In praise of fuel stabilizers

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2015: In praise of fuel stabilizers
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Bamford, Edmonton AB on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 02:58 pm:

We have an older motorhome that has been converted to a car/whatever hauler (1982 GMC 454 4-barrel). The last trip for this rig was a dump run Nov 24, 2013.

I then poured some fuel stabilizer (either STA-BIL or a same-colour variety from our local auto supply) into the gas tank which was 5/8 full and ran the engine for a while to get the stabilizer up into the carb. Most of our pump gas, and the gas in this tank, "contain up to 10% ethanol".

I hadn't started or run the motorhome for the past 22-1/2 months until today, when, fearing the worst, I primed the carb with fresh gas and turned the key. After two stalls, it started a third time and settled into a nice smooth idle.

Yahoo!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 04:45 pm:

Chris,

I would drain that gas as soon as possible. It may be mostly gum at this time, it can cause valves to stick and seize, which will be a costly lesson. Sure it started, but running a whole tank through an engine is not something that I would risk.

It will make great weed killer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan Danbury, WI on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 05:27 pm:

Pretty innovative idea for a toy hauler! I like it! Now you got me thinking...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn-Monroeville OH on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 07:22 pm:

I agree with Royce. The stabilizer is meant to PREVENT fuel from going bad, not return it to "normal" whatever normal is these days! I'll take that red car off your hands!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Corey Walker, Brownsboro TX on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 08:59 pm:

Maybe he meant that he got back from the trip and then put in the stabilizer, let it run a while to get it mixed up and into the carb, shut it off and it sat with the stabilizer in it until he started it again, the time he had to prime it?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 09:27 pm:

I believe Corey's reading is correct. Chris put the stabilizer in two years ago, not today.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 09:50 pm:

Either way drain the gas to protect your engine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Bamford, Edmonton AB on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 10:31 pm:

Corey and Steve, yes you are correct. In rereading my post that could have been much clearer.

Royce, I'm thinking about it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 10:36 pm:

Chris
After a recent really bad experience with ethanol blended gas in my '27 T, I have become much more paranoid. The gas had only been in it for about 3 months but caused me a bunch of problems. I have now drained everything and replaced it with Shell premium with Sea Foam added to it


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Lyon, PDX, OR. on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 01:59 am:

I started my Johnson 70 HP outboard this spring after sitting 2 1/2 yrs. I put Stabil in it the last time it was run along with clear gas and it fired up before the motor turned a full revolution. I use clear gas and Stabil in all my ATVs, snowmobiles, chainsaws, and my T. Don


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 06:08 am:

The real answer is to use REAL gas.

http://pure-gas.org

Even if your motor starts right away, what you're not seeing is the corrosion and deterioration of components in your fuel system. Ethanol is hygroscopic which means it attracts water, even from the air. Poor fuel quality along with the deterioration the water causes will make any engine run poorly over time.

(Message edited by Dan B on October 07, 2015)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 07:40 am:

After refilling with fresh gas, I would add some good cleaner. Sea Foam works good for me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 07:53 am:

I don't know what to think. I hear these stories of gas only lasting a few short weeks, but I have never experienced that. I try to use Stabil if I'm storing something long term, like over the Winter, but I don't always do it. My riding mower has never given me trouble in the Spring even without Stabil. I have Stabil in the 5 gal gas can I use for it already, so this Winter, it WILL have Stabil. However, I did recently put a new carb on a string trimmer that had sat for about a year. I could have probably cleaned the old one up and I didn't throw it away, but at the time, a new one was more convenient.

The experiences seem to be all over the board. Wonder why the differences? Climate? Brand of gas? Different additives the oil companies use in different regions?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn-Monroeville OH on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 08:34 am:

Steve, you're right. My bad. I read too fast sometimes, missing the point!! :-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 - 10:31 pm:

I've let my T's sit for over a year without stabilizer with NO problems.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David L Corman on Friday, October 09, 2015 - 07:23 am:

100 LL avgas works great for storage thru winter


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Friday, October 09, 2015 - 09:11 am:

I think the varying experiences may come from different climates - and different ways of storage?
Hot and humid in a tin shed may destroy gas faster than cool and dry in an isolated garage?


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