Fuel Stabil

Winkfish · Jan 30, 2011

oldiesrocker2001 said:
Since most trailor sailers are likely to have an outboard I decided to start this one here. Has anyone used the marine version of fuel stabil(apparently geared for protection against ethanol)?
I didn't know a marine version of it existed until yesterday when I needed to get more fuel for my snowblower but the shed with my regular fuel stabil has a 5 ft snow drift against the door & I'm too lazy to shovel it out. Lets hear it out there... Pros; cons; just hype?

Since we lost our sailboat in Katrina, I bought a fishing boat, 17' with a 90hp Merc. I've always used Stabil, and once they came out with the blue formula I've used that. Other fisherman who are very concerned about ethanol say it really does help a lot, but wether it's better than the original, it's cheaper since you use less per gallon than the pink. I use the blue all the time.

I also put in a maintenance dose of SeaFoam for good measure. Every year or two, I use SeaForm to "de-carb" the motor - clean out oil deposits from the innards. It works great. If you're interested in that, I'll shoot you an e-mail on how to do it.

As for whether they work, I had shoulder surgery in September, and used my boat for the first time since then about 2 weeks ago. It ran like a charm.

Remember that you need to treat Stabil and SeaFoam like the "gas" portion of the mix when you're mixing oil for a 2-stroke.

Mike B1026 · Jan 30, 2011

The marine version of Stabil is just more concentrated, so you use less. It ends up costing about the same per use.

kenn · Jan 31, 2011

I use a stabilizer (different brand) and it seems to prolong the life of the gas. Last year I even tried using year-old gas (half-and-half with brand new gas) and there was no problem. Of course we're fortunate to be able to buy ethanol-free gas at some places (the premium gas at Shell), so I only buy that.

This is on a 1983 Suzuki 5 hp 2-cyl 2-stroke. YMMV...

jimmyb · Jan 31, 2011

I have never used stabil in fuel up until last year. I have run everything from 2 and 4 stroke motorcycles to yard equipment and have never had starting problems. I do keep the fuel containers very clean and gas tanks and carbs drained for storage or in some cases carbs drained and fuel tanks topped completely off. With the 2 stroke engines I feel the pre-mix is a good deterent to rusty metal fuel tanks like on some older lawn equipment.

I used to run stand up jet skis and used the same procedure. I stored a fogged engine for 14 years that way and when I pulled it out of storage to sell it it fired up with new fuel in the tank as soon as it hit the carb. No stable ever used in that vehicle and it ran like a champ.

With the new 2hp Honda 4strk I bought last year I started using marine stabil from the start. As I trailer saill from the garage the fuel and motor are not in the sun all day degrading and I top off the motor's fuel tank and close the tank vent when not using the boat. I have not had any problems what so ever. As for winter storage I drained the tank and carb completely, dripped a few cc's of 4 strk oil down the plug hole and pulled the engine thru a couple times. Spring I will start the engine with the old plug burn off the oil and install a new plug.

I am using stable primarily because of all the horror stories I heard about fouled carbs. I believe half the problems folks have are with dirty fuel container. It doesnt take much to block the jets on a four stroke engine like the small outboards. Second problem is small amounts of fuel in a carbs and fuel tanks sitting in the sun and cooling at night =Condensation and fuel degridation much faster than storing fuel in a cooler environment. If I moored or slipped a boat I would still use stabil but my internal tank would be left full my external tanks would go home with me for storage and any fuel lines would be drained. If any carb problems surfaced my next step would be to run the carb dry at the dock.

As they say here, your mileage may vary, good luck to ya,
jimmyb

kpgraci · Jan 31, 2011

I just found a station that sells ethanol free gas, so I filled up my 6 5-gallon cans and added stabil. I also was unaware of a marine version, but the stabil label says its OK for E10, Ethanol free, and Oil/Gas mix.

I use the gas in my 2-stroke outboard, lawn equipment and generator.

HukilauMike · Jan 31, 2011

I used the marine version of Stabil for the first time this summer/fall. I used the regular version for years with good results, but when my stash "expired", I decided to try the marine version. I'll let you know how it comes out in the spring.

Indysailor · Jan 31, 2011

With my '09 Tohatsu 4hp I use Seafoam. Prior to that I had problems starting, but that seems to be resolved. At the same time I also started using fresh fuel every time out so I can't say which helped more. One thing is sure, the new motor is a lot more finicky than my old two stroke.

Winkfish · Feb 2, 2011

Indysailor said:
One thing is sure, the new motor is a lot more finicky than my old two stroke.

You're right there!! My Mercury is a 1985. It's a horse!

monkeybars · Feb 2, 2011

what is this concern with ethanol in fuel.here in az its use in all fuels at 15% has been mandated by state law for over twenty years with no apparent ill effects.ive used it in all manner of vehicles from boats,atv,ultralight a/c, what sort of problems are you expecting to encounter??

Indysailor · Feb 2, 2011

ray carlson said:
what is this concern with ethanol in fuel.here in az its use in all fuels at 15% has been mandated by state law for over twenty years with no apparent ill effects.ive used it in all manner of vehicles from boats,atv,ultralight a/c, what sort of problems are you expecting to encounter??

My understanding is that alcohol in the fuel causes it to "absorb" moisture. Our relative humidity in July is around 90%, so I wonder if that may account for more difficulty than one might experience in AZ.

Winkfish · Feb 2, 2011

ray carlson said:
what is this concern with ethanol in fuel.here in az its use in all fuels at 15% has been mandated by state law for over twenty years with no apparent ill effects.ive used it in all manner of vehicles from boats,atv,ultralight a/c, what sort of problems are you expecting to encounter??

