Ok this is more a question of truths or mis-truths, here's my story.
For years and years I have been using Stabil in gas tanks. My father collects antique cars and also does this as they don't get used all winter, nor much in the summer for that matter.
Stabil has worked for me, or maybe it has not, I don't know but I still add it. In the last couple of weeks I have, again, for about the 25th year had a chance to prove to myself that old gas is not necessarily bad.
Example #1: In 1996 I purchased a Generac generator for our house. We used it during the ice storm in the 90's, it got used hard, and since then has maybe had 40 minutes of use once every other year or so. Fortunately or unfortunately we live down the street from a US Senator and get the same power feed so we rarely ever lose power.
The old gas that was in it last week when I fired it, due to the ice storm, up was still 1996 gas!!!!! We lost power, actually quite a long loss for us, and the generator ran perfectly & smoothly with no smoke or issues. I ran an additional 15 gallons of fresh fuel through it which I too stabilized. The only thing I have ever done to this generator is use it, add Stabil and then while running turn off the fuel supply valve to run the carb out of gas. I did also change the oil after break in but that's it... 1996 gas!!!!!!!!!
Example #2: My snowblower is now over 20 years old with a Tecumseh Snow King engine. It sits for about 8 months per year, every year, with last seasons gas in it. In twenty years I have changed one belt, LOTS of 5/16" shear pins, and the oil just twice. Just for grins I replaced the ORIGINAL spark plug yesterday. It made no difference and it still runs perfectly, as it did with the twenty year old spark plug. In the spring, for summer storage, all I do is add Stabil, start it and turn off the gas tank valve and run the carb dry.
Example #3: My 2000 Johnson 4hp. twin cylinder two stroke also sits every winter with last seasons gas and Stabil. Even though this is a two stroke I have yet to replace the plugs. All I have done to this motor is to replace the impeller, use Stabil and run it dry via the gas shut off valve. In eight years this motor has not so much as hiccuped..
Example #4: My fathers 8 classic cars none of which have shown any sort of detrement or excess carb junk in the 40+ years he's been collecting add more to this question? He I I have torn into numerous engines and carbs over the years and found more gasket/o-ring issues than any sort of varnish or gum..
So my question is this. Does Stabil really work that well or is it just another scam we've bought into? If I left the gas from 1996 in my generator, well beyond even the what Stabil label states, does gas really ever go bad if it still runs perfectly with no issues?
I read of lots of boaters panicking over old gas and I've never panicked and also never ever had a gas related issue??? Perhaps I'm just very lucky??
P.S. I have seen the inside of the carb on my Johnson OB after some friends tipped my POS Wakler Bay near shore and dunked my motor. It looked like new in there and this was after six seasons of "bad" gas..
What do you guys think and has anyone else been as brave or dumb as me in trusting "bad" gas..?
For years and years I have been using Stabil in gas tanks. My father collects antique cars and also does this as they don't get used all winter, nor much in the summer for that matter.
Stabil has worked for me, or maybe it has not, I don't know but I still add it. In the last couple of weeks I have, again, for about the 25th year had a chance to prove to myself that old gas is not necessarily bad.
Example #1: In 1996 I purchased a Generac generator for our house. We used it during the ice storm in the 90's, it got used hard, and since then has maybe had 40 minutes of use once every other year or so. Fortunately or unfortunately we live down the street from a US Senator and get the same power feed so we rarely ever lose power.
The old gas that was in it last week when I fired it, due to the ice storm, up was still 1996 gas!!!!! We lost power, actually quite a long loss for us, and the generator ran perfectly & smoothly with no smoke or issues. I ran an additional 15 gallons of fresh fuel through it which I too stabilized. The only thing I have ever done to this generator is use it, add Stabil and then while running turn off the fuel supply valve to run the carb out of gas. I did also change the oil after break in but that's it... 1996 gas!!!!!!!!!
Example #2: My snowblower is now over 20 years old with a Tecumseh Snow King engine. It sits for about 8 months per year, every year, with last seasons gas in it. In twenty years I have changed one belt, LOTS of 5/16" shear pins, and the oil just twice. Just for grins I replaced the ORIGINAL spark plug yesterday. It made no difference and it still runs perfectly, as it did with the twenty year old spark plug. In the spring, for summer storage, all I do is add Stabil, start it and turn off the gas tank valve and run the carb dry.
Example #3: My 2000 Johnson 4hp. twin cylinder two stroke also sits every winter with last seasons gas and Stabil. Even though this is a two stroke I have yet to replace the plugs. All I have done to this motor is to replace the impeller, use Stabil and run it dry via the gas shut off valve. In eight years this motor has not so much as hiccuped..
Example #4: My fathers 8 classic cars none of which have shown any sort of detrement or excess carb junk in the 40+ years he's been collecting add more to this question? He I I have torn into numerous engines and carbs over the years and found more gasket/o-ring issues than any sort of varnish or gum..
So my question is this. Does Stabil really work that well or is it just another scam we've bought into? If I left the gas from 1996 in my generator, well beyond even the what Stabil label states, does gas really ever go bad if it still runs perfectly with no issues?
I read of lots of boaters panicking over old gas and I've never panicked and also never ever had a gas related issue??? Perhaps I'm just very lucky??
P.S. I have seen the inside of the carb on my Johnson OB after some friends tipped my POS Wakler Bay near shore and dunked my motor. It looked like new in there and this was after six seasons of "bad" gas..
What do you guys think and has anyone else been as brave or dumb as me in trusting "bad" gas..?