too late for stabil?
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 63
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From: Kentucky
too late for stabil?
Just put the car into hibernation mode for the winter......forgot to add my Stabil when I filled it up. Is it too late? Can I add the Stabil and it chemically move into both tanks without putting it in during a fill up? I know I will need to let it run a few minutes to get through the injectors etc....
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I've NEVER used a so called fuel stabilizers. This goes for all my gas powered equipment. All I do is top off the tank before storage to minimize areas for condensation from temperature changes. I've been doing this for over 40+ years with zero issues come spring the next year. If the storage will be more than a year a stabilizer might be helpful, but I'm still skeptical on what the real benefits are. Just my two cents worth. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 870
Likes: 7
From: Andreas Pennsylvania
I've NEVER used a so called fuel stabilizers. This goes for all my gas powered equipment. All I do is top off the tank before storage to minimize areas for condensation from temperature changes. I've been doing this for over 40+ years with zero issues come spring the next year. If the storage will be more than a year a stabilizer might be helpful, but I'm still skeptical on what the real benefits are. Just my two cents worth.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
A friend of mine use to think this way. Then the one year all his lawn equipment wouldn't start. Everything was gummed up. All it takes is one tank of gas that is less than perfect, and you have trouble. I use to have trouble with a chipper getting gummed up every year. I started to use Stabil, and no more gummed up carb boal. I think of it as cheap insurance.
That doesn’t seem like cheap insurance to me for something not proven to work by an independent source.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 870
Likes: 7
From: Andreas Pennsylvania
And a gallon of Stabil would last you for 320 gallons! Who in there right mind would want that. If you are paying $6 for 4oz you are getting ripped off. I buy 32oz for $11. So that is $.34/ oz. The Corvette holds 18 gallons. Divide that by 2.5 (amount of gas that 1 ounce of stabil treats) and you get 7.2. Just make it 7.5 for ease of use and you have invested a whole $2.55 to help battle the system from getting gummed up. I think I'll pay that huge sum rather than tempting fate.
If Stabil doesn't work, than why doesn't my chipper get gummed up any longer when I use it. It gummed up the two years prior. So why not now? It is the same grade gas, from the same station. I am not saying you are wrong and I am right. I am just wondering what you think would do that? Either way, good luck to you sir. I hope you never get gummed up equipment. What a pain in the rear it is.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
.......If Stabil doesn't work, than why doesn't my chipper get gummed up any longer when I use it. It gummed up the two years prior. So why not now? It is the same grade gas, from the same station. I am not saying you are wrong and I am right. I am just wondering what you think would do that? Either way, good luck to you sir. I hope you never get gummed up equipment. What a pain in the rear it is.
Having said that, the "new" gasolines, with the ethanol content, is pretty crappy to start with. Let it sit for 3-4 months, as most stored cars and/or summer lawn tools do, and you got a whole new set of issues. Therefore, the Stabil, especially the new marine-grade Stabil, which is formulated for ethanol blended gas, is inexpensive insurance....
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
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From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
First, let me say that I do use Stabil in my cars that get stored for the winter......
Having said that, the "new" gasolines, with the ethanol content, is pretty crappy to start with. Let it sit for 3-4 months, as most stored cars and/or summer lawn tools do, and you got a whole new set of issues. Therefore, the Stabil, especially the new marine-grade Stabil, which is formulated for ethanol blended gas, is inexpensive insurance....
Having said that, the "new" gasolines, with the ethanol content, is pretty crappy to start with. Let it sit for 3-4 months, as most stored cars and/or summer lawn tools do, and you got a whole new set of issues. Therefore, the Stabil, especially the new marine-grade Stabil, which is formulated for ethanol blended gas, is inexpensive insurance....
I have used 100% gasoline w/ stabil "TWO YEARS OLD"!
I am a believer because it has never failed me. 24/7/365 landscaper here!
I have a years supply of fuel just put into storage, fifth year in a row!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The owner's manual for my John Deere Lawn Tractor recommends using Stabil or John Deere's version of it every week since most lawn tractors only get used for an hour or two each week. I have had carburetors gum up over the winter on lawn mowers and other equipment. It doesn't always happen but it can. Getting a simple lawn mower carb fixed after the small passages in it get gummed up and I can't imagine what it would be like trying to clean the fuel injectors on a car.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
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From: Western NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,012
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I've NEVER used a so called fuel stabilizers. This goes for all my gas powered equipment. All I do is top off the tank before storage to minimize areas for condensation from temperature changes. I've been doing this for over 40+ years with zero issues come spring the next year. If the storage will be more than a year a stabilizer might be helpful, but I'm still skeptical on what the real benefits are. Just my two cents worth.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 19
From: Not far from COTA
Impossible to buy 100% gasoline unless you buy $7.50 per gallon 100 octane race fuel
I leave vehicles sitting for 3 to 4 months at a time (in TX while in FL and vice versa), always with both the red Stabil and now the new Stabil for ethanol fuels
Haven't had any problems.
A cousin has a lawn and tree trimming service in VA. When all he could buy was ethanol enriched fuel, he started having all kinds of starting and poor performance issues. He started using Stabil and also SeaFoam in every bit of fuel and his issues disappeared.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
don't believe in it myself and when I lived in colorado and illinois never used and never had any problems, colorado used ethanol...however the choice is yours and whatever works for you is what you should do..my 2cents.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 462
Likes: 56
I never used to use stabil. We have about 6 off road & summer only vehicles that we have never put stabil in, and none of them ever had a problem after a 4-6 month winter storage.
However, I bought 2 motorcycles .. 1 sat for a year, the other sat for almost 2 years. Both had the carbs so completely gunked up with green snot, I put the damn stabil in everything now just because I NEVER want to go through that hassle again! Hours and hours cleaning out tiny little jets / passage ways, only to put it all back together & in the bike to realize I missed something as it ran like crap.. out it all comes again.
I can't say for sure if stabil would have stopped this, but I've read of people that swear it does, and for about $1 per vehicle invested, its worth a try. If one year we put bad gas in all our stuff and had to clean the carbs / fuel systems for all our toys... I might just drive one off a cliff.
We are also stuck with the 10% ethanol crap here in WNY, which is why I got the ethanol treatment version of stabil. Sometimes called the 'marine' version. From my understanding, its the ethanol in the fuels that makes them gum up faster than 100% gasoline.
However, I bought 2 motorcycles .. 1 sat for a year, the other sat for almost 2 years. Both had the carbs so completely gunked up with green snot, I put the damn stabil in everything now just because I NEVER want to go through that hassle again! Hours and hours cleaning out tiny little jets / passage ways, only to put it all back together & in the bike to realize I missed something as it ran like crap.. out it all comes again.
I can't say for sure if stabil would have stopped this, but I've read of people that swear it does, and for about $1 per vehicle invested, its worth a try. If one year we put bad gas in all our stuff and had to clean the carbs / fuel systems for all our toys... I might just drive one off a cliff.
We are also stuck with the 10% ethanol crap here in WNY, which is why I got the ethanol treatment version of stabil. Sometimes called the 'marine' version. From my understanding, its the ethanol in the fuels that makes them gum up faster than 100% gasoline.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield Virginia
We don't have the luxury of getting 100% gasoline in most of Virginia. Some marinas and some rural areas still have it available. I too, depend on Stabil. Many of my boating friends have had issues with their cars and boats after a winter layup.