I just fill the tank, clean the car, plug in the tender, pull the cover over and say goodnight.

Then go cry like a baby!

 

There’s lots of misunderstanding about what stabilizers do. It has nothing to do with octane loss, or gum, or sludge, or any of the things that are usually quoted. The problem is that all gas, both with and without ethanol, can dissolve a bit of water. A 20 gallon tank of pure gas can dissolve a few ounces of water, while a tank of gas with ethanol can dissolve several ounces. Normally, there is not that much there. But sometimes, water can be picked up in storage tanks, barges, and other miscellaneous sources. If you are lucky, and the last tank of gas you get before storage is reasonably dry, you do not need stabilizer. But if you are unlucky and it has picked up its full load, or close to its full load of dissolved water, you can be in trouble. Having ethanol free gas is absolutely no protection whatever. The problem is that as temperature falls over the course of the winter, the gas in the tank naturally cools off. And as temperature drops, the gas can dissolve less and less water. In the lucky situation, that’s no problem. For example, suppose that when you got your last tank of gas, it was 60F, and the gas was pretty dry, containing only 20% of its maximum dissolved water. If the gas cools off to 20F during the winter, that same amount of water may be 60% of maximum at the lower temperature, but you still have room, so the water stays dissolved, and you remain ok. But if you are in the unlucky situation, and your last tank of gas was fairly wet and had picked up 90% of its maximum amount of dissolved water, as the temperature cooled, the water would no longer stay dissolved. It would separate as a distinct water phase, and you would be in trouble. What a stabilizer does is allow the water to stay dissolved even as the temperature drops. So even if you are in the unlucky situation, the water will stay dissolved and you will stay ok.

There is no way to predict what fraction of maximum dissolved water any given tank of gas will contain. It is a random deal. You cannot protect yourself by buying expensive gas, or “fresh” gas, or ethanol free gas, or any other strategy. Usually, you will be lucky and be ok. Sometimes you will not. This explains why some folks will say thing like “I’ve gone a zillion years in Antarctica, never used stabilizer, and never had a problem”. They were consistently lucky in getting consistently dry gas for their last tanks. Somebody else will be unlucky and a get a wet tank, and they will be in trouble. For myself, I live in Houston, so don’t store my cars and don’t face the problem. But if I did, I’d use stabilizer. It’s cheap insurance.

 

I have always put a bottle of Sta-Bil in my Vettes when I put them up for the winter. It's not expensive and can't hurt to have it in the gas tank.

 

Don't forget to change the oil every 3000 miles…cheap insurance.

 

In Canada? Good for you!

 

I use it all the time in my Street Rod since it only goes to Car Shows. No need in by Vette as it is my DD.

 

It is just one more reason to hate winter.

 

Yes, for what little it costs, its just peace of mind.

 

Winter wouldn't be nearly as bad if it wasn't for the salt. It really is a health hazard. Not by it self but they add a chemical that prevents the salt from clumping, this chemical causes respiratory distress. Ever notice how you feel like a cold is coming on but never does, after a salting. And that pretreatment solution is even worse (raw dust inhaled directly into your lungs). The government even sends notices to doctors to be on the lookout for these respiratory symptoms. Think about it.

 

You guy's just made me get on my knees and that god I live in southern California. I do not think I could handle not being able to drive my vette on a daily basis. If it gets below 45 here the local news calls it a freeze watch.

 

I have stored many cars and motorcycles over the years. The gas with ethanol can gum up a carburetor in 3-5 months. I don't know what it will do to injectors because I have always used stabilizers, but it can't be good. Buy a full tank of non-ethanol fuel before storing if you can find it and use stabilizer. Small price to pay for peace of mind.

 

I'm Sure You Know: It's not just the snowfall...

Summer tires are a bad idea in the cold.

 

Actually, I thank God I no longer live in SoCal! I do miss the weather though...