fuel stabilizer

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I've always been a huge advocate for using fuel stabilizer for seasonal storage of toys/mowers/snowblowers/sleds etc, including running the engine long enough to ensure it gets into the carb or injectors before putting your machine away.
Recently saw some posts on FB from people who don't believe in it, say it causes gumming up instead of prevents it, and that modern ethanol-free fuels don't gum up things over 6 months of storage. Especially premium.
Anyone have any input or comments on this? (apart from the accuracy, or lack thereof, of commentary on FB, I don't need to be told there's a lot of idiots on there)
 
I don't bother any more. I used to use the red Stabil (before they came out with different colours), but realized it probably didn't make any difference after being able to use 3-year old gas (I filled up a 25L jerry can and just never used it up over that time) in my lawn mower and being able to start a carbureted bike that had been sitting outside under a tarp for 5 years.
 
Relax said:
I don't bother any more. I used to use the red Stabil (before they came out with different colours), but realized it probably didn't make any difference after being able to use 3-year old gas (I filled up a 25L jerry can and just never used it up over that time) in my lawn mower and being able to start a carbureted bike that had been sitting outside under a tarp for 5 years.
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I think the trick is to keep the floats full as opposed to draining them like I was told to (and ignored) back in the day. That way it takes longer for anything to dry up and crust or gum up. If you drain them and leave a film of old fuel, then maybe fuel stabilize might help to prevent that, I don't know.
 
Ethanol free probably has a much bigger effect than stabilizer. Ethanol plus a non temperature-controlled storage space makes water and a mess. Sta-bil marine should help deal with that water if you have ethanol fuel.

FWIW, when putting a gas engine away for the season, I still use sta-bil in the fuel and let it run to fill the bowls, then shut off the gas and fog it right before it dies. No idea if it is necessary or makes things better, I have a bottle and I keep using it. I haven't had issues with engines following this program. I may not have had issues if I put them away wet.
 
OK I learned something. Seems that if you use ethanol-free gas, there is no reason to worry about it. Looks like the main reasons for using it (preventing a water/ethanol blob) are different than what I thought they were. (preventing gumming). So is 91 (premium) from Petro Canada ethanol -free?
 
Freddy Fudpucker said:
OK I learned something. Seems that if you use ethanol-free gas, there is no reason to worry about it. Looks like the main reasons for using it (preventing a water/ethanol blob) are different than what I thought they were. (preventing gumming). So is 91 (premium) from Petro Canada ethanol -free?
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Shell 91 is the only one I know that is definitely ethanol free. I've heard that Canadian Tire and Costco also have ethanol free 91, but then I've also heard it debated.
 
Ethanol free is the key for sure. The Ducati MTS i bought a few years ago sat in a showroom for about 4 years and didn't suffer any problems. Some new hard to sell bikes sit in showrooms for longer than that.
I always used the cheapest gas i could find in the Goldwing i had for 16 years. Never an issue.
A lot of our fears come from the "old days" when float bowls collected moisture over long periods of time. Seasonal stuff like snowblowers can be bad too. That's why i only use shell 91 in the mower and the blower.
 
Wingboy said:
Ethanol free is the key for sure. The Ducati MTS i bought a few years ago sat in a showroom for about 4 years and didn't suffer any problems. Some new hard to sell bikes sit in showrooms for longer than that.
I always used the cheapest gas i could find in the Goldwing i had for 16 years. Never an issue.
A lot of our fears come from the "old days" when float bowls collected moisture over long periods of time. Seasonal stuff like snowblowers can be bad too. That's why i only use shell 91 in the mower and the blower.
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I'm cheap so I normally run low test during the season and ethanol free as the season winds down. During the season I am normally burning a tank every week or two so not much chance for crap to build up.
 
Wingboy said:
Ethanol free is the key for sure. The Ducati MTS i bought a few years ago sat in a showroom for about 4 years and didn't suffer any problems. Some new hard to sell bikes sit in showrooms for longer than that.
I always used the cheapest gas i could find in the Goldwing i had for 16 years. Never an issue.
A lot of our fears come from the "old days" when float bowls collected moisture over long periods of time. Seasonal stuff like snowblowers can be bad too. That's why i only use shell 91 in the mower and the blower.
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You remind me of my neighbour. Moisture be damned he runs Hitest in everything.
 
timtune said:
You remind me of my neighbour. Moisture be damned he runs Hitest in everything.
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The octane rating has nothing to do with running 91 in my mower. It's the ethanol that is bad for seasonal stuff.
 
Wingboy said:
The octane rating has nothing to do with running 91 in my mower. It's the ethanol that is bad for seasonal stuff.
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I get that. However it seems like you need to get hitest to get ethanol free. I'm thinking Shell and our local guy whose 94 is ethanol free.

Just topped up the RV with no corn squeezin's for it's winter rest.
 
Used stabilizer 1 season, never bother after that. I might have forgotten it or just too busy riding until end of season. 🤷‍♂️
So far so good (y)
 
I use ethanol free gas + stabilizer in all small engines all year around. I use the same in my bike over the winter storage season. Incremental cost of this is $10 - $20 a year. When you look at the potential hassle / cost of a gummed up carb or fuel system on your bike this amount is, in my mind, dirt cheap insurance. Sure, lots of people say "I've never done anything and I've never had an issue" but that's like people saying "hey, I never wear a mask, I'm not going to be vaxxed and I'm going to fine fine". Sure you are, until you aren't.
 
I add a bit of seafoam in the tank, ride over to shell & fill up with 91. ride back home. not a big chore. the hard part is.....clean the bike using turkish super soft towel, q-tips, cotton pads. Clean the chain with softest toothbrush (recommended by both dentist & mechanics) & cover the bike up with velvet. ready for winter.
 
somebody said:
I add a bit of seafoam in the tank, ride over to shell & fill up with 91. ride back home. not a big chore. the hard part is.....clean the bike using turkish super soft towel, q-tips, cotton pads. Clean the chain with softest toothbrush (recommended by both dentist & mechanics) & cover the bike up with velvet. ready for winter.
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Velvet is for sissies, I'm more of a velour kinda guy.
 
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