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Is there any benefits of running fuel stabilizer in my fuel year round? I don't mow comercialy so a full tank can last me up to 3 mows maybe more on my commercial mower. Is it in any way harmful? What do you guys think?

I use it year 'round

I use it all the time, a 5gal can last a long time for me. My understanding is that E10, (all we can get here, really) begins to get funky after about 30 days, and starts soaking up water pretty quickly too. For the fractions of a dollar spent per can of gas, I figure it'll save carb parts down the line. I recommended it to everybody I sell a mower to.

I have had excellent results with Marine Formula Sta-Bil. I intentionally left gasoline in my generator fuel tank for one year and started the engine up without any problems. I did drain the carburetor before storing the generator and shut off the fuel valve in attempt to save the carburetor. I then drained the fuel from the generator and used it in my riding lawnmower without any problems. I took a sample of the first fuel out of the tank to see if phase separation occurred - it did not. I'm sold and use the product year round in all my fuel storage containers. Here in hurricane country we keep some extra fuel on hand just in case and I treat all the stored fuel with Marine Formula Sta-Bil. At the end of the year I use the fuel in my truck and experience no noticeable change in performance or mileage. YMMV.

The OPE makers seem to think it is a great idea to run it all the time. Some folks here do and most of them are old timers that run Seafaom. The rest run red Stabil. My dealer sells Seafoam about ten to one of Stabil. About 30 miles from me there are a lot of boating folks, biker folks, jetski folks. They all run the Blue Stabil. All three types swear by their product of choice and swear at all the others. I use red stabil myself, all the time. I get new gas about every two months.

Everybody has their preferred products! Kinda funny, it'll all do about the same thing, but we still tend to stick with one. I use blue sta-bil because... well, I don't know. It appears to work, and I know other folks love it. And I never really thought of seafoam, but it does say it's a stabilizer, too, huh.

I use a fuel stabilizer (red sta-bil) all year round in tillers, mowers and snow throwers with good success.
I don't like having to clean carbs.
But when the season for a piece of equipment is over, I try to make sure that no fuel is left in the tank or carb.

Good question. I use it year round. It prevents the gas from breaking down (as one person stated, within 30 days. For what I've read, weather plays a big role on how fast this happens). As far as "is it safe", the answer is yes, completely from what I've read. (At least I've never heard of anyone reporting problems.) Neither product will harm any part of the engine, hoses, gaskets or any other part that is gas resistant.
But yes, to answer your question, IMO, it's a good idea. :thumbsup:
After the gas begins to break down, it's already too late, no product is going to bring it back. When mixed properly, it will keep the gas fresh for at least a year. (Snow blower started on first pull at start of last winter, Lawn Boy started and ran this spring with same gas I have stored in it last fall.)

I looked at SeaFoam, but use Sta-Bil. Reason is simply cost. Sta-Bil treats 1-oz / 10-gal for everyday use, 1-oz / 5-gal. for gas storage. SeaFoam treats 1-oz /1-gal (4-cycle) making it a very expensive gas treatment. (For 2-cycle use double or 2-oz / 1-gal.) I buy the Sta-Bil that comes in a squeeze bottle, the type where you squeeze it and one ounce loads at the top, the excess drains back into the container. Easier to measure that way. (I use 1/2 oz per 5 gal. container for everyday use. Makes it very economical).

According to the website, use Sta-Bil Red if your 'storing' gasoline for more than 30 days, use Sta-Bil Marine for 'everyday use' of 'marine equipment (boat, jet skis) and Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment for 'everyday' use of 'non-marine' engines.

SeaFoam is an excellent product that shines at cleaning the internal parts of an engine. If you have an older engine, SeaFoam may be a better choice as it will slowly clean the fuel tank/line/carb as well as preserve the gas. (Which Sta-Bil is just a gas stabilizer.)

Sta-Bil website
SeaFoam website

I have always use some sort of stabilizer for my stored gas. This year I had a problem with my 2 cycle leaf blower as I had not used any stabilizer in. It would start but would not take gas and run only at idle. I added a cap of seafoam and cranked the engine and let it idle for a few min's then tried to get it up to speed when I throttled up it would die. I let it sit for a few weeks and then started it and when I throttled it up the old Echo blower went to full throttle and works great again. So I guess that it did work. When I bought my new Echo trimmer the dealer sold me some additive and said if I don't use it don't bring it back when it quits running.

I guess the manufactures are getting tired of rebuilding carbs due to the bad gas we are now forced to purchase.

I use StaBil or StarTron, both do not have alcohol in them.

SeaFoam has alcohol in it, just what you don't want, more alcohol in your gas ! NOT !

