So what's a generic rule of thumb on how long one's going to sit for when you should consider adding a fuel stabilizer?? Found lots of info, but didn't really find anything talking about that.

My trucks getting ready to sit for a while. I wouldn't call it a full on storage, but I doubt the wife will run out more than a full tank of gas over the next six months. The slow driving period won't last any longer than about six months though. Would you still add some?

 

i added some to my truck when i put in storage for the winter. i would add some if it would sit over 2 months. its only $8 a bottle anyway, so why not for the piece of mind.

 

My dad is retired from the oil/fuel business. He told me recently that stabilizer is not necessary with the detergents they use in gasoline now. That being said, I still have have a bottle of stabilizer around here somewhere.

 

Yea...based on what the inside of the gas tank on my motorcycle that sat all fall/winter last year with no stabilizer in it looked like, can't say I buy that one.

I guess that stuff has no effect on cylinders or performance or anything like that???

 

I don't know. I have left gas in the lawn mower all winter. Chain saw for a couple years. Might take an extra pull or two but they always start. Chain saw is a Stihl Farmboss I got from my dad. The thing is 30 plus years old. I'll bet he hadn't used it for years before giving it to me. Started right up. Maybe the poly fuel tank makes a difference.

 

6 months is nothing to worry about. I store my car that long every year. if your looking at a year thats when you start to concern yourself with things like fuel stabilizer. When you get back to it drive out most of the gas and get a fresh tank. Fill it up to store..

 

Ethanol blended fuel is much less tolerant of storage than non-blended. The "official" number for E10 is three months but from experience, I know it can last longer. Last year I had my first case of phase separation in E10 in a stored small engine and that was a nasty problem to deal with. It literally dissolved the brass float in a Kohler engine and severely corroded the float chamber to the point where I had to replace the whole carburetor. I was lazy and paid the price. I got religion now.

I store some gas for my generator and always use the Marine ethanol formula StaBil. I rotate the fuel every six months, either putting it in my truck or using it for the mowers. Never a problem, even with the can I accidentally left for 18 months.

Serious problems are unlikely in six months if the car is stored in a dry, temperature stable environment. Humidity and wide , rapid temerpature swings are what can induce phase separation. Either way, if it were my car, I would use the ethanol formula stabilizer for six months. It's a fuel system cleaner too, so it has other benefits.

 

Well, one things more than the other from a certainty standpoint...no harm can come from using it. Plus if it ends up sitting, it's in there!

 

He told me recently that stabilizer is not necessary with the detergents they use in gasoline now.

 

Find some ethenol free gas if you can and add stabilizer.

 

I don't see where detergents alone would solve the problem of old gas. Detergent suspends deposits and sludge so it exits the system rather than accumulating. Stabilizer prevents gasoline from separating into varnish and solids, because gasoline is a solution that doesn't want to stay mixed forever. The gas is still going to separate though the detergent may prevent a moderate amount from settling in the tank. I'd run the tank low and and a small amount of stabilizer....that way if you get it out of storage in the summer you don't have to run much winter blend.