Engine Fuel Stabilizer?

[August59]

I'm not sure how available it is nationwide, but I have a couple gas stations nearby that sell pure gasoline (no methanol) in one pump, usually the pump that had K1 kerosene in it because people are not using it much anymore. I'm not sure if it is 87 or 89 octane though.

Thought it might be something that some of you would like to look out for. You can buy it in pint or quart cans even premixed at different ratios, but it is expensive.

Just my experience as a homeowner is that gasoline (with ethanol) that sits in the equipment or gas can in the garage for more than 60 days does not work well in small 2 cycle engines. It seems to work a little longer in my larger 4 cycle engines. I forgot and left gas w/ethanol in my 12 hp B&S engine all winter and it corroded the bowl on the carbeaurator and had to replace it and clean out the carbeaurator before it would run.

 

[Mike88se]

I'm not sure how available it is nationwide, but I have a couple gas stations nearby that sell pure gasoline (no methanol) in one pump, usually the pump that had K1 kerosene in it because people are not using it much anymore. I'm not sure if it is 87 or 89 octane though.

Thought it might be something that some of you would like to look out for. You can buy it in pint or quart cans even premixed at different ratios, but it is expensive.

Just my experience as a homeowner is that gasoline (with ethanol) that sits in the equipment or gas can in the garage for more than 60 days does not work well in small 2 cycle engines. It seems to work a little longer in my larger 4 cycle engines. I forgot and left gas w/ethanol in my 12 hp B&S engine all winter and it corroded the bowl on the carbeaurator and had to replace it and clean out the carbeaurator before it would run.

In your case maybe you could buy the straight gas even if it's 87 and use octane booster.
I haven't noticed a big difference since using sta-bil or ethanol shield. My equipment runs the same and I didn't have much problem if any w/o those products. I tend to use my gas before 60 days pass.
I can say w/o a doubt that none of the other additives I tried did anything at all. Definitely not wasting any more money on seafoam.

 

[Carscw]

Why add anything to the gas and dilute it more then it already is?

 

[gofer]

So the winter is over and there is a full tank of gas in my snowblower. It was supposed to be used up when we got a foot of snow, but the forecast changed at the last minute and we ended up getting only a coating. Last year, I just kept the gas in the tank, and ran it once a month or so over the summer. But this year, should I add stabilizer? I don't want to get into a big debate about whether to drain the tank or add stabilizer, but I do want to know if there is a certain type of fuel stabilizer I should buy.

Interesting question. A popular 'on the shelf' fuel stabilizer uses Enzymes to 'stabilize' fuel. Unfortunately I recently learned that it not only dilutes the fuel, but it also causes a +25% reduction in the energy of the stored fuel. Not good.

We now use a stabilizer that works quite differently. Fuel contamination occurs when air comes into contact with fuel. With Ethanol now in gasoline, the situation gets worse: Ethanol attracts water......and all the repair issues that can follow.
The stabilizer we use solves the problem quite differently. Because it has a different Specific Gravity from fuel, it resides as a thin barrier on top of the fuel between the air in the tank and the fuel itself. The Energy in the fuel is preserved. Typically fuel can be held-over for several months to the next season. It works really great and is useful for all gasoline applications.

 

[rustyblade]

What i've heard on the news more than once is that the goverment makes the EPA lift retricttions on gas companies to refine the gas less, so they can produce more in the summer which is needed. Refine less = less quality. Never keep two stroke mix more than 3 months. If you use stabil in your gas to store, you should still run the engine about every 4 to 6 months, and fill the tank back up. Don't waste the gas. Burn it in your car or run it the lawn mowers. If you cut the gas enough the engine will never know it. I kept gas in my generator for a year one time with stabil and it ran rough for a few minutes then it was fine, but i won't do that again. It has a 18hp engine. The jets in the carb are a bit larger so i guess it passed some of the gum, but i believe the smaller engines would not have done that because the carbs have smaller jets. I have cleaned many small engine carbs. I haven't had to clean the generator carb even after approx. 10yrs. I own a approx. 10yr old ryobi gas trimmer and have only rebuilt the carb once ( installed new diaphrams and gaskits. I think it's time for new ones again. I've mostly run 87oct in all my engines. I started putting 93oct. with no ethanol in the generator when i found out it also eats rubber fuel lines and maybe causes problems with plastic gas tanks, and the gas with ethanol also ate my gas cap rubber i think. I dropped the bowl on my riding mower a couple of months ago and found black specks. i'm thinking the fuel lines are getting ate up. I heard the the new boat gas cans and fuel lines are supposed to be more tolerant of ethanol, and regular gas cans are to be made better so gas doesn't seep through the plastic. Thanks for all of your inputs on this matter.

 

[gofer]

Effective Jan 1st/14 Ethanol has been mandated in 91 Octane as well regular grade gasoline in Canada. (Gas stations seem to be quite slow to affix new labels on the pumps.....Where is truth in advertising?)

It's not too early to start thinking about using gasoline fuel enhancers that neutralize ethanol to prolong engine life & minimize premature repairs.

Ethanol can do a good job dissolving rubber gaskets over time.:frown:

 

[X-man]

...Ethanol can do a good job dissolving rubber gaskets over time.:frown:

Ethanol can do a great job f***ing up your engine in general.

Just my :2cents:

 

[exotion]

:/ haven't seen it yet. I think people are afraid of change and innovation. But hey who cares about our fossil fuels getting consumed at an alarming rate. Who cares they are trying to slow that down with a gas alternative. I know let's go back to powering everything with coal... Yay

 

[Carscw]

Saying ethanol broke your engine is just a excuse for poor maintenance.

And stop adding more **** to the gas. OMG people a engine will not run good on pure fuel stabilizer.