Spoiler. Next you're going to tell there's no Santa Claus.
Is marvel mystery oil the best carburetor cleaner?
- Thread starter Matt1357
- Start date
MMO's dated graphic art has a place on tee-shirts.
Some people call it snake oil. All I can say is when I buy gas for my power equipment, I buy top tier mid octane gas with stablizer and MM oil and have equipment that is ten years old with the original carb. and runs perfect. I do change the oil at the end of the season and drain the gas. When my gas can gets 6 months old, I pour it in my car and start over.
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- May 16, 2022
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- 90
I'm ashamed to admit it but one time during my 29 years of owning the same Harley I went over 2 years with the treated gas in the tank and I did not start the bike for over 2 years. The gas was kinda foggy looking so I drained it ( the one and only time I have ever drained the gas and don't think I needed to). I then put some MMo in the spark plug holes and turned over with plugs out s few times, a quick spray of starter fluid or carb cleaner in the carb, whatever I have that will go boom and she fired right up! However, I have had treated gas sit 6 months to over a year many times with Zero issues as long as I had ethanol free and my mix of MMO and Sta-bil she fires right up! The inside of my Harley tank is still shinny new and I have lawn mowers that are over 22 years old with the same carb never rebuilt and I NEVER drain the gas but still runs good but has had my MMO and Sta-bil and no ethanol EVERY tank of gas the last 22+ years! The last 15 years or so I got lazy, I don't change the lawn mower plugs, just clean them with a wire brush and sand paper every spring, a quick spray of starter fluid if she has sat a year and she fires right up! I change the oil once a year to sometimes once every 2 years with non synthetic 30W or 10W-30.
Sometimes I think my mowers will last forever! The only thing I have done in 22 years is sharpen the blade!
I think lots to be said for treated gas!
I'd stilll drop the carb bowl. If you've used regular ethanol gas it can cause a white residue to build up in the carb bowl. To this day I don't understand why ope manufacturers haven't made parts more compatible with ethanol gasoline.
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- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 90
I sure miss the old metal cans over the plastic but now that I think about it, something about that MMO would always get right past that metal cap, that metal can would always leak! Showing my age as I miss all the old packaging from Glass Coke bottles to metal tooth paste tubes and even paper grocery bags. If nothing else soda tasted better out of glass! But now that I think about it those old oil cans made out of a paper tube... I kinda think plastic is better!
I use carb / fuel injector cleaner, and mmo in the gas can for my mowers, wacker, and generator.. My stuff sits for 4-5 months during the winter. And in the spring, they pretty much all start 3-4 pulls max, then 1-2 pulls all summer long. I never have to pull and clean the carbs. Before doing what I do , it was a pita to get everything up and running in the spring. Although I run a few tanks of fresh gas in my motorcycle during the winter, I still throw a few oz's of mmo and fi cleaner in each tankful. Again, no starting or performance issues. The only gas available in Jersey is the ethanol variety. And I go through a few bottles a year of mmo and fi cleaner, it works for me.,,
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 90
A few years back the auto manufactures made a "Big Deal" "marketing" with the badges showing FLEX FUEL on the rear of cars and trucks but those cars being able to run E-85 ( 85% Ethanol mix ) . All this time I had only one gas station in my entire county that sold e85 gas! One and that station now no longer sells it! I remember reading things like stainless steel fittings etc were used in those E85 flex Fuel ready cars and trucks but then you have a modern non Flex Fuel Cars and trucks that the owners guide say you can use up to 5% or 10% Ethanol with no harm but letit sit and see what happens! I always had the thought every car / tuck / motorcycle / lawnmower should now be made to those Flex Fuel standards as its total BS that in 2025 anything that runs on gas can be harmed from 10% ethanol... yes even if it sits...
Even boats, if we are required to use corn in our engines make all engines so corn wont hurt them or how about this Uncle Sam, how about let me eat and drink my 100 proof corn and let me run my gas engines off of well... gas?
Get out of my gas tank Big Brother!
This is one reason why I started mulching leaves with the mower. Not only is is vastly easier than raking, I avoid stale gas and carb issues by using the mower nearly year round.
PRI - G is my go-to stabilizer. I've got a lot of gas tanks to protect, some E0 and a few E10. Many seasonal ones also, worth the money, can leave my one big saw unused for a couple years and it fires right up when I have to cut a big tree up.
I use MMO as after shave. Really attracts the young ladies at the local parts store.
