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How does this stuff work for gasoline storage? In addition to storing gas over the winter, we have to store gas for generators due to our unreliable power grid. How long is Stabil good for, and is there a better product to use?

There are a number of them out there. The ones below are ones I've used and "believe" to work as advertised. IMO..
Stabil
Star Tron
SeaFoam
And many many others that I've never tried...

Stabil has a two year shelf life after the bottle is opened. So I question the long term storage benefit of a product that expires within the same time period it is suppose to protect. I can also tell the use of stabil because as it breaks down forms crystals that settle to the bottom of the carb bowl causing issues.

I have used seafoam and is a good product but the old formula from about 10 years ago is better than the newer stuff. I have also used star tron and don't have an opinion one way or the other on it as far as how well it works compared to other brands.

ILENGINE said:

Stabil has a two year shelf life after the bottle is opened. So I question the long term storage benefit of a product that expires within the same time period it is suppose to protect. I can also tell the use of stabil because as it breaks down forms crystals that settle to the bottom of the carb bowl causing issues.

I have used seafoam and is a good product but the old formula from about 10 years ago is better than the newer stuff. I have also used star tron and don't have an opinion one way or the other on it as far as how well it works compared to other brands.

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I can't say I've ever seen crystals form using Stabil (not saying it cant) I wonder sometimes if people aren't dumping in a stabilizer in old gas and hoping for a miracle. No where do they state they make old gas good.
And a 5 gallon can of gas won't go bad as quick as those few ounces in your carb or qt. in the tank. Again IMO.

4getgto said:

I can't say I've ever seen crystals form using Stabil (not saying it cant) I wonder sometimes if people aren't dumping in a stabilizer in old gas and hoping for a miracle. No where do they state they make old gas good.
And a 5 gallon can of gas won't go bad as quick as those few ounces in your carb or qt. in the tank. Again IMO.

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I came across the crystals from time to time and wasn't sure of the cause, but I used Stabil was a frequent response to bad gas. I put the two together from a post maybe on another forum from a guy retired from the company that made Stabil, and he brought it up about the crystals.

And people do not seem to understand that the size of the air space in the tank is also critical as nothing is going to stop water condensing from the air in the top of the tank & carb.
This effect gets worse the further away from a big water mass you are as you get bigger differences between day & night temperatures.
People also forget that the fuel they bought can be several months old before it came out the bowser so was 2/3 off before they got their hands on it.

It also doesn't help the fact that fuel today containing ethanol contains a portion of water. Phase separation of that water can vary by air temperature So ethanol blended fuel at 70 degrees will be stable but could phase separate at 0 degrees.

I have eliminated the use of all fuel treatments for storage about 6 years ago. I now keep a 2 gallon fuel can full in the shed and every 4-5 weeks I dump it into the truck and refill the can. This way I always have fresh fuel available.

I just run my equipment week or so, just let it idle for awhile..
But that's me.

I always use 100% gas only. & I never start any of my mowers all winter. My logic is that a short run just causes condensation inside the engine on those brief runs & that adds up over winter to have water in the oil.

If I start it, it will run at least 1/2 hour. To burn out any internal condensation.

Rivets said:

I have eliminated the use of all fuel treatments for storage about 6 years ago. I now keep a 2 gallon fuel can full in the shed and every 4-5 weeks I dump it into the truck and refill the can. This way I always have fresh fuel available.

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I do the same.

I use the non-crystal formula of Stabil. It's in the regular bottle called Stabil. I've never seen crystals in my gas. Everything I use it in always starts like it has fresh fuel. I use it year round no issues. Heard it puts a layer on top of the fuel that keeps it fresh. Also keeps the fuel from oxidizing. Been using it for years again no problems.

Seafoam is mostly kerosene. I've never found it to work any miracles or dare I say stabilize fuel. Should call it snakeoil.

slomo

I have a roto tiller which sat for over ten years with gas in the tank. I dumped a small amount of gas down the throat of the carb and it started right up.

Best advice is to just use non-ethanol gas in your small engines.

FWIW, most additives are 'kerosene.' If it says 'petroleum distillates' on the label, that's what it is.