I Do some of just about all of the above, when i go out for gas, i pick up 2 five gal. cans of gas, before i leave home, i add 1 oz. of the Blue Marine Sta-Bil & 2 oz of Marvel Mistery Oil to each can, i us this mixture in all my 4 cylcle Motors, 115, Yhama Out Board, 40 Merc. Out Board, Pressure washer, Honda tiller, Troy Work Horse, Honda 4 Wheeler, JD LT 166, JD LT 445, i think that about covers the whole Heard, that drinks fuel here at my place, i never have A Fuel Problem, about 10 years ago the JD LT 445 had a valve to stick acouple time, a Old Small Engine Dr. Told me about the Marvel Mistury Oil, He Said 4 oz. for 10 gal of gas, in anything that burns/runs on gas will just run better, i get it by the Gal. and a gal. will last a couple years, i use one of the old Sta-Bil bottles to Measure it out, the same guy told he that its not a bad idea to add 1 oz of sea foam to the tank of a motor that has been setting for a long time with fuel in the tank, He says it will help clean up the carb. All the above:smile: is what has been working for me for a long Time,

LakeRat1

Wow seems that lots of you guys do this. I was unsure I have never used it before and was curious. I picked up the Red Sta-Bil at my local auto parts store. I just bout my first Zero Turn mower and want to do everything I can to keep it healthy.

Sammy the Red said:

I use StaBil or Star Tron, both do not have alcohol in them.
SeaFoam has alcohol in it, just what you don't want, more alcohol in your gas ! NOT !

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According the the SeaFoam MDA, it's composed of 46-60% Pale Oil, 25-35% Naphtha, & 10-20% IPA. (The IPA is isopropyl alcohol, but it's not the same as Ethanol alcohol.) The Naptha and alcohol are solvents, while the pale oil is used for lubricating purposes.

Remember the product is designed to work with Ethanol gasoline and keep it fresh for a year or two. It's a good product for cleaning an old engine, just a little too expense to use for gas stabilizer, IMHO.

Would the same advice in all of these responses still hold true for non-ethanol gas. We can still get non-ethanol at local mom-and-pop independent markets that sell gas here in TN although it is generally $.05-$.10/gal more expensive depending on the grade(regular, mid or premium). I have been using the regular non-ethanol in all of my lawn equipment(and boat) since the beginning of this season and notice a real difference in how smoth the engines run and how long a tankful lasts!!!! I can almost mow my yard 1.5-2.0 times on the same amount of non-ethanol than I was doing on the E10. I just purchased a brand new Gravely Pro-Turn 152 XDZ zero turn mower(my first ZTR) and as long as I can get non-ethanol gas, that is all this baby will ever see put in it's tanks. I also, after break-in, plan on running 10%-20% Lucas Oil Treatment in it's Kawasaki FX. My "old school" auto mechanic(and he's a VERY good mechanic) recommended it for my 1995 Chevy truck(230,000 miles) and I also notice a significant engine performance improvement even though I only use it once every 4 oil changes(every 12,000 miles). After reading this thread I am also considering using the Stabil and/or Seafoam(the Stabil for every day usage and storage longer than 30 days and the Seafoam if there seems to be any performance degradation where "cleaning the system" may help). Does everyone agree with my approaches to caring for my lawn & garden(and 2-stoke Merc on my boat)????

I would say use a stabilizer anyway. Non ethanol gas won't separate or absorb water like E10+ will, but will still age and separate to its different blend additives. It will definitely turn to varnish if left alone long enough. I don't know the timetable for that, though.

Never had good luck with Sta-bil. I have a 1980 Mazda RX-7 and moved to japan for two years. Returned every 6 months and used the Mazda to get around. Every time I came home, I had to tear the carburetor apart and "un-stick" needles. This was no fun task if you've seen the hoses on one of these things. I had then started to hear complaints from others and started using SeaFoam. Never had a problem since.

smaywork said:

Never had good luck with Sta-bil. I have a 1980 Mazda RX-7 and moved to japan for two years. Returned every 6 months and used the Mazda to get around. Every time I came home, I had to tear the carburetor apart and "un-stick" needles. This was no fun task if you've seen the hoses on one of these things. I had then started to hear complaints from others and started using SeaFoam. Never had a problem since.

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smaywork,
The Sta-bil is a good product for small engine applications(like lawn equipment), but I would agree that for automotive applications the Seafoam is your best bet. Seafoam would also be my choice for correcting a fuel-induced "problem" on a small engine and I consider the Sta-bil as simply a good quality and inexpensive "preventative measure" for my lawn equipment.

smaywork said:

Never had good luck with Sta-bil. I have a 1980 Mazda RX-7 and moved to japan for two years. Returned every 6 months and used the Mazda to get around. Every time I came home, I had to tear the carburetor apart and "un-stick" needles. This was no fun task if you've seen the hoses on one of these things. I had then started to hear complaints from others and started using SeaFoam. Never had a problem since.

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One thing that came to mind when reading your post, Sta-Bil has a shelf life as well. Exceed that and it's ability to protect your gas is diminished. Also, Sta-Bil changed their formula a couple of years ago, the product before that didn't work as well with Ethanol. Could have been using old (older) Sta-Bil?

When you put the Sta-Bil in the gas is important. Must be added as soon as possible. Once gas begins to turn, no product can keep it from gumming up.

I've used Sta-Bil for years (too many to remember) and found it works well for up to a year. Three years actually for my Honda tiller. Started after three years of sitting on second pull. Couldn't believe it. Same gas three years. (Honda tiller's are great).

SeaFoam is also a good product and will actually (slowly) clean the carb. It's just that it's more expensive to use on a regular basis.