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 90
Not sure I have ever seen PRO-G in the wild. I just checked out the website and looks like its kinda hard to find locally in my area but Amazon has it. My first thought, its expensive and hard to find but at the same time the bottle looks to go a long way...
Thanks for posting as i'll research it as I'm always open to better options than what I use now...
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 90
As stated above I been using my MMO and Sta-bil mix in my 28 year old Harley with ethanol free gas 28 years now but my newer 2023 Harley Street Glide with a more modern M8 Fuel injected V2 engine, I thought why not continue to use my same MM0 / Sta-bil mix in that bike too?
the modern bike doesn't have the gas turn off ( petcock ) o-rings that I can feel benefit from that little bit of MMO ( lube ) mixed in the gas to keep the rubber parts slick in the old bike. The 23 cat is gone so I'll have no issue with that and lets hope my 02 sensors and inside the gas take gas filter won't mind my mix but I decided my custom MMO and Sta-bil mix has worked so well the last 28 years I assume it will work in my modern bike?
If Im on a road trip if I find myself unable to find ethanol free ( so far I can find it on my trips ) but if I must run E10 I will and thats no big deal but I will always try if nothing else to use my mix and non-ethanol for storage as I truly believe in my pure gas MMO/ Sta-bil mixand is why my 28 year old gas take looks new inside when my friends bike the same age tank all but rusted out!
My research on all things Fuel treatments including both Marvel ( MMO) and Sta-bil suggest both may help preserve the gas in my tank, may add some lube for the rubber parts ( It does help rubber parts as I can feel it when turning on and off the gas petcock ) I assume the MMO may offer some upper cylinder lube but my mix IMO may help keep the fuel system clean it is not designed as a cleaner "Fuel - injector or carb cleaner" correct? One possible benefit in my modern fuel injected bike. I can'y say for sure but I could almost swear the first time I added some MMO to my new Harley gas tank I heard much less fuel pump noise!
With all this in mind last week when my new Harley tank was getting low I decided this time to try a fuel injector cleaner (fuel system treatment) in place of my normal MMO - Sta-bil mix, for at lest one tank and see if it perhaps cleans things and removes carbon.
My research suggest when choosing a fuel cleaner a product high in "PEA" that would include the Gumout, REDLINE,
RoyalPurple MaxClean product with a few other brands would be a good choice.
I decided to try the Royal Purple MaxClean, its the only brand I can find local that suggest it may clean my fuel system and also act as a fuel stabilizer preserving the gas and thats important as my bike may sit at times.
I have a email into Royal Purple asking how long the RP treated gas is safe to be stored as I can't find that info.
Sta-bil suggest will keep fuel fresh up to 24 months, I hope RP will respond to my email with a answer.
I drove about 1/2 a tank of my RP treated gas today but i'm sure way to early to see any improvement but after riding today without my MMO-sta-bil mix thats normally in the tank I once again, same as my old bike when NOT running my normal mix of gas, Marvel and Sta-bil, noticed a change in my bike! I can tell my mix is not in the gas! How she runs, rides, sounds! Nothing dramatic but I can tell!
Nothing from Marvel or Sta-bil suggest it should increase octane or do anything to the gas that I should be able to "FEEL" when its not in the gas but I'm convinced I can tell my bikes (s) Both old and new "feel " and perhaps even sound different with my mix in the gas.
My bikes simply run better with my mix in the gas! Is that crazy?
I get it could be a "placebo" or I think I feel a difference but the bikes seem to be a bit more snappy, even the exhaust note has a snappier sound, pulls harder and I wonder is anything in my Marvel Sta-bil gas mix that would actually make the engine run better?
I'll run this tank of Royal Purple Fuel system cleaner out and return to my normal MMO/ Sat-bil mix going forward.
The only reason a thought a tank of fuel injector cleaner may be a benefit from time to time is my 93 octane Ethanol free gas I run in my stuff is non branded and I have no idea how much detergent is in that gas?
