Gas treatment

coshoo

Well-known Member
Old topic, but maybe some new thoughts on the subject.
Need to treat gas for the winter in a motorhome- Is Stabil still the thing, or Sea Foam, or what?
 
I still use Sta Bil for long term storage for like my Golf cart and Lawn Mower and any vehicle I let set several months AND I USE PLENTY OF IT not just a squirt or two and often more then the directions might call for. I use Sea Foam or other similar agents AFTER I return home to give the carbs a cleaning if needed. If a vehicle has sat long term I might also run a can of Lucas Fuel Treatment through it and/or HEET water remover if necessary. One other Snake Oil I have used prior to long term storage are Fogging spray agents but that's more for Marine and small engine use.

I'm NOT necessarily a huge fan of Snake Oils but still have had good luck using Sta Bil for long term storage. I think its best to have the gas tanks more full during storage then empty. On tractors I used to remove the plugs and squirt oil down into the cylinders.

John T
 
(quoted from post at 15:42:59 10/05/19) I still use Sta Bil for long term storage for like my Golf cart and Lawn Mower and any vehicle I let set several months AND I USE PLENTY OF IT not just a squirt or two and often more then the directions might call for. I use Sea Foam or other similar agents AFTER I return home to give the carbs a cleaning if needed. If a vehicle has sat long term I might also run a can of Lucas Fuel Treatment through it and/or HEET water remover if necessary. One other Snake Oil I have used prior to long term storage are Fogging spray agents but that's more for Marine and small engine use.

I'm NOT necessarily a huge fan of Snake Oils but still have had good luck using Sta Bil for long term storage. I think its best to have the gas tanks more full during storage then empty. On tractors I used to remove the plugs and squirt oil down into the cylinders.

John T
The manufacturer has likely done extensive testing on optimal dilution, and equally likely has an incentive to get you to use the most amount of product they can convince you is needed. Why would you deviate from the manufacturers' recommendation?
 
I only used Sta-bil once, and that the only time I ever had trouble! I use E-10 in all 4-stroke engines, and don't have any trouble. I do try to drain carburetors when possible. Things like roto-tillers and snow blowers that sit for a longer time I put some mixed gas in them and run a little before shutting down, they need the oil.
 
I've never had any problems with Stabil.

Be aware that they have changed the directions of use. They used to specify 1 ounce of Stabil per 2.5 gallons of gasoline. Now it is 1 ounce of Stabil per 5 gallons of gas.
 
I use Primrose treatment in all my tractors and small engines. They sit from now to spring with whatever fuel level that is left. When I used stabil, the engines started hard in the spring. That gets old when you have to crank them by hand. With Primrose, they start like they were run the day before. Directions say that it is good for 2 years, I had one tractor sit for 5 years and it fired right up. I've been using it for about ten years and wouldn't switch back to a stabil.
 
How old is the motorhome? If it's fuel injected sitting a year or even longer will have no effect.

If there is a generator with a carb, it could use some treatment, but likely it will be OK if just for the winter.

Evaporation is the problem, not a lot of evaporation in cold weather.
 
Use 'Hi-Test' fuel - non ethanal . I use it in all my small engines and old tractor, pricey, but worth eliminating the hassle and buying 'snake oil'. HTH
 
I use Star Tron in my gasoline engines. The "red" sta-bil is not compatible with ethanol and caused some gelling in a boat motor I had one time. I believe Sta-bil does make a "blue" color that is compatible, but I still use the Star Tron. It only takes 2 oz per 5 gal of gasoline. I also add Seafoam about twice a year in my engines to help clean up any carbon buildup. It has actually cleared several "check engine" codes through the years for me. My two cents worth.
 
John, I'm a Snake Oil (BD coined phrase) fan too and use the same products you mentioned adding Power Services for my diesel engines and fuel. I just don't have fuel problems with the couple of dozen engines I have around the place. For the little bit it costs, peace of mind is worth the cost whether it's necessary or not. My take on necessity, if there wasn't a problem to be solved, there wouldn't be so many suppliers that have "survived the test of time" (my definition of quality) over the years.
 
It's a great idea and gives you the "feel goods" but considering the area of the top of a lot of fuel containers vs the area of the sides from partially full to full and it leaves a lot to be desired....if you could just fill them to the top and "burp" them. Wink!
 

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