Is data available to support the effectiveness of fuel stabilizers, such as Stabil 360 performance, Lucas and Startron enzyme treatment? Will these products do harm?
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Which fuel stabilzer?
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One of the boat mags did one last year if I remember. The result was that the popular brands stabilize fuel to an extant, but really didn't do anything about ethanol issues; still separated after some time, etc. Don't take this as gospel, as I vaguely remember this.
I will say that I've used Sta Bil for years on the Summer cars with no ill effect, i.e. they start each Spring. Would they start as easily without it? I don't know, but for a few $, not going to risk it.
I will say that I've used Sta Bil for years on the Summer cars with no ill effect, i.e. they start each Spring. Would they start as easily without it? I don't know, but for a few $, not going to risk it.
While the following link is self serving from a company that somewhat promotes the E-10 hysteria, there is a lot of good information there. Read the fine print and various internal links. Buried among the fear tactics is their very good advice:
- No additive (chemical ingredient) can prevent or remove water from a sedentary tank in storage. No miracle additive exists that can stop ethanol from absorbing water
- Simple E10 precautions are usually enough to avoid most gas-caused problems. I think some of their recommendations are wrong (i.e., replace gas every 2-3 weeks).
http://www.fuel-testers.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html
I use Stihl 2 cycle oil with stabilizer already included and use Stabil Marine 360 for over-winter storage of other equipment. No ethanol fuel problems in 15+ years.
To answer your question, I don't believe that lab quality testing is available. We only have pseudo scientific tests like mentioned above: https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/34_11/features/Ethanol-Gas-Additives_5692-1.html
- No additive (chemical ingredient) can prevent or remove water from a sedentary tank in storage. No miracle additive exists that can stop ethanol from absorbing water
- Simple E10 precautions are usually enough to avoid most gas-caused problems. I think some of their recommendations are wrong (i.e., replace gas every 2-3 weeks).
http://www.fuel-testers.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html
I use Stihl 2 cycle oil with stabilizer already included and use Stabil Marine 360 for over-winter storage of other equipment. No ethanol fuel problems in 15+ years.
To answer your question, I don't believe that lab quality testing is available. We only have pseudo scientific tests like mentioned above: https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/34_11/features/Ethanol-Gas-Additives_5692-1.html
Have used fuel stabilizer on my lawnmower & snow-blower for over 10yrs without a problem. Don't use it cars as I don't need to.
Gumout multi tune
I've been using STA-BIL Marine, the blue stuff, in my motorcycles and boat engines for about 20 years, and I am convinced it does the job. It is now called STA-BIL 360 Marine, I believe. I routinely store 5-10 gallons of outboard gasoline every winter with at least a double dose of STA-BIL, and never once have I had the outboard fail to start up and run properly the next season (after 6 months). A couple of times I've used gasoline that was stored this way for more than a year and it worked fine. Do the same for my motorcycles. Every tank of boat and motorcycle gas gets treated with STA-BIL. Prior to doing this I suffered through routine carburetor problems every season, and once ethanol gas became the norm things got worse. I suggest doing this for any load of gasoline that might sit longer than a month between uses.
These products will most likely not harm but if you wanna get some really good fuel additives I'd recommend going to the dollar tree because they have some $1 fuel additives that really do work. Like I said in my other posts these fuel additives saved me a power steering pump, a brake master cylinder, and a whole lot of engine work. They also gave my cars engine more fuel economy, and made it have more pep.
Stabil red is garbage.
Stabil marine is good. Stabil blue is ok for short term shots.
In my small engine stuff, I use the Briggs Fuel Stabilizer. So far so well, but I use it strictly with E0 premium personally. I have pushed it onto friends and family that run E15, and it seems to work well for them.
One side benefit of the BS stuff is that it's supposed to absorb water at a 1:1 ratio and is a lubricant/cleaner.
Stabil marine is good. Stabil blue is ok for short term shots.
In my small engine stuff, I use the Briggs Fuel Stabilizer. So far so well, but I use it strictly with E0 premium personally. I have pushed it onto friends and family that run E15, and it seems to work well for them.
One side benefit of the BS stuff is that it's supposed to absorb water at a 1:1 ratio and is a lubricant/cleaner.
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