Anyone able to explain the chemistry of how fuel stabilizers work? Maybe it will quell my suspicion that they are mostly placebos.
Fuel stabilizer - anyone know how they work?
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JHZR2
Staff member
I would imagine that it is a compound that oxidizes preferentially to prevent destructive chemistry from occurring. Probably an antioxidant that is sacrificial, and then some kind of metal deactivator to stop corrosion, especially in the ethanol blends.
Iirc the carrier is IPA, which will disperse water, which is a plus for this.
Iirc the carrier is IPA, which will disperse water, which is a plus for this.
MolaKule
Staff member
Fuel stabilizers are a mixture of a very light oil called "top oil," mixed anti-oxidants of the multi-ring phenolics and aminic types, corrosion inhibitors, and emulsifiers.
Gasoline is mixture of many light distillate fractions.
Fuel Stabilizer keeps those fractions from becoming separated when attacked by moisture and oxygen.
Gasoline is mixture of many light distillate fractions.
Fuel Stabilizer keeps those fractions from becoming separated when attacked by moisture and oxygen.
MolaKule, what's your take on StarTron 'enzyme fuel treatment'? I've been using it in some OPE where non-ethanol fuel was specified, but not available locally. Have used it in a situation where older vehicle had probably really old gas in the tank too.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I would imagine that it is a compound that oxidizes preferentially to prevent destructive chemistry from occurring. Probably an antioxidant that is sacrificial, and then some kind of metal deactivator to stop corrosion, especially in the ethanol blends.
Iirc the carrier is IPA, which will disperse water, which is a plus for this.
The carrier is made of beer? Or did you mean isopropyl alcohol?
I would imagine that it is a compound that oxidizes preferentially to prevent destructive chemistry from occurring. Probably an antioxidant that is sacrificial, and then some kind of metal deactivator to stop corrosion, especially in the ethanol blends.
Iirc the carrier is IPA, which will disperse water, which is a plus for this.
The carrier is made of beer? Or did you mean isopropyl alcohol?
Originally Posted By: zrxkawboy
MolaKule: Are there any products that will effectively stabilize E10 in a vehicle that is stored for a few months?
I would imagine the run-of-the-mill fuel stabilizer products have enough dispersants and inhibitors to handle E10 fuel. There are specialty products for E85 fuel on the market as well, which are just a little more robust for moisture/corrosion protection.
MolaKule: Are there any products that will effectively stabilize E10 in a vehicle that is stored for a few months?
I would imagine the run-of-the-mill fuel stabilizer products have enough dispersants and inhibitors to handle E10 fuel. There are specialty products for E85 fuel on the market as well, which are just a little more robust for moisture/corrosion protection.
In my personal experience, they work by promoting the phase separation of cash from your wallet and into someone's cash register.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
In my personal experience, they work by promoting the phase separation of cash from your wallet and into someone's cash register.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Fuel stabilizers are used to counteract or prevent the effects of fuel oxidation. Most gasoline has a shelf life of about 2 weeks before it begins to degrade (it remains useable for up to 6+ months, but with degraded performance and liabilities like gums and varnishes). That's why it's important to go to gas stations that have a lot of tank turnover, i.e. going to Costco where they have to refill the tanks every other day practically instead of the Chevron station across the street that gets little traffic and use. Ask any car tuner with a dyno, how fresh the gas is can make a serious difference on the dyno.
Fuel stabilizer helps to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. That's why many generators (like the one I just bought) call for the use of fuel stabilizer in your gas cans and in the fuel tank itself. Basically as fuel oxidizes over time it creates harmful compounds, and more volatile (good) parts of it separate and evaporate; the gas is more likely to cause varnish deposits and gums that can clog your fuel filter and kill your mileage/performance.
That's why when storing anything using gasoline long term, it's important to fill the tank up and add fuel stabilizer. This includes cars, lawnmowers, landscaping tools, etc . . . That prevents oxygen from getting in. In vehicles it's especially important because of fuel ventilation that releases vapors when fuel expands, and takes in fresh (and possibly humid) air when it contracts.
Taking in fresh air is what makes E10 gasoline so problematic. It absorbs the water much more readily. Granted, E10 is supposed to have an extended shelf life, but much less so in your tank. Filling the tank limits the volume of outside air that can be exchanged, introducing more oxygen and humid air into your fuel tank.
Fuel stabilizer will make a full, sealed container like your common 5 gallon can last about a year. It will not make bad gas good again, though. So if you're going on vacation or storing gas for a generator, winterizing your lawnmower and yard tools, it's important to add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank.
In my personal experience, they work by promoting the phase separation of cash from your wallet and into someone's cash register.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Fuel stabilizers are used to counteract or prevent the effects of fuel oxidation. Most gasoline has a shelf life of about 2 weeks before it begins to degrade (it remains useable for up to 6+ months, but with degraded performance and liabilities like gums and varnishes). That's why it's important to go to gas stations that have a lot of tank turnover, i.e. going to Costco where they have to refill the tanks every other day practically instead of the Chevron station across the street that gets little traffic and use. Ask any car tuner with a dyno, how fresh the gas is can make a serious difference on the dyno.
