Gas stablizer
Can the marine type be used in older gas . Is there any ill effects ? This new gas is gumming up my carburetor vehicles. Is this marine stabilizer similar to dry gas?
-
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Frank, I believe the marine stablizer has a short shelve life. it is meant to use immediately like dry gas. Check the labels. -
Re: Gas stablizer
There's nothing "new" about today's gasoline. E10 has been around for over 30 years and most areas of the country have had it (mandatory by federal law) for over 10 years, and fuel system elastomeric materials were upgraded to handle E10 back in the eighties. You likely have some other problem.
DukeComment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Yes like not driving them enough!Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Fill up with non ethanol gas before storing your car. It is more stable than ethanol gas - and it doesn't absorb moisture like alcohol does. You can find a gas station that sells non ethanol gas by using a smart phone app called "Pure Gas" - it is free. I think they have a website too.EdComment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Agreed, anything with a carburetor on it should run ethanol free gas. There is another product Stabil makes that is meant for older cars with steel fuel tanks called Sta-bil 360. I started using it a few years ago. The Marine 360 is meant for marine applications that run ethanol. The marine (blue) stabilizer is more concentrated than the red. I think the marine is designed for engine reliability on the water.
Check out the below web site.
Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
I've been using non-ethanol gasoline for the last 5 years in my older cars. The CFN station I go to is actually closer to me than the regular stations and offers 92 octane straight gas. They actually have a warning on their pumps that there is no ethanol in their fuel. The price is a little higher than ethanol blends, but I don't drive the cars I fuel with it as much. I wouldn't hesitate to use E-10 if necessary. I wound up getting a card because I also buy diesel and off-road diesel. The card allows me to access cardlock stations everywhere in their network 24/7. Their non-ethanol gas stations are listed as well as independents as Ed mentioned on the website:
The listings cover the US by state as well as Canada.
SteveComment
-
Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
The engineer i talked to at sta bil said our product retards the gas from formating the growth of ethanol damage. Adding to old gas does not turn it to new gas . He said to test for old gas the smell test is best. My question is how do we know when we buy 93 octane how long has it been in the gas station tank? How long is gas really good for?Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Most gas stations in metropolitan areas receive multiple deliveries per week of both the lowest and highest octane. The "midgrade" is blended at the pump - usually 50/50. Depending on how far you are from the refinery, distributor, and inventory levels, the gasoline may be from as little as one to a few weeks "old".
Most refiners say that gasoline has a "shelf life of 6-12 months, and that's probably a conservative number. Gasoline is subject to gum and varnish formation due to slow oxidation, which is why the tank should be full during winter storage, and since modern EFI/Evap emission systems have lower exposure to oxygen, it will last longer than in a vintage car with a carburetor and vented fuel tank. The lower the temperature, the lower the reaction rate, so a few months of winter storage in an unheated garage should do no harm.
The car should be driven enough to consume at least one full tank of fuel per year - say at least 250 miles, and if stored for the winter, manage the fuel supply so it's near empty prior to winter storage and fill with fresh fuel. I don't use any "stabilizers" and have never had a fuel system problem that I can blame on "old gas".
Ethanol is a cosolvent that allows a greater amount of water to be held in solution before it drops out. Back in the day fuel line freezes were not uncommon, and additives such as Heet were simply alcohol based, which allowed water at the bottom of the tank to be absorbed into the fuel and consumed without ill effect.
Ask yourself how old your fuel system elastomers are like the rubber hoses from the tank to frame pipe and frame pipe to pump inlet. These degrade slowly over time and can generate particles, and if they rupture the ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE FUEL TANK WILL DRAIN OUT. This is a big safety issue!!! The pipe to pump rubber hose won't last as long as the tank to pipe hose because the former is subject to engine compartment heat and degrades faster. This hose should always be changed if a new pump is installed and the age of the existing hose is unknown.
If you rebuild a carburetor use recently manufactured zip kits as the elastomers will be modern and formulated for E10. If you have an NOS kit from the sixties, seventies, and even into the mid-eighties use it for display purposes only.
DukeComment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
Excellent! Thanks for all that information!Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
I have a friend that is a Master Tech in automotive repair, has had his own business for 30 years, and this is what he has discovered. He also worked for Mercury Marine, and he uses Quickclean 1 & 2. I have been using them and have noticed the difference in my motors.
Fuel degradation commences 14 days after it is manufactured. ethanol sucks, methanol is worse yet. if memory serves me correctly, there is 114,000 Btu's in gasoline, ethanol has about 66,000. energy is energy you can do the math. fuel that has been "stabilized" still has a shelf life and IMHO is good for 6 months that's it. they can make claims all day long but until someone shows me evidence from a RVP test (Reid Vapor Pressure) I'll stick to the 6 month time line. Never have seen any data concerning "marine" grade fuel stabilizer versus regular stuff. From what I've been told, stabilizer goes through a phase separation period and floats to the top of the gas which then creates a barrier to atmosphere which we all know degrades gasoline. Perhaps the "marine" grade is just another advertising ploy (my opinion). Gummy carbs don't just happen, either its crap fuel, or any other variable that one can think of that would create fuel breakdown. In all of my small engines, the bike or the boat motors, I use non-ethanol gas and I always add a detergent package and a fuel stabilizer and if the fuel is not used in 6 months I dump it in the truck and burn it up there. I haven't had to touch a carburetor setting in 20 years so I guess my way speaks for itself.Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
I was wondering if the ethanol breaks down the fuel lines (rubber) inside. I have had the rubber fuel lines on my John Deere collapse to a point of the insides breaking down to small deposits in the bowl of the carburetor. Now my new snow blower (three years old has deposits in the fuel tank) I believe your thoughts are correct ethanol is good for about six months. Never had a problem with Mobile 1 high test (93 octane) . Are the chain gas stations like (SAMS) using low bids for there gas suppliers and are certain chemicals being eliminated? Never had these problems in the 70,s or the 80,s .Comment
-
Re: Gas stablizer
The automotive industry changed the type or the composition of rubber used in fuel systems with the introduction of ethanol fuel. So there is no need to be concerned with modern cars. The new design rubber lines and other components (gaskets etc) can tolerate ethanol. Original rubber parts found on vintage cars do not tolerate ethanol very well. To give an indication of the potential adverse effects of ethanol gas, up to a few years ago operator manuals for Sears / Craftsman equipment with small engines (lawn mowers, snow bowers) stated that if gas with ethanol was used the warrant was void.EdComment
Comment