Sta-Bil or Sea Foam
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I'll give you an example..true story:
One day I was comparing oil additive and fuel additive in a discount auto store.
Took an educated guess, bought the oil additive, left my brain at the register and poured it in my gas tank.
Ran like a wet paper bag.
Using reverse logic, putting gas additive in the gas should work better.
One day I was comparing oil additive and fuel additive in a discount auto store.
Took an educated guess, bought the oil additive, left my brain at the register and poured it in my gas tank.
Ran like a wet paper bag.
Using reverse logic, putting gas additive in the gas should work better.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 23
From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Wylie TX
I've never understood why you guys insist on putting that crap in your cars. There is no need for anything other than gasoline in the tank if you're only storing for a year or so. You think the car dealers put anything in the tanks on new cars when they take delivery of them...? Some of the new cars sit on the dealer lot with only 2 gallons of gas in the tank for over a year until they get sold - no problem. Many of the Chevy dealers in the mid-late 70's had the Vettes sitting on their lots unsold for a year and a half with no additives in the tank - the cars started and ran just fine - I know, because I was there doing it. I've had the same gas in one of my collector cars for 2 years, and it starts and runs with no problem. I can assure you that the National Gasoline Reserve doesn't have any "Sta-Bil" in it, and it sits for 5-10 years at a time. The only time I've ever seen gas go bad was in a car that was stored for 25 years with about 3 gallons of gas in a vented tank - the gas turned to shellack. I doubt Sta-Bil would have saved it...
..and I've never seen Sea Foam fix a carb that needed a rebuild, either.
Don't believe all the ads you see on TV... sheez...
Lars
..and I've never seen Sea Foam fix a carb that needed a rebuild, either.
Don't believe all the ads you see on TV... sheez...
Lars
The lesson is each of us has to respond based on their experiences. After ripping apart an ATV to get to the carb, and then rebuild it. I will never store without Sta-bil again (or completely draining the fuel on smaller equipment). ATVs are more fun to ride than fix.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
If you want to use a petroleum preservative you can buy 100g bottles of Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) crystals for about 10 bucks a bottle. 10g (a teaspoon) treats ten gallons of gas, or the whole bottle treats 100 gallons. BHT, a food and petroleum preservative, is the active component in all fuel preservatives regardless of whose name is on the bottle.
I have no interest in whether it's necessary. If you're going to do it, you might as well get the result you seek for the lowest cost.
I have no interest in whether it's necessary. If you're going to do it, you might as well get the result you seek for the lowest cost.
Last edited by gerry72; Dec 4, 2010 at 10:28 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
Gas does go bad. I have a 1969 Corvette. I run my car in Time Trials at Pocono, Lime Rock and miss the Bridgehampton Race Circuit.
The original engine was rebuilt and due to a fault in assembly, trashed itself. I went with a 383/450 hp motor. The additional HP made the car more difficult to control. So I jacked the car up and took down the brakes, front and rear suspension. From the time I put the motor in to the time the suspension project was complete, the car stood idle for 3 years. After the car finally touched pavement again, it would not start. I tried starting fluid. The car would start then die. After multiple tries, I finally concluded it had to be the gas. I drained the tank and put in fresh gas. The car started and ran great ever since. Now a rebuild that took three years in not a 6 month storage for the winter. Still, the alcohol is hydroscopic and will absorb water. If Stabil could prevent that, it is worth it. Gas will degrade over time. How long will it take for it to degrade to a point when it will either cause damage from water or degradation, I can’t say.
The original engine was rebuilt and due to a fault in assembly, trashed itself. I went with a 383/450 hp motor. The additional HP made the car more difficult to control. So I jacked the car up and took down the brakes, front and rear suspension. From the time I put the motor in to the time the suspension project was complete, the car stood idle for 3 years. After the car finally touched pavement again, it would not start. I tried starting fluid. The car would start then die. After multiple tries, I finally concluded it had to be the gas. I drained the tank and put in fresh gas. The car started and ran great ever since. Now a rebuild that took three years in not a 6 month storage for the winter. Still, the alcohol is hydroscopic and will absorb water. If Stabil could prevent that, it is worth it. Gas will degrade over time. How long will it take for it to degrade to a point when it will either cause damage from water or degradation, I can’t say.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
If you want to use a petroleum preservative you can buy 100g bottles of Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) crystals for about 10 bucks a bottle. 10g (a teaspoon) treats ten gallons of gas, or the whole bottle treats 100 gallons. BHT, a food and petroleum preservative, is the active component in all fuel preservatives regardless of whose name is on the bottl
I googled it and it came up with like the Vitamin store.....