Fuel stabilizer helps to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. That's why many generators (like the one I just bought) call for the use of fuel stabilizer in your gas cans and in the fuel tank itself. Basically as fuel oxidizes over time it creates harmful compounds, and more volatile (good) parts of it separate and evaporate; the gas is more likely to cause varnish deposits and gums that can clog your fuel filter and kill your mileage/performance.
That's why when storing anything using gasoline long term, it's important to fill the tank up and add fuel stabilizer. This includes cars, lawnmowers, landscaping tools, etc . . . That prevents oxygen from getting in. In vehicles it's especially important because of fuel ventilation that releases vapors when fuel expands, and takes in fresh (and possibly humid) air when it contracts.
Taking in fresh air is what makes E10 gasoline so problematic. It absorbs the water much more readily. Granted, E10 is supposed to have an extended shelf life, but much less so in your tank. Filling the tank limits the volume of outside air that can be exchanged, introducing more oxygen and humid air into your fuel tank.
Fuel stabilizer will make a full, sealed container like your common 5 gallon can last about a year. It will not make bad gas good again, though. So if you're going on vacation or storing gas for a generator, winterizing your lawnmower and yard tools, it's important to add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank.
Originally Posted By: rob583
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
In my personal experience, they work by promoting the phase separation of cash from your wallet and into someone's cash register.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Fuel stabilizers are used to counteract or prevent the effects of fuel oxidation. Most gasoline has a shelf life of about 2 weeks before it begins to degrade (it remains useable for up to 6+ months, but with degraded performance and liabilities like gums and varnishes). That's why it's important to go to gas stations that have a lot of tank turnover, i.e. going to Costco where they have to refill the tanks every other day practically instead of the Chevron station across the street that gets little traffic and use. Ask any car tuner with a dyno, how fresh the gas is can make a serious difference on the dyno.
Fuel stabilizer helps to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. That's why many generators (like the one I just bought) call for the use of fuel stabilizer in your gas cans and in the fuel tank itself. Basically as fuel oxidizes over time it creates harmful compounds, and more volatile (good) parts of it separate and evaporate; the gas is more likely to cause varnish deposits and gums that can clog your fuel filter and kill your mileage/performance.
That's why when storing anything using gasoline long term, it's important to fill the tank up and add fuel stabilizer. This includes cars, lawnmowers, landscaping tools, etc . . . That prevents oxygen from getting in. In vehicles it's especially important because of fuel ventilation that releases vapors when fuel expands, and takes in fresh (and possibly humid) air when it contracts.
Taking in fresh air is what makes E10 gasoline so problematic. It absorbs the water much more readily. Granted, E10 is supposed to have an extended shelf life, but much less so in your tank. Filling the tank limits the volume of outside air that can be exchanged, introducing more oxygen and humid air into your fuel tank.
Fuel stabilizer will make a full, sealed container like your common 5 gallon can last about a year. It will not make bad gas good again, though. So if you're going on vacation or storing gas for a generator, winterizing your lawnmower and yard tools, it's important to add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank.
Thank you for the excellent post. As they say, " You're entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts".
btw, welcome to BITOG!
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
In my personal experience, they work by promoting the phase separation of cash from your wallet and into someone's cash register.
I've used year old E10 in my OPEs without any stabilizer and without issue.
I've tried fuel stabilizers and saw no beneficial effect, so I simply avoid paying for what doesn't seem to be needed.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Fuel stabilizers are used to counteract or prevent the effects of fuel oxidation. Most gasoline has a shelf life of about 2 weeks before it begins to degrade (it remains useable for up to 6+ months, but with degraded performance and liabilities like gums and varnishes). That's why it's important to go to gas stations that have a lot of tank turnover, i.e. going to Costco where they have to refill the tanks every other day practically instead of the Chevron station across the street that gets little traffic and use. Ask any car tuner with a dyno, how fresh the gas is can make a serious difference on the dyno.
Fuel stabilizer helps to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. That's why many generators (like the one I just bought) call for the use of fuel stabilizer in your gas cans and in the fuel tank itself. Basically as fuel oxidizes over time it creates harmful compounds, and more volatile (good) parts of it separate and evaporate; the gas is more likely to cause varnish deposits and gums that can clog your fuel filter and kill your mileage/performance.
That's why when storing anything using gasoline long term, it's important to fill the tank up and add fuel stabilizer. This includes cars, lawnmowers, landscaping tools, etc . . . That prevents oxygen from getting in. In vehicles it's especially important because of fuel ventilation that releases vapors when fuel expands, and takes in fresh (and possibly humid) air when it contracts.
Taking in fresh air is what makes E10 gasoline so problematic. It absorbs the water much more readily. Granted, E10 is supposed to have an extended shelf life, but much less so in your tank. Filling the tank limits the volume of outside air that can be exchanged, introducing more oxygen and humid air into your fuel tank.
Fuel stabilizer will make a full, sealed container like your common 5 gallon can last about a year. It will not make bad gas good again, though. So if you're going on vacation or storing gas for a generator, winterizing your lawnmower and yard tools, it's important to add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank.
Thank you for the excellent post. As they say, " You're entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts".
btw, welcome to BITOG!
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