Perhaps my normal MMO Sta-bil gas mix will keep the injectors clean? Perhaps a once a year bottle of something will help keep the carbon down and the injectors or perhaps UNCLE Sam makes sure that one no name brand 93 ethanol free pump hidden in the rear around the back of a multi pump once Sunoco now rebranded Shell station. Those "Country Store" isolated ethanol free pumps have been reported as sometimes having bad running gas in them. My one local isolated pump is old and a bit scary as it wont even take a credit card and takes time to prime and sound like a old lawnmower trying to pump the gas but I have been using this gas pump over a year now to fill my bikes and lawn mowers and I can tell the octane is at least 91 ( says 93 on the pump ) as my Harley will ping on 90 and under and I have zero pinging with this gas, Over a year of use and I have never noticed a tank of bad running gas this last year so I hope I can continue to depend on this good ( and only source) of 93 octane pure gas in my area!
Q1 Do you think the MMO / Sta-bil Mix will actually keep the Fuel injectors clean?
Q2 Would anyone have any idea why my MMO / Sta-bil mix actually make the bike "feel" and run, sound better when its in the gas? Perhaps that part of the "Mystery" but I can 100% say my old bike and new bike has always ran and "felt" and sounds better with my blend of snake oil mix in the gas!
the modern bike doesn't have the gas turn off ( petcock ) o-rings that I can feel benefit from that little bit of MMO ( lube ) mixed in the gas to keep the rubber parts slick in the old bike. The 23 cat is gone so I'll have no issue with that and lets hope my 02 sensors and inside the gas take gas filter won't mind my mix but I decided my custom MMO and Sta-bil mix has worked so well the last 28 years I assume it will work in my modern bike?
If Im on a road trip if I find myself unable to find ethanol free ( so far I can find it on my trips ) but if I must run E10 I will and thats no big deal but I will always try if nothing else to use my mix and non-ethanol for storage as I truly believe in my pure gas MMO/ Sta-bil mixand is why my 28 year old gas take looks new inside when my friends bike the same age tank all but rusted out!
My research on all things Fuel treatments including both Marvel ( MMO) and Sta-bil suggest both may help preserve the gas in my tank, may add some lube for the rubber parts ( It does help rubber parts as I can feel it when turning on and off the gas petcock ) I assume the MMO may offer some upper cylinder lube but my mix IMO may help keep the fuel system clean it is not designed as a cleaner "Fuel - injector or carb cleaner" correct? One possible benefit in my modern fuel injected bike. I can'y say for sure but I could almost swear the first time I added some MMO to my new Harley gas tank I heard much less fuel pump noise!
With all this in mind last week when my new Harley tank was getting low I decided this time to try a fuel injector cleaner (fuel system treatment) in place of my normal MMO - Sta-bil mix, for at lest one tank and see if it perhaps cleans things and removes carbon.
My research suggest when choosing a fuel cleaner a product high in "PEA" that would include the Gumout, REDLINE,
RoyalPurple MaxClean product with a few other brands would be a good choice.
I decided to try the Royal Purple MaxClean, its the only brand I can find local that suggest it may clean my fuel system and also act as a fuel stabilizer preserving the gas and thats important as my bike may sit at times.
I have a email into Royal Purple asking how long the RP treated gas is safe to be stored as I can't find that info.
Sta-bil suggest will keep fuel fresh up to 24 months, I hope RP will respond to my email with a answer.
I drove about 1/2 a tank of my RP treated gas today but i'm sure way to early to see any improvement but after riding today without my MMO-sta-bil mix thats normally in the tank I once again, same as my old bike when NOT running my normal mix of gas, Marvel and Sta-bil, noticed a change in my bike! I can tell my mix is not in the gas! How she runs, rides, sounds! Nothing dramatic but I can tell!
Nothing from Marvel or Sta-bil suggest it should increase octane or do anything to the gas that I should be able to "FEEL" when its not in the gas but I'm convinced I can tell my bikes (s) Both old and new "feel " and perhaps even sound different with my mix in the gas.
My bikes simply run better with my mix in the gas! Is that crazy?
I get it could be a "placebo" or I think I feel a difference but the bikes seem to be a bit more snappy, even the exhaust note has a snappier sound, pulls harder and I wonder is anything in my Marvel Sta-bil gas mix that would actually make the engine run better?
I'll run this tank of Royal Purple Fuel system cleaner out and return to my normal MMO/ Sat-bil mix going forward.
The only reason a thought a tank of fuel injector cleaner may be a benefit from time to time is my 93 octane Ethanol free gas I run in my stuff is non branded and I have no idea how much detergent is in that gas?