Ray, when adding ethanol became an issue in Louisiana a couple of years ago, a local mechanic wrote this article for Louisiana Sportsman Magazine. Hank, the author, is known as The Boat Doctor. Here's his take on ethanol.

Ethanol should be avoided at all costs
By Hank Johnston (Louisiana Sportsman)
June 29, 2009

If your local station includes ethanol in its fuel, tow your boat somewhere else to fill up.
I look forward each month to receiving my issue of Soundings Trade Only Magazine. This magazine is full of information and news for and about the marine industry.

In this month’s issue was an article about ethanol and some of the concerns expressed by experts in the marine industry regarding a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency to increase the ethanol blend in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. This petition has been submitted by a lobbying group that represents ethanol producers.

It was approximately 30 years ago that the EPA first mandated a 10-percent limit on ethanol when mixed with gasoline. Ethanol cost more to produce than gasoline — so much more that the federal government actually subsidizes the producers over 50 cents per gallon via a tax credit, and engines actually get less gas mileage on E10 than they would on good ol’ gasoline.

Ethanol for fuel is highly refined beverage (grain) alcohol, approximately 200 proof. It can be produced from natural products such as corn, sugarcane and wheat. Ethanol used for fuel has been ‘denatured,’ or rendered unsafe to drink, by the addition of a hydrocarbon (usually gasoline).

When the EPA first directed the production of oxygenated gasoline to help reduce smog, the additive of choice at that time was MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl either). Today most states have outlawed the use of MTBE because it has a nasty habit of working its way through the earth and into the ground water system.

Now ethanol is being used as a substitute to oxygenate gasoline and help reduce smog emissions of internal combustion engines. Ethanol can help us achieve a cleaner environment and may reduce some of our dependence on foreign oil, but we should be aware of the dangers of this product and the effects it may have on our outboard motors.

Ethanol is a water magnet. It will pull water out of the air right through your gas tank vent hose. In our high-humidity climate, this can be especially harmful to your engine. As moisture is absorbed, the molecules of alcohol/water become heavier than the gasoline in the tank, and they settle to the bottom. This process is called “phase separation.”

As more water is absorbed, it will eventually separate all of the ethanol from the gasoline and settle to the bottom of the tank. This will leave you with a lower octane fuel in the tank, and if the separated mixture becomes great enough to reach the fuel pickup tube, it will be sucked up into the engine, where it can clog filters, carburetor jets and fuel injectors. It may even cause your engine to run lean and burn one or more pistons.

Another nasty habit that alcohol has is to act as an extremely efficient solvent. If there is any gum or varnish build up in your tank, the alcohol will dissolve these deposits, and they will be sucked into the engine fuel system. If that weren’t bad enough, the alcohol and water combination mentioned above may also encourage the growth of bacteria in the fuel tank, which turns into sludge and further damages the fuel system.

If your boat is equipped with a fiberglass fuel tank that was manufactured prior to 1992, you may find that the alcohol is causing your fuel tank to decompose. The alcohol actually dissolves the resin that binds the fiberglass fibers of the tank. When this happens, the only solution is a very costly removal and replacement of the tank.

Current law mandates a mixture of no more than 10-percent alcohol. Any mixture that exceeds the 10-percent maximum mandated by law can cause substantial damage to your outboard motor. Fuels containing a higher level of ethanol are not considered acceptable for use in most modern outboard motors. The use of these fuels can void your engine warranty.

In Louisiana, we are fortunate that we have ethanol gas pump labeling laws. By state law, if a dealer has ethanol added to the gasoline, he must post an E10 sticker on the pump.

If you have any doubts about the fuel that you are purchasing, you may want to invest in an ethanol fuel test kit. I found these kits through a Google search for “ethanol alcohol fuel test kit.” The one that I found cost approximately $25 plus shipping and handling.

You can simply test the fuel content at the pump before purchasing. It is a quick, two-step process, and it will give you results from 0- to 30-percent alcohol. I have seen reports of alcohol levels in excess of 40 percent in another state. This test kit could save you a lot of headaches.

So what can you do to minimize the possibility of having engine problems related to ethanol? On almost every web site I visited, the No. 1 recommendation was to avoid using ethanol fuel if possible. Second on the list would be the installation of a 10-micron water-separating fuel filter system in your boat.

If you have ethanol fuel in your gas tank, do not allow it to set up for more than 90 days. Remember ethanol pulls water from the air, which degrades the octane of the gasoline in your tank. The shelf life of ethanol is much shorter than 100-percent gasoline.

Be extremely careful in using any fuel additives. Read the label carefully. If it contains alcohol in any form or quantity, do not add it to your gas tank. You will be increasing the alcohol percentage in the gasoline and risking damage to your engine. Fuel stabilizer is a must, but only those brands that do not have alcohol components.

One last caution: There is no such thing as a miracle product. Once you have phase separation in your fuel tank, the only way to cure the problem is to drain the tank, clean it and dry it. The fuel lines will have to be purged and the carburetors or injectors cleaned.

I won’t make a recommendation on whether to keep your gas tank full. I have seen opinions on both sides of the issue. Using your boat more often may be a better solution — if the wife will let you get away with it.

Joe11688 · Feb 2, 2011

I add Sta-Bil to my left over outboard gasoline while it's stored in the shed for the winter. Outside of that, I don't use anything in my tank nor do I have a Racon filter. In the summer when my boat is on the mooring, I get aboard and and just shake the gas tank up before I start the outboard. My friend Wayne uses Sta-Bil in each tank of gas. We have 10% Ethanol in our gas up here. It's not so much that this crap attracts water, it also breaks down the lubricants that can destroy two stroke engines and this is the reason why I shake up the fuel tank before I kick the outboard over. My Johnson is a 1999 and it starts on the third pull, and runs like a top.
Joe