by Natural Resource Police using automotive antifreeze, they will be fined.

Consider this, when you put your boat back in the water in the spring, all that anti freeze is being flushed out into the water. Not a good thing.

this is only done on i/o right? Regular outboards dont need this done? Since when the outboard is verticle, it just drains out?

 

[gstanton]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

I don't know about outboards... I've only had four I/O's.

 

[NYBo]

Re: can you use too much fuel stabiliser?

this is only done on i/o right? Regular outboards dont need this done? Since when the outboard is verticle, it just drains out?

Correct. That's one of the advantages of an outboard.