Perhaps my normal MMO Sta-bil gas mix will keep the injectors clean? Perhaps a once a year bottle of something will help keep the carbon down and the injectors or perhaps UNCLE Sam makes sure that one no name brand 93 ethanol free pump hidden in the rear around the back of a multi pump once Sunoco now rebranded Shell station. Those "Country Store" isolated ethanol free pumps have been reported as sometimes having bad running gas in them. My one local isolated pump is old and a bit scary as it wont even take a credit card and takes time to prime and sound like a old lawnmower trying to pump the gas but I have been using this gas pump over a year now to fill my bikes and lawn mowers and I can tell the octane is at least 91 ( says 93 on the pump ) as my Harley will ping on 90 and under and I have zero pinging with this gas, Over a year of use and I have never noticed a tank of bad running gas this last year so I hope I can continue to depend on this good ( and only source) of 93 octane pure gas in my area!
Q1 Do you think the MMO / Sta-bil Mix will actually keep the Fuel injectors clean?
Q2 Would anyone have any idea why my MMO / Sta-bil mix actually make the bike "feel" and run, sound better when its in the gas? Perhaps that part of the "Mystery" but I can 100% say my old bike and new bike has always ran and "felt" and sounds better with my blend of snake oil mix in the gas!
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And if they don't find you handsome, they will sure find you handy.
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 90
Update,
Its been nice outside so I been putting some miles on the Harley that last few days... I'm now on about 10-12 gallons of pure gas mixed with a steady diet of Royal Purple Fuel system cleaner for the first time and no Marvel or Sta-bil in my gas like normal.
Perhaps my 2 year old bike is still new enough to not have dirty fuel injectors? Perhaps the Marvel and Sta-bil mix I have been running the last 2 years 24/7 has helped keep the injectors from getting dirty as I can't tell any improvement approaching my 3rd full take of gas with the Royal Purple Cleaner mixed in as per the can (1 oz per gal of gas ).
However i'm going back to my trusty mix of Marvel and Sta-bil as I truly think the bike runs, sounds, performs a bit better with MMO in every tank.
Many will argue but IMO, something about a motorcycle and being the rider is sitting on a engine with wheels the "Butt Dyno" and my ear can pick up the slightest change or improvement unlike a car.
That said I would swear my bike runs, sounds and pulls a bit better with my Marvel mix in the gas 24/7.
The last 3 tanks running Royal Purple cleaner vs my normal mix, I can tell my mix is missing! Nothing that I know of is in MMO or Sta-bil such as octane boost that would even suggest I would notice when the products are in my gas. I swear its just sounds, runs, pulls at full throttle better with my MMO mix in the gas...
Im going back to my normal mix next fill up...
Its been nice outside so I been putting some miles on the Harley that last few days... I'm now on about 10-12 gallons of pure gas mixed with a steady diet of Royal Purple Fuel system cleaner for the first time and no Marvel or Sta-bil in my gas like normal.
Perhaps my 2 year old bike is still new enough to not have dirty fuel injectors? Perhaps the Marvel and Sta-bil mix I have been running the last 2 years 24/7 has helped keep the injectors from getting dirty as I can't tell any improvement approaching my 3rd full take of gas with the Royal Purple Cleaner mixed in as per the can (1 oz per gal of gas ).
However i'm going back to my trusty mix of Marvel and Sta-bil as I truly think the bike runs, sounds, performs a bit better with MMO in every tank.
Many will argue but IMO, something about a motorcycle and being the rider is sitting on a engine with wheels the "Butt Dyno" and my ear can pick up the slightest change or improvement unlike a car.
That said I would swear my bike runs, sounds and pulls a bit better with my Marvel mix in the gas 24/7.
The last 3 tanks running Royal Purple cleaner vs my normal mix, I can tell my mix is missing! Nothing that I know of is in MMO or Sta-bil such as octane boost that would even suggest I would notice when the products are in my gas. I swear its just sounds, runs, pulls at full throttle better with my MMO mix in the gas...
Im going back to my normal mix next fill up...
I've used seafoam and may throw some bg44k in this year.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2022
- Messages
- 8
I always put a couple ounces of MMO in my lawnmower’s gas tank on the first mowing in the spring. (Cub Cadet LTX1045 with the Kohler Courage 30).
Small engines and things that sit an entire season generally need a good cleanout after sitting, I’ve found MMO to do a good job of it and it’s pretty economic too. Lots of uses for it.
Small engines and things that sit an entire season generally need a good cleanout after sitting, I’ve found MMO to do a good job of it and it’s pretty economic too. Lots of uses for it.
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