Ethanol Fuel Treatment?

[offcamber]

Anyone adding an Ethanol Fuel treatment to their S-10. I have been having issues with my outboard motor and the local marine mechanic has said he sees a lot of damage from ethanol in the fuel. Granted the damage was in engines that were stored over the winter with fuel in them. Although in my case the problem wasn't due to ethanol directly but it was do to the fuel tank having crap in it as a result of old gas sitting in it for two years....even with the tank flushed out it still had crap in it which clogged the carbs.

I was thinking unless its bad for the S10 fuel injection, ethanol treatment may be a good idea for winter storage...

 

[Ironhand]

I use marine Stabil during storage, but nothing during the riding season. 100% of the issues I see in my shop that I can attribute to fuel issues involve non-fuel injected machines that like you said have been sitting.

 

[avc8130]

Fuel is expensive enough, I don't go adding anything unless it is going to sit.

The only fuel on my property that gets treatment is my red gas cans. They get stabilizer when I fill them from the station. That way, by the time the fuel makes it to the tiller and sits there for 6 months, I know it has been stabilized.

ac

 

[offcamber]

I wasn't suggesting it for regular use just storage for long periods like over the winter. I would get expensive to add it to every tank...I go through 2-3 tanks week...that would add about $20 per week to keep adding ethanol treatment.

 

[snakebitten]

Fuel is expensive enough, I don't go adding anything unless it is going to sit.

The only fuel on my property that gets treatment is my red gas cans. They get stabilizer when I fill them from the station. That way, by the time the fuel makes it to the tiller and sits there for 6 months, I know it has been stabilized.

ac

I wish I had your discipline. I say I will every time the lawnmower, weedeater, chainsaw won't start. I even buy all the additives and put it on a shelf with 40 years of other American Garage products.

What is wrong with me?

 

[offcamber]

I have had 2 stroke fuel sit in fuel cans for a very long time and not go bad....I think the oil stabilizes the fuel...maybe there is an additive in it that does this....

Just been my experience.

I'm ditching the VRO in my outboard for a straight fuel pump and will premix the fuel....safer that way.....

 

[avc8130]

I wish I had your discipline. I say I will every time the lawnmower, weedeater, chainsaw won't start. I even buy all the additives and put it on a shelf with 40 years of other American Garage products.

What is wrong with me?

That is WHY I started the new method. I used to try to remember to go around and stabilize in the fall when the mower/wacker/sawer/tiller/etcer were getting put away. Inevitably I would be pulling at least 1 carb in the Spring.

Then I switched to stabilizing the red can 5 gallons when I fill it. Now everything gets treated gas. Sure, I waste a bit more stabilizer as I go through ~20 gallons of gas in the mower that probably didn't need stabilizer, but it sure is easier than having yet another activity added to the plate in the fall.

ac

 

[Kevhunts]

I was thinking unless its bad for the S10 fuel injection, ethanol treatment may be a good idea for winter storage...

What treatment is there for ethanol? Ethanol is an alcohol which attracts moisture. It's the moisture that causes corrosion, etc.
Fuel stabilizer, I believe, just slows the rate of evaporation. I think the evaporation of fuel is what leaves behind that gum & varnish-like deposits.
If you plan on storing a unit for longer than 2 months, your best bet is to drain out all the fuel.

 

[offcamber]

What treatment is there for ethanol? Ethanol is an alcohol which attracts moisture. It's the moisture that causes corrosion, etc.
Fuel stabilizer, I believe, just slows the rate of evaporation. I think the evaporation of fuel is what leaves behind that gum & varnish-like deposits.
If you plan on storing a unit for longer than 2 months, your best bet is to drain out all the fuel.

Just one example

 

[Kevhunts]

Just one example

I'm a fan of Sta-Bil marine grade mix but this is new to me. Hopefully it is not the same old stuff with a new label.

 

[hANNAbONE]

I throw Lucas injector cleaner in once n a while...runs thru it fine.

