Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

[Kymasabe]

I don't need to winterize, live in sub-tropical south Florida. I try to use my boat at least every other weekend but some times I just can't get out for 4 to 6 weeks. My fuel tank only holds 12 gallons but there are times when I'll only use 3 or 4 gallons on a weekend fishing trip, then top off the tank. Should I be using a fuel stabilizer or does good 2-stroke oil contain some kind of stabilizer?

 

[1730V]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

I use a stabilizer year round. I prefer Sea Foam but others work too.

Todays fuels tend to go bad quickly.

 

[Kymasabe]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

I thought Sea Foam was for cleaning carbs and decarbing the engine. I didn't know it was a fuel stabilizer as well. Does adding a little to the fuel as a stabilizer also cause less carbon build-up or gradually decrease build-up I may already have?

 

[1730V]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

I thought Sea Foam was for cleaning carbs and decarbing the engine. I didn't know it was a fuel stabilizer as well. Does adding a little to the fuel as a stabilizer also cause less carbon build-up or gradually decrease build-up I may already have?

It does both. Yes, it helps keep things clean also.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Sea Foam is great stuff, read the label to see all the things it can do... But adding some into the fuel is a good additive and stabilizer.

 

[jwilkey84]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

can it hurt to have too much sea foam in the gas? I think according to the can, it doesn't take much, but I put like 1/2 can of sea foam to a 6gal. can of gas.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

it wont hurt in that large amount of gas, its got lubricating qualites like deisel fuel, feel it. 6 gals. is plenty to dilute the 6 or 8 ozs. that half a can contains! But if using regularly and as a stabilizer i would use the label amount, cause the stuff is expensive, then say every 3rd or 4th tank give it the mega dose.

-nate

 

[mboy]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

can it hurt to have too much sea foam in the gas? I think according to the can, it doesn't take much, but I put like 1/2 can of sea foam to a 6gal. can of gas.

No, aproper "Dunk" decarb mixes a whole can with 3/4 gallon of gas.

When I decarb, I empty out my racor and fill it with seafoam and pul it straight into the engine.

1st of that for me and it helped with the infamous 2001-2003 Johnson 150-175 warms stall issue that no one was ever able to figure out.

Did not happen to me again (and happened at least 1x per trip) in 2007 after I did it in July.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Don't winterize. Just add fuel stabiliser to your fuel all the time. I use just regular stabiliser since its much cheaper.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

1/2 can of SeaFoam in 6 gallons of fuel is a good way to clear existing carbon deposits if done for three or four tanks of fuel and it won't harm anything if done continuously at that level. However, using about half that amount is sufficient as a fuel stabilizer and fuel system treatment for continued use. Stabil is a good fuel stabilizer but it doesn't perform the "cleaning" function that SeaFoam does. TCW3 oils do not contain fuel treatment.

 

[mboy]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

I would laso check out PRI-G!

http://www.priproducts.com/prigproduct.htm

GOOD stuff for fuel stability.

 

[rjezuit]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

If you look at the MSDS for Sea Foam, it contains pale oil (light oil), naptha(a cleaner/solvent) and IPA (alcohol) which absorbs water in the fuel. It does clean, lubricate and stabilize the gasoline, which is basically preventing varnishes from depositing, the naptha keeps them in solution, and the alcohol is like dry gas. Rick

 

[mboy]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

IPA (alcohol) which absorbs water in the fuel. like dry gas. Rick

So does E10!

 

[rjezuit]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

E10 is I believe ethyl or methyl alcohol, and the IPA is isopropyl. All alcohols, but with diffrent properties. Rick

 

[ezeke]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Minority opinion:

Pure alcohol can absorb a finite amount of water for a time and that is how so-called dry gas products work.

In a vented tank, the alcohol eventually evaporates and leaves the water that it has absorbed, which is why water-separating fuel filters are recommended. It is also why alcohol based products are not necessarily the best products to stabilize stored fuels.

Alcohol is destructive of epoxy resins as used in fiberglass tanks and also degrades the old fuel lines used before alcohol was added to gasoline in the newer fuels. Flotation used in older fuel gauges and in carburetor floats was degraded by alcohol, especially when made of cork sealed with shellac.

EPA has published several articles that may help one to understand the problems of storing fuels with alcohol additives.

Fuel stabilizers that are specifically designed for that purpose are recommended. They should be added to the fuel whenever new fuel is added. They are most effective in ventilated tanks because fuel may be stored in airtight tanks for up to a year without them.

http://www.boatus.com/news/releases/2007/october/e10.asp

http://entropyproduction.blogspot.com/2006/08/water-and-plug-ins-arent-miscible.html

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/regs/fuels/rfg/waterphs.pdf

Proof is in the:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=212499&highlight=fuel+stabilizer+sta

 

[BillP]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Erase the thought of needing stabilizer for 6 week old fuel, it isn't necessary...it's not even close to necessary. Just top the tank off with fresh gas and go.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Surprised nobody has mentioned Star-tron as a great stabilizer, as well as keeping the effects of E10 (really more like E25) in check, keeping carbon in check and being a biocide.

I add a little to the fule every time I fill up, just as maintenance. Great stuff.

 

[rjezuit]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

If you look at the MSDS's for all the stabilizers mentioned they are all a mixture of naptha and isopropyl alcohol. Both of these are available much cheaper than the name brand products. Stabil is 95% isopropanol, while sea foam and the other listed are very high percentage (95%) naptha. Rick

 

[1730V]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

Erase the thought of needing stabilizer for 6 week old fuel, it isn't necessary...it's not even close to necessary. Just top the tank off with fresh gas and go.

Oh contrare. Todays fuels have an affinity to moisture and junk. Just my experience with huge volumes of it.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Do I need Sta-Bill/fuel stabilizer ??

If you've got an open vented built-in tank you basically have two choices. Add stabilizer now, or pump out the gas later. I've had gas go bad in 5 short days while parked on the water.