BTW, how fresh do you think gas is when you buy it? It's had a LONG journey to get from the refinery to you.

And I'd add that stored gas in a metal can filled to just near the top will stay useable much, much longer than the same stored in a plastic container.

FWIW,
BP down here guarantees its fuel for 3 months provided it is bought in a refinery filled & sealed container which has not been opened.

100% only for me & my toys..

<<I have eliminated the use of all fuel treatments for storage about 6 years ago. I now keep a 2 gallon fuel can full in the shed and every 4-5 weeks I dump it into the truck and refill the can. This way I always have fresh fuel available. >>

I do that too. At the end of the month I dump any excess fuel in my vehicle gas tank when I can stop at a filling station and fill up my gallon fuel tank again.

I'm still not convinced of the best strategy for over the winter, though. Any ideas for that would be welcome.

Rivets said:

I have eliminated the use of all fuel treatments for storage about 6 years ago. I now keep a 2 gallon fuel can full in the shed and every 4-5 weeks I dump it into the truck and refill the can. This way I always have fresh fuel available.

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Best solution, right there!

seattlepioneer said:

<<I have eliminated the use of all fuel treatments for storage about 6 years ago. I now keep a 2 gallon fuel can full in the shed and every 4-5 weeks I dump it into the truck and refill the can. This way I always have fresh fuel available. >>

I do that too. At the end of the month I dump any excess fuel in my vehicle gas tank when I can stop at a filling station and fill up my gallon fuel tank again.

I'm still not convinced of the best strategy for over the winter, though. Any ideas for that would be welcome.

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Buy non-ethanol gas for your mowers and other small engines. If that isn't possible, use the ethanol fuel in your car and don't refill the can until lawn mower gas is needed again.

Stabil in whackers, dyt 4000, Husqy rider, and cars that sit too loo long. Never had a clog (I am dooming myself). Purposely use small capacity gas cans to force frequent turnover.. I have often seen advice to fill gas tanks to reduce air , but it always seems counter intuitive, but probably helps. Never fill anything if a tanker is filling the station tanks?

motoman said:

Stabil in whackers, dyt 4000, Husqy rider, and cars that sit too loo long. Never had a clog (I am dooming myself). Purposely use small capacity gas cans to force frequent turnover.. I have often seen advice to fill gas tanks to reduce air , but it always seems counter intuitive, but probably helps. Never fill anything if a tanker is filling the station tanks?

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It depends on how full the station tank was when the tanker started to unload.

But how many times have you pulled into a station to fill up and the tanker just left?

I just run my equipment week or so, just let it idle for awhile..
But that's me.

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Same here. it can be a hassle if you own a lot of equipment, but it's the only thing that ever assures that things will be running right when you need them. In my experience, Stabil is worthless. Running a carb dry, as many manuals suggest, is no better.

I use Stabil 360 Marine year round without problems. My mower usually sits unused half through November to late March. Always starts easily with no carb gumming.

I buy 12 gallon of 91 octane ethanol free gas around Nov. Add seafoam to it to have on hand for the generator. Just in case we have an ice storm any unused gas is run in my equipment in the spring. I usually don't buy gas until mid June . I have never had a problem, I have been doing this for years

Everybody has their method about storage with fuel. I don't store any of my equipment with fuel in them except the IH 184 LoBoy and the Ferris with the 36hp Briggs. The other 3 chainsaws, 2 string trimmers, 2 generators, Bunton walkbehind, pole saw, snow blower, Sears ST12, chipper, blower, hedge trimmer, push mower, tiller all just get drained and run dry. Everything gets run on regular 10% ethanol gas. I don't use stabilizer in anything and i don't have any fuel problems.
Seafoam snake oil? I don't use it for a stabilizer but i do buy it by the gallon. Does wonders for old tractors.

Hammermechanicman said:

(snip)
Seafoam snake oil? I don't use it for a stabilizer but i do buy it by the gallon. Does wonders for old tractors.

