Marine Stabil vs regular Stabil
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Then you haven't read the bottle's instructions for use. Actually, the marine stuff is LESS expensive per application. The regular stuff takes more product per gallon of fuel than the marine stuff. When you figure it all out, the marine type costs more per bottle...but is less expensive per gallon of fuel treated.
Got that??? 
Got that???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
I have been using the marine stabil for about 3 years. This summer
the catalytic converter in one car got plugged up. It is a 1980 L82
and had a Walker Hi Flow converter on for about 10 years with
about 10000 miles.
I have been wondering if using the marine stabil caused the problem?
the catalytic converter in one car got plugged up. It is a 1980 L82
and had a Walker Hi Flow converter on for about 10 years with
about 10000 miles.
I have been wondering if using the marine stabil caused the problem?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 820
From: SUFFIELD CT USA 2023 C8 CORVETTE UN-MODIFIED FINALIST
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Marine Stabil inhibits the ethanol in our fuel which attacks plastic fuel tanks commonly used in boats and some motorcycles etc. It should't hurt a vette but I don't think it's necessary .
!
!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 830
From: Chapel Hill NC
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I never used marine stabil but I put stabil and seafoam in anything that has a carb (cars,atv,yard equip). May be a coincidence but I have less performance/repairs issues in all my stuff.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 279
From: New York
Interesting. Alcohol is hygroscopic, so the alcohol in the gas attracts and absorbs water. Ethanol fuels, (E10 and E85), rapidly absorb 50 times more water, than non-alcohol gas. So I am not sure about being able to store gas for one year without deterioration.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I've been running my '73 on E10 (gasahol back in the day) for over 20 years. It sits for 6 months or so over the winter. Starts on the first turn of the key in the spring.
Yes, E10 sitting in a big flat open pan exposed to the atmosphere will suck up moisture faster than you can count, but that does not replicate the closed fuel system of our Corvettes.
There's lots of 'the sky is falling' theories around, not much hard evidence to back it up.
Yes, E10 sitting in a big flat open pan exposed to the atmosphere will suck up moisture faster than you can count, but that does not replicate the closed fuel system of our Corvettes.
There's lots of 'the sky is falling' theories around, not much hard evidence to back it up.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 279
From: New York
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. The fact that a Corvette may sit over the winter and start in the spring does not mean the gas did not deteriorate. While I will not flip for the cost of and analysis, it would be interesting to see if gas stored for 6 months is deteriorated from fresh gas and gas with a stabil added.
I can tell you I had my car up on blocks for about a year and a half. When the motor blew, it sat while I re-funded the new motor and then did the suspension for good measure. When finished the car would not start. I gave it a shot of starting fluid and it started right up, the died. After a while I took the hint. Drained the tank and filled it with fresh gas. Sprayed some more starting fluid and when the fresh gas hit, the car ran fine.
I can tell you I had my car up on blocks for about a year and a half. When the motor blew, it sat while I re-funded the new motor and then did the suspension for good measure. When finished the car would not start. I gave it a shot of starting fluid and it started right up, the died. After a while I took the hint. Drained the tank and filled it with fresh gas. Sprayed some more starting fluid and when the fresh gas hit, the car ran fine.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. The fact that a Corvette may sit over the winter and start in the spring does not mean the gas did not deteriorate. While I will not flip for the cost of and analysis, it would be interesting to see if gas stored for 6 months is deteriorated from fresh gas and gas with a stabil added.
I can tell you I had my car up on blocks for about a year and a half. When the motor blew, it sat while I re-funded the new motor and then did the suspension for good measure. When finished the car would not start. I gave it a shot of starting fluid and it started right up, the died. After a while I took the hint. Drained the tank and filled it with fresh gas. Sprayed some more starting fluid and when the fresh gas hit, the car ran fine.
I can tell you I had my car up on blocks for about a year and a half. When the motor blew, it sat while I re-funded the new motor and then did the suspension for good measure. When finished the car would not start. I gave it a shot of starting fluid and it started right up, the died. After a while I took the hint. Drained the tank and filled it with fresh gas. Sprayed some more starting fluid and when the fresh gas hit, the car ran fine.
That may indicate something.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
doesn't at all mean your gas hasn't deteriorated. you can test gas for water content. that is how you can tell if one treatment is better than another, water content over a period of time. . sure you car may start up but that doesn't mean its good for your car. trust me i'm not trying to be rude or argue i have let my boat sit many of winters without treating the gas and it started right up.. and letting a boat sit is much worse than a car due to the rubber fuel lines. i was just making a point
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 162
Likes: 8
Wow Mike, it seems every time you post a comment , no matter what the subject, people have a dig at you even if you are correct!!!!!
Dont let it get to you, your posts are often the best and most logical read on the forum.
Steve.
Dont let it get to you, your posts are often the best and most logical read on the forum.
Steve.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
We treat well over 300 engines a year for winterizing, ie boats. Storage is usually for 7 months. Just as our cars set. We used to use Marine Sta Bil exclusivly until we found Star-tron. Cost is not an object or concern at this point. Both versions work well but the Sta-bil will stain most anything and the Star-tron will not. The Star-tron has been working great for 3 season's now. I still however double check our snowmobiles every fall by opening up every single carb and manually check and clean. Al
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 279
From: New York
You know, that is a darn good idea. I know the owner of http://www.lialinc.com/
They do a very good oil analysis and they may be able to do a gas analysis. I could put gas in three jars and let it sit for one year. Jar 1 with gas, jar 2 with stabil and Jar 3 with Marine stabil. Let me see how much he wants to do this.
Other that water absorption, what else should we check?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
You know, that is a darn good idea. I know the owner of http://www.lialinc.com/
They do a very good oil analysis and they may be able to do a gas analysis. I could put gas in three jars and let it sit for one year. Jar 1 with gas, jar 2 with stabil and Jar 3 with Marine stabil. Let me see how much he wants to do this.
Other that water absorption, what else should we check?
They do a very good oil analysis and they may be able to do a gas analysis. I could put gas in three jars and let it sit for one year. Jar 1 with gas, jar 2 with stabil and Jar 3 with Marine stabil. Let me see how much he wants to do this.
Other that water absorption, what else should we check?