View Poll Results: Is Sta-bil required for a single winter storage?
Yes, it is a must.
37
29.13%
No, to short a period to really make a difference.
36
28.35%
Not sure, I do it for peace of mind.
54
42.52%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll
Sta-bil - a poll, Is it really needed?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Unscientific answer:
Fuel breaks down and forms gummy deposits. Thats the stuff that clogs carbs.
Stabil prevents that.
Unscientific proof:
Ive owned the same carb'd Harley for 18 years. At the end of every season I add stabil and run the bowl dry. This bike sits for 6-7 months and then starts up again after 3-5 seconds of cranking.
Proof #2 : One year after a fresh carb rebuild, I parked my car for winter and never had a chance to run stabil thru it. When I went to restart it again, the accel pump was stuck and flooded everything. I sent it back for another rebuild and he told me the innards were gummed up.
Proof #3: 2 other hot rods and 2 other *** bikes before the previous mentions, all received Stabil, none ever exhibited carb issues.
So totally unscientifically, but based on 6 vehicles and over 25 years of experience, I came to this conclusion. When I use, stabil, my cars and motorcycles start right up at the beginning of a new season. Without Stabil, I have had one major complication.
I use a stabilizer religiously now.
Fuel breaks down and forms gummy deposits. Thats the stuff that clogs carbs.
Stabil prevents that.
Unscientific proof:
Ive owned the same carb'd Harley for 18 years. At the end of every season I add stabil and run the bowl dry. This bike sits for 6-7 months and then starts up again after 3-5 seconds of cranking.
Proof #2 : One year after a fresh carb rebuild, I parked my car for winter and never had a chance to run stabil thru it. When I went to restart it again, the accel pump was stuck and flooded everything. I sent it back for another rebuild and he told me the innards were gummed up.
Proof #3: 2 other hot rods and 2 other *** bikes before the previous mentions, all received Stabil, none ever exhibited carb issues.
So totally unscientifically, but based on 6 vehicles and over 25 years of experience, I came to this conclusion. When I use, stabil, my cars and motorcycles start right up at the beginning of a new season. Without Stabil, I have had one major complication.
I use a stabilizer religiously now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
This debate will go on forever and nothing will change. Whatever you've made up in your mind will be your answer to the problem. For me, I fill my tank up in October for the last time. Fill it to the top and add some Stabil. (The original red ****) Run it to get the new stuff through the system. That's it. Of course there's the oil change, trickle charger, etc., but that's it. The inside of my original gas tank still looks like it did when I got the car over 44 years ago. NEW. I saw the pics of Dino 72's tank and I really don't believe that just happened after sitting a few months with E 10 gas in it. Maybe it was a replacement tank that wasn't the same quality as the original, or the gas that was put in it was an off brand gas, or the tank wasn't filled up as he had thought. (Maybe someone at the shop borrowed some) Whatever the case, I'd try cleaning it out before replacing everything. So, good luck to everyone with whatever you decide to do and I hope what you do works for you and your Vette.
Duane
Duane
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 706
Likes: 294
From: New Jersey
Ca you explain this more? I understand injected vs carburetors deliver the fuel in different ways and one is way more efficient, and controllable, than the other. But we are talking about longevity of the gas and what it does to parts in the car if left untreated. How does the delivery system matter in this situation?
The alcohol and water is corrosive to aluminum.
In fuel injection, the fuel that gets past the HP pump is "sealed" in the system.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 610
Likes: 168
From: Vancouver B.C.
15 Month old gas with stabilizer. 89 Octane E15. I looked in the tank a few months back. All good. Started the car on Sunday, exhaust smelled horrible like varnish or turpentine. Opened the gas cap - this is what I found. Same as mentioned above by Chapter 2.
It's a '72 with non-vented gas cap. I think the tank is toast. Going to drop it and replace.
