[abillmann]

Hey all,

Just curious on the group consensus about using fuel stabilizer during the boating season. There have been (or will be) several periods where my boat will be sitting for up to 10 days without use, and it's very common that it might sit for 4 days. We don't burn up all that much gas, either.

Given that, would it be a good idea to squirt in a little stabilizer with each fueling? Or is that a potential problem?

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by abillmann

Hey all,

Just curious on the group consensus about using fuel stabilizer during the boating season.

To the best of my knowledge: There's no down-side to using a product like Stabil, providing you keep to the recommended amounts.

Originally Posted by abillmann

There have been (or will be) several periods where my boat will be sitting for up to 10 days without use, and it's very common that it might sit for 4 days. We don't burn up all that much gas, either.

You don't need it, IMO. Not for those periods. You need stabilizer for when the fuel will sit for months, not weeks.

Jim

[1999Mariah]

If you're one of the few that can find a gas station withOUT up to 10% ethanol, then you're fine, otherwise, for ANY period of time, you should use a stabilizer or enzyme treatment as the ethanol is horrifically bad for your motor. And you can't really use too much as stabilizer and other similar treatments are fuel themselves.

[MAJIC]

If you can't get Ethanol free fuel, you really do need to treat the fuel. Ethanol plays havoc with water, gunk in the tank, even the tank itself. If you can find a Valvtect marina - then that fuel is treated with Valvtect. Boat U.S. had a good writeup on this. Here's the link: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/boatus/200907/#/60. Also here's a link to another thread if you're interested: http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...d.php?t=542817

[abillmann]

The last of our ethanol-free stations switched over last spring.

So how about an appropriate dose of a little STP carb/fuel injector cleaner, along with a bit of Stabil in each fillup?

//I'm very much in the "ounce of prevention" camp, but moreso in the "don't waste your money and cause yourself more problems" camp.

[SEMIJim]

Our sailboat, which has a 4-cylinder Atomic-4 auxiliary engine (gasoline) with a 20 ga. metal fuel tank, spends November through April on the hard, here in S.E. Michigan. For the two winter seasons we've owned her, I've filled the tank to the top and used Sta-Bil. So far she's given us no trouble starting up in the spring and running throughout the season.

I expect I'll use Sta-Bil, perhaps the new marine version, in our new-to-us Mariah, as well.

Jim

[rusty]

as far as stabilizers go,my brother runs outboards-ALLOT-and since the intro of ethanol,he has began running into problems with ill running engines.Tried sta-bil and did'nt have much luck.Has since started using a product by Starbright called Startron "enzyme" and has had terrific success with his motors running more smoothly.I pulled it up on-line it not only is a fuel additive for water/moisture displacement,but it also neutralizes the ethanol content,or something like that.At any rate,it works really well.Upon reading it also helps protect fiberglass and poly fuel tanks as ethanol gas can have some damaging effects on that as well.The product can be purchased at Wal-mart in the boating section.I've been using Seafoam on a regular basis just for added security-I do'nt feel very positive about the etanol addition to fuel,I mean anything the government pushes,well,you know.I am switching to "Enzyme" at my next fill-up and will start using it on a reg basis.

[abillmann]

Rusty: Excellent information. I'll look for that stuff!

In the meantime, I'm running 91 octane fuel with no ethanol (available from my local BP station) and I'll throw in a little Stabil and carb cleaner from time to time. Haven't had any problems yet (knocking on wood). Hopefully, that combination will keep everything running smooth and clean.

[SEMIJim]

There's a new Sta-Bil formulated for marine applications. That's what I've decided to use in our boats.

Jim