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And my Flathead Harley loves it as well as my Air tools when they need a good cleaning internally. No not Snake oil for my uses.

tom3 said:

And I'd add that stored gas in a metal can filled to just near the top will stay useable much, much longer than the same stored in a plastic container.

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Around here, (east Texas) it goes from the refinery to the gas station. The two gas stations across from the shop has at least one truck a week refilling their supply.

Hammermechanicman said:

Everybody has their method about storage with fuel. I don't store any of my equipment with fuel in them except the IH 184 LoBoy and the Ferris with the 36hp Briggs. The other 3 chainsaws, 2 string trimmers, 2 generators, Bunton walkbehind, pole saw, snow blower, Sears ST12, chipper, blower, hedge trimmer, push mower, tiller all just get drained and run dry. Everything gets run on regular 10% ethanol gas. I don't use stabilizer in anything and i don't have any fuel problems.
Seafoam snake oil? I don't use it for a stabilizer but i do buy it by the gallon. Does wonders for old tractors.

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Seafoam top lube is the only thing I use on 2 cy. carbs. A little dab will do ya.

I can't say I've ever stored gas for any reason. Even at home, since gas stations are on every corner, why bother storing it?

Unused equipment gets ran at least once a month, usually until there's no gas in them.
I suppose there are reasons to store gas. I just haven't found one yet.

A friend of mine told.me once about downloading movies onto his laptop, "why take up all that space on tour laptop, when you can stream the movies now a days. Let them store it on their computers.

I guess there are 2 types of storing. One is storing fuel for use and the other is storing fuel in equipmemt. I usuall get 20 to 30 gallons at a time in the 5 gallon gas cans. Use it up in a few months. No need for any stabilizer. All my equipment just gets run dry except the ZTR and the tractor and i just store them full over the winter. They fire right up in the spring. Ethanol and all. Everyone has their way to store equipment. If it fires up when you need it then your method worked.

Yep, everyone has their own methods for storing fuel. And they all work, until they don't....

PTmowerMech said:

Seafoam top lube is the only thing I use on 2 cy. carbs. A little dab will do ya.

I can't say I've ever stored gas for any reason. Even at home, since gas stations are on every corner, why bother storing it?

Unused equipment gets ran at least once a month, usually until there's no gas in them.
I suppose there are reasons to store gas. I just haven't found one yet.

A friend of mine told.me once about downloading movies onto his laptop, "why take up all that space on tour laptop, when you can stream the movies now a days. Let them store it on their computers.

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During power outages, it doesn't matter how close you are to a gas station--it's too late to get gas.

cpurvis said:

During power outages, it doesn't matter how close you are to a gas station--it's too late to get gas.

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If you're on an island maybe. We spent two weeks without power in arkansas a few months ago. Power lines down all over the county, and other counties. In fact, there was some power outages all over the south. But, not everywhere. We had to drive like 20 miles to a gas station to get gas for our generators. Same gas stations powered their gas pumps with generators. So it was no big deal. At least not worth storing gas for months. Gas itself gets old. Even non ethanol gas gets old.

PTmowerMech said:

If you're on an island maybe. We spent two weeks without power in arkansas a few months ago. Power lines down all over the county, and other counties. In fact, there was some power outages all over the south. But, not everywhere. We had to drive like 20 miles to a gas station to get gas for our generators. Same gas stations powered their gas pumps with generators. So it was no big deal. At least not worth storing gas for months. Gas itself gets old. Even non ethanol gas gets old.

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Another reason to run Stabil year round. Keep the tank full at all times if possible.

slomo

I used to use Sta-Bil and it was fine. A buddy of mine had been using Startron for a long time in all his engines so I started using it too. Its been great. Altogether, since I started using a stabilizer/cleaner in my fuel for all my engines (vehicle and OPE) I have not had to have any kind of intake/fuel service of any kind. My OPE carbs seem to last forever (except for Ryobi 2-cycle carbs, I don't think there is anything that will keep them from going bad) and my vehicles run smooth and powerful. I just put some in the gas can then fill it up. I don't do anything at all at the end of the season. I pull them out in the spring and they fire right up.

I use a blend of Sunoco ultra . 4 yr shelf life an bit pricey but have never had an issue