I've owned this car for 29 years. In that time I have only put on 14K miles. So it has sat in a dry garage for many years with little mileage, and with the same gas in the tank for more than 15 months at times. No issues. However, I did let the gas level get somewhat low this time. Regardless, I think today's gas contributes to this problem.
I guess the answer is to drive the car more often. LOL.
I have ordered a non-logo Spectra tank (GM33D). Some vendors have an Anderson logo stamped tank but the tank is imported. I have heard others having rust issues after a few years with import tanks. So I'll go with the non-logo. Not visible anyway. Will purge gas line before running car again.
I should correct my comment. It was Regular E10 gas in there, not E15. I know refiners have winter and summer formulations, not sure if either is more susceptible to breaking down. Maybe 1 year with stabilizer is a rule of thumb to use. I was OK just a few months back. Looked good inside. Then it turned. My fuel level in the tank was low. Going to run 94 no ethanol from now on.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 110
Likes: 15
From: Oregon, Ohio
Gasoline begins to deteriorate over time, that is a chemical engineering fact. How fast the gasoline deteriorates is dependent on numerous factors that I could spend hours writing on and boring you with the details, but the bottomline is gasoline deteriorates. It is also a chemical engineering fact that fuel stabilizers will slow the deterioration, how much it slows deterioration is also dependent on numerous factors, but it does slow deterioration, it's simple chemistry. Anyone arguing against any of the above might as well be arguing the earth is flat.
Anyhoo... to me adding a couple dollar's in fuel stabilizer when storing the car for several months is a no brainer... YMMV...
Anyhoo... to me adding a couple dollar's in fuel stabilizer when storing the car for several months is a no brainer... YMMV...
Aftermarket stabilizers , Sta-Bil and Marvel, slow all of this chemical degradation. Gasoline is like beer, the fresher, the better. I just sored my car in the garage, filled the tank and added both Sta-Bil ad Marvel mystery oil to the gasoline and ran it a bit to get the mixture into the carb.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
Well after 100+ votes, we have learned......nothing. haha. Its pretty much down the middle with a biased toward people not knowing and just doing it for peace of mind.
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Pittsburgh
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I spotted this thread some time ago, and not too long ago at the parts house, I happened to spot that Stabil and bought a can.....poured in the suggested amount, been about 2 weeks by now....
Before, the engine ran kinda rough, and hating life, especially at idle.....but ran good under power/load....
but it was getting worse, and so added a full tank of gas with the stabil product....
for 2 weeks now, vette runs GREAT.....smooth at all speeds....I intend to keep using it, but 1/4 cup per tankfull.....whatever, less than they said though.....
Before, the engine ran kinda rough, and hating life, especially at idle.....but ran good under power/load....
but it was getting worse, and so added a full tank of gas with the stabil product....
for 2 weeks now, vette runs GREAT.....smooth at all speeds....I intend to keep using it, but 1/4 cup per tankfull.....whatever, less than they said though.....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I spotted this thread some time ago, and not too long ago at the parts house, I happened to spot that Stabil and bought a can.....poured in the suggested amount, been about 2 weeks by now....
Before, the engine ran kinda rough, and hating life, especially at idle.....but ran good under power/load....
but it was getting worse, and so added a full tank of gas with the stabil product....
for 2 weeks now, vette runs GREAT.....smooth at all speeds....I intend to keep using it, but 1/4 cup per tankfull.....whatever, less than they said though.....
Before, the engine ran kinda rough, and hating life, especially at idle.....but ran good under power/load....
but it was getting worse, and so added a full tank of gas with the stabil product....
for 2 weeks now, vette runs GREAT.....smooth at all speeds....I intend to keep using it, but 1/4 cup per tankfull.....whatever, less than they said though.....
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Sounds like he might be adding Sta-bil 360, which is both a fuel preservative, cleaner and supposed to protect against the corrosion caused by ethanol. Sta-bil 360 is advised for every thankful by the manufacture.