What is Stabill for?

[SFRT - Frenchy]

So 2 years ago, I was driving my old 73 firebird and I blew up a freeze plug. Stood by the side of the freeway waiting for a tow truck taking a steam bath. I finally deciided to get to it. I put a rubber freeze plug in the heads, recharged the battery, put some fuel in the carb ... and she cranked right up ... only to notice a leaking fuel pump and fuel lines. A quick trip to Autozone and one hour later I was cranking her up again, let her warm up.

I took her out, and went around the block, stoped at the red light and hammered away, leaving two 50y waving tire marks ... on 2 year old fuel.

So mu question is, why do I keep seing those commercials about Stabill? Is Stabill only a placebo, our fuel quality in the US doesn't require it? I thought fuel was supposed to turn stale after 6 months, but 2 years didn't make a difference, is it because it's an old car without all the electronic mumbojumbo?

[Maverick]

I've had gas go sour and turn into varnish in less than a month before. Granted it was an ethanol blend that AZ. requires for winter driving but it goes nasty fast.

[Ripsnort]

It's spelled "Sta-bil" I believe. And I use it religiously, on lawn mowers, boats, during the winter months. Never had a problem with the fuel, so I stand by the product. 

[Toad]

If you ever cleaned the jelly out of a mower carb after it sat for a year, you'd know. 

I think it has a lot to do with the gas. I know that AVGAS can sit around a loooong time and still work.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I guess I got lucky then  I never had problem in my Weed wacker or landmower either yet, letting them sit for the 4-5 months of the winter. Maybe it doen't affect the 4 cycles engines that run on regular as much like a car, it's made more for 2 cycles.

[CAP1]

So 2 years ago, I was driving my old 73 firebird and I blew up a freeze plug. Stood by the side of the freeway waiting for a tow truck taking a steam bath. I finally deciided to get to it. I put a rubber freeze plug in the heads, recharged the battery, put some fuel in the carb ... and she cranked right up ... only to notice a leaking fuel pump and fuel lines. A quick trip to Autozone and one hour later I was cranking her up again, let her warm up.

I took her out, and went around the block, stoped at the red light and hammered away, leaving two 50y waving tire marks ... on 2 year old fuel.

So mu question is, why do I keep seing those commercials about Stabill? Is Stabill only a placebo, our fuel quality in the US doesn't require it? I thought fuel was supposed to turn stale after 6 months, but 2 years didn't make a difference, is it because it's an old car without all the electronic mumbojumbo?

my shadow 1100 sat of just over a year and a half, and would not start.....due to stale gas. that's what stabil is for. gas does go bad. it gums up carbs, injectore\s, etc....

[storch]

stabil is a fuel stabilizer which prevents either gasoline or diesel from breaking down.  as another poster mentioned the blended fuels (E90-E85) which are all that are available currently break down faster than 100% gasoline.  by adding an ounce of stabil to each 2.5 gallons of fuel you prevent the break down and the subsequent problems, especially in small carb engines.  we buy it in the quart bottles by the case.  each quart treats eighty gallons.

[Charon]

My weed wacker sputtered out on me last weekend. After an hour or so and getting carpal tunnel in my right forearm from trying to start it and screwing with all sorts of stuff I mixed up some fresh gas and it ran fine. Knock on wood, so far, but no carb cleaning required.

Charon

[CAP1]

My weed wacker sputtered out on me last weekend. After an hour or so and getting carpal tunnel in my right forearm from trying to start it and screwing with all sorts of stuff I mixed up some fresh gas and it ran fine. Knock on wood, so far, but no carb cleaning required.

Charon

i didn't get that lucky with my bike. i tried that, flushed fres fuel through the carbs, but she still wouldn't run right. i was gonna pull the carbs myself, but decided that i'd spend waaaayyyy too much time doing it. took it to the bike shop around the corner..they cut me a good break on the price, and she runs beautifully...actually better than i remember her ever running.

[VonMessa]

Gasoline turns to varnish over time.

Yes, almost exactly like wood varnish, and it coats everything like a wood varnish would.

Best bet is to run out all old fuel, put in fresh, add sta-bil, and run equipment for a few minutes.

This is especially important on engines with float-type carburetor(s).   It gums up the works.

I worked part-time at a local mower shop for years and I couldn't tell you how many unhappy customers I had to deal with when presenting them with a bill for cleaning their carb.

It pays (or saves $ at least)  to run the mower, etc dry at the end of the season. 

[Ripsnort]

Not sure if others do this, but my power tools that retire for the winter....I run them dry until they run out of gas, then close the choke all the way (to prevent misguided bugs from finding their way into the carb) and store them. This eliminates the need for Stabil in this case.

I do use Stabil for the 35 gallon tank on the boat, as it's sort of hard to run it dry while on the lake.

Edit: Just read Von's post above.  Agreed. No gas means no gumming!

[MiloMorai]

When I put the Harley away for the winter always added Sta-bil. Take it around the block to make sure some of the Sta-bil is in the carb. Shut off the fuel and run the carb dry. So far no spring time starting problems.

[CAP1]

When I put the Harley away for the winter always added Sta-bil. Take it around the block to make sure some of the Sta-bil is in the carb. Shut off the fuel and run the carb dry. So far no spring time starting problems.

a harley with no starting problems? it can't be!!


sorry, i couldn't resist........if i could afford that kinda money for a bike, i might have one......unless i found a nice goldwing instead.

[Ripsnort]

a harley with no starting problems? it can't be!!


sorry, i couldn't resist........if i could afford that kinda money for a bike, i might have one......unless i found a nice goldwing instead.

AMF sold the company in 1981. You might be too young to remember the days of walking into a Harley Davidson dealership  and seeing new Harley's dripping oil on the showroom floor....

Whoops, I drifted from the topic, this topic may not be "stable" anymore!

[CAP1]

AMF sold the company in 1981. You might be too young to remember the days of walking into a Harley Davidson dealership  and seeing new Harley's dripping oil on the showroom floor....

Whoops, I drifted from the topic, this topic may not be "stable" anymore!

i'm 46

from my experience with harleys, they pretty much sucked. the guys i knew were always working on them, while i was riding. i've always owned hondas.

 then amf bought them i think in the mid 70's? they went from bad to worse. when amf sold them back to american investors, the quality skyrocketed, and as i mentioned, i would own a late 90's or newer one.

seriously, though, if i buy another bike, it'll be a goldwing(sheesh i MUST be getting old). if not that, then a cessna