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Penfield NY
This entire post and others similar to it illustrates the power of advertising and how carefully chosen words can eat away at the rational thinking of otherwise intelligent people.Note how NOBODY can come forward with actual examples of Corvettes that suffered from fuel degradation over a winter attributed to lack of 'miracle juice'? Notice how the closest examples are third party stories about boats and lawn mowers?
Jeeze Louise already
Agree. I've had several mostly 70's Chevys, Olds and Pontiacs I put away for the winter here in NY, and never put in any gas additive. Never had any problem whatsoever. Didn't really hear much about additives for short term winter storage before getting a Vette a couple of years ago and going on this forum.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Interesting topic here, I never use any additives in my gas for winter storage, on the lawn equipment I run the engine until the carbs are dry or just drain the fuel out of the bowls. Never have any problems in the spring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 0
From: westmoreland N.H.
I've never understood why you guys insist on putting that crap in your cars. There is no need for anything other than gasoline in the tank if you're only storing for a year or so. You think the car dealers put anything in the tanks on new cars when they take delivery of them...? Some of the new cars sit on the dealer lot with only 2 gallons of gas in the tank for over a year until they get sold - no problem. Many of the Chevy dealers in the mid-late 70's had the Vettes sitting on their lots unsold for a year and a half with no additives in the tank - the cars started and ran just fine - I know, because I was there doing it. I've had the same gas in one of my collector cars for 2 years, and it starts and runs with no problem. I can assure you that the National Gasoline Reserve doesn't have any "Sta-Bil" in it, and it sits for 5-10 years at a time. The only time I've ever seen gas go bad was in a car that was stored for 25 years with about 3 gallons of gas in a vented tank - the gas turned to shellack. I doubt Sta-Bil would have saved it...
..and I've never seen Sea Foam fix a carb that needed a rebuild, either.
Don't believe all the ads you see on TV... sheez...
Lars
..and I've never seen Sea Foam fix a carb that needed a rebuild, either.
Don't believe all the ads you see on TV... sheez...
Lars
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 0
From: westmoreland N.H.
I never thought I would ever disagree with Lars on anything, but a couple of years ago, my ATV sat for 4 months between ride during a move. When I got back to it the carb was so gummed up it had to be completely rebuilt. Since then, I use stab-bil in all of my equipment for storage, and my stuff always starts in the spring when others have trouble.
The lesson is each of us has to respond based on their experiences. After ripping apart an ATV to get to the carb, and then rebuild it. I will never store without Sta-bil again (or completely draining the fuel on smaller equipment). ATVs are more fun to ride than fix.
The lesson is each of us has to respond based on their experiences. After ripping apart an ATV to get to the carb, and then rebuild it. I will never store without Sta-bil again (or completely draining the fuel on smaller equipment). ATVs are more fun to ride than fix.
but here it is. i agree with you richard.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
We store and service over 350 boats per year. We have stopped using Sta bil and Sea Foam does not help with effects of ethonal, due to it being alcohol based any way. We have switched completely and are currently using Star tron fuel treatments. The main reason we stopped using Sta Bil was the fact that it will stain items if dripped on. Star tron is clear and apsolutly no alchohol. If storing for 3 to 4 months no proplem, but 7 to 8 months, yes treat the fuel. We advise customers to have no more than 3/4 tank of fuel, this is due to fuel expansion in the spring warm days. This really does not effect cars so much, but on a boat 100 gallons of cold fuel will expand quite a bit and expell out the vent. This is a fire hazzord for us.
Fuel injected systems, hardly have any problems with old fuel. It is really nice to start up EFI engines in the spring, you just know they are going to start and run great. Carbs you have to coax into running. lol Al
Fuel injected systems, hardly have any problems with old fuel. It is really nice to start up EFI engines in the spring, you just know they are going to start and run great. Carbs you have to coax into running. lol Al