 

[sail2xxs]

I have had 2 stroke fuel sit in fuel cans for a very long time and not go bad....I think the oil stabilizes the fuel...maybe there is an additive in it that does this....

Just been my experience.

I'm ditching the VRO in my outboard for a straight fuel pump and will premix the fuel....safer that way.....

I'm certain there's an additive in some of the 2 stroke oils - the Ryobi stuff I use in my Husqvarna chainsaw and Stihl weedwacker has it. The saw gets run at least weekly all year long; weedwacker sits for 6-8 months and always starts on the 3rd or 4th pull.

Chris

 

[sail2xxs]

What treatment is there for ethanol? Ethanol is an alcohol which attracts moisture. It's the moisture that causes corrosion, etc.
Fuel stabilizer, I believe, just slows the rate of evaporation. I think the evaporation of fuel is what leaves behind that gum & varnish-like deposits.
If you plan on storing a unit for longer than 2 months, your best bet is to drain out all the fuel.

Probably not a bad idea, but the back of the Stabil bottle says to double the dosage if putting a machine up for longer term storage - I've been doing this with my DR towable leaf vac since 2008, and the engine starts right up after sitting for 9 months. I run it with the double dosage for the last two tanks just to be sure.

Chris

 

[patrickg450]

go to your yamaha dealer and get the yamaha stabilizer, well worth it.

 

[Kevhunts]

Probably not a bad idea, but the back of the Stabil bottle says to double the dosage if putting a machine up for longer term storage - I've been doing this with my DR towable leaf vac since 2008, and the engine starts right up after sitting for 9 months. I run it with the double dosage for the last two tanks just to be sure.

Chris

I've been using Sta-bil in all my equipment for years with good success but I'm wondering what they changed to allow them to claim "ethanol treatment".

 

[sail2xxs]

I've been using Sta-bil in all my equipment for years with good success but I'm wondering what they changed to allow them to claim "ethanol treatment".

I kind of figure it's marketing malarkey!

 

[cottons]

I use a product called Star-Tron, I get it in the boat section of Wally world or at my Lowes. It really works. I use it in everything I own. 2stroke or 4 stroke. I have vintage bikes that sit for long periods of time. Even did an MPG test in my truck and I get better mileage-- more than enough to pay for the product. It does address the moisture in the fuel from Ethanol http://mystarbrite.com/startron/

 

[LubeSuppliers.com]

The main problem with ethanol fuels is water contamination in the fuel. Very small amounts of water can be "absorbed" by the ethanol; however if the total water content in the fuel passes a threshold - it causes a condition known as phase separation. Ethanol is chemically bonded to gasoline in a normal e-10 or 10% ethanol fuel you get at the gas station. However, this bond is not particularly strong. The chemical attraction that ethanol has to water is much stronger than the bond it has with gasoline. It actually doesn't require very much water contamination in the fuel for the ethanol to release it's bond with the gas and literally join with the water. This causes the water / ethanol mix to physically separate in the tank from the gas (phase separation). If the engine is run the water ethanol mix will enter the fuel system without any gasoline. This can cause a number of major issues such as a lean condition resulting in over heating. This is an extremely big problem on 2-cycle machines if it happens since the engine is not receiving the lubrication from the oil in the gasoline when the water ethanol is going through the engine.

While problems of this nature aren't exactly common - they do happen. I wouldn't recommend using an ethanol treatment all the time; however, I would keep some on hand to use when running in wet conditions. I do recommend it for regular constant use on marine engines. All fuel systems are vented, thus they are all susceptible to water infiltration.

Obviously, I'm going to put in a plug for what I sell... but our Quickshot product is excellent and performs three key functions. It blocks the attraction between ethanol and water preventing phase separation, it cleans your fuel system, and it acts as a short to medium term fuel stabilizer. I sell it most frequently for marine use, but I personally use it regularly in my S10.

Here is video from a fishing show that tells more about it:
AMSOIL Quickshot Fuel Additive - Season #8 - Real Deal

Just my thoughts - good luck with your storage!