Another Fuel Question.

[starweldpro16]

Hey all. I did a little searching here and found some good fuel / winterizing suggestions. There is one question I still don't have answered. I run ethanol treatment every fill up. Yama- lube  ethanol treatment. Do I still need a stabilizer for winterizing my outboard? I don't want to dump a dose of stabil in the tank if the Yama-lube treatment is enough. My tank will be about half full,so I can cut it some with fresh fuel in the spring if needed. Just wondering.Thanks!

[Smokinal]

I would.I don't think it would hurt and it's cheap insurance for a clean start in the spring. Also, I'd fill the tank, not leave it half full. Less room in the tank = less condensation = less water in the gas.

[Way2slow]

I don't run Yama-Lube, it's supposed to be good stuff, and I think it has a stabilizer, check the bottle and see. If it does, I would not worry about Stabil. Which I don't use either, SeaFoam has been my choice for many years, very good stuff.

[starweldpro16]

I don't have a bottle handy,but here is the stuff.  Maybe just top off the tank with more of the same and call it good?

 

 

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/936/36711/Yamalube-Fuel-Med-RX

[Way2slow]

Says right on that bottle its a stabalizer, should be all you need.

[tcbass]

I always put Stabil Marine and Seafoam in my gas tank when I fill up. That way if something happens to me and my boat has to be stored the gas is already taken care of.

[Way2slow]

That's kind of over kill.  SeaFoam does everything Stabil will do and then some.  I don't run old gas, period, don't care how good or how long an additive is suppose to be good for, but SeaFoam is said to be good for a year.  

 

I run SeaFoam to help keep the carbon and deposit off the rings and pistons, not for the gas stabilization.  If my boat has gone a couple of months without being used, I pump what gas is in it out (there's where electric fuel pumps are worth their weight in gold) and put fresh gas in.  I only put in what I think I going to burn and try to make sure there's not more than a couple of gallons left in the tank.

 

The biggest problem with letting gas sit, beside it breaking down, which a stabilizer will help prevent, is the octane.  I live in the south, boats outside under a canvas cover and it gets pretty dang hot in the summer.  The octane evaporates out the gas very quickly under those conditions, even with stabilizer.   In as little as four weeks, it can be low enough to damage many of these newer motors, and the very old motors that have high compression for the gas that was available during their day.

 

Now, motors made in the 80's and on up to the computer controlled motors of today, they have a little fudge factor to allow for this junk gas we have now.  Even in the 90's and on, some motors required 91-93 octane and those can get very expensive if you trying to run old gas in them.

 

For me, having a couple extra gallons of gas to use in the mower etc, is a lot cheaper than a blown power head.

[starweldpro16]

I always put Stabil Marine and Seafoam in my gas tank when I fill up. That way if something happens to me and my boat has to be stored the gas is already taken care of.

Makes sense to me. 

[Glenn]

I ALWAYS run Yamaha Ring Free + Stabil Marine Ethanol Treatment with EVERY tank, without fail, regardless of time of year.  I started this practice on the advice of my Yamaha mechanic in 2008 after blowing my engine twice.  Never had a problem since.

[Fishing Rhino]

For what it's worth.  I add the stabilizer to my boat's fuel, and to the five gallon gas jugs that I have for the lawnmowers, rototiller, lawn edger, and emergency generator.

 

Prior to that, the lawn edger's tank had to be drained and filled with fresh gas, or it would not start.  Everything else would start.  I started treating all the gas I get except for what goes in our road vehicles and it cured the starting problem with the edger. 

[S Hovanec]

The last few years, I just drain my tank and not worry about it. I run the old boat gas in my truck and snowblower. I do run blue StaBil all season tho.

[F14A-B]

I ran stabil in my fuel/ oil mix & fogged my Yamaha every year.... Never, ever a problem..

My Dad, used to do nothing to his merc.. He never had a motor problem in 23 years of running

All this sugar in our fuel is soo redicilous it drives me nuts,

[200racing]

dont foget to run your motor till the treated gas can get into the whole system.

[Long Mike]

Stabil and its relatives are good products, but don't overlook StarTron.  Not only is it an excellent stabilizer, it also has de-gunking properties that, with consistent use, will keep your carburetors or injectors squeaky clean.  I've been using it religiously for years and add it to every tank of gas.  Come the end of the season I winterize my boat by trimming the motor all the way down to drain any water.  That's it.  StarTron does the rest.  The boat is parked outside, under a canvas cover, so it is definitely exposed to the elements, including temperatures approaching zero.  When the weather warms enough to take the boat out on the water, I know the engine will fire up almost immediately, despite the fact that it has been sitting there for months with a half tank of gas in the tank.  BTW, I have no affiliation with StarTron, I simply believe that it has an outstanding product.

[Fishing Rhino]

When I have my boat winterized, it also consists of fogging the engine to coat all the internals with a film of oil and/or rust inhibitor.

 

I also have them check the impeller, and lube all the pivot points.  Cheap insurance.  It only takes a tiny spot of corrosion to cause big problems after sitting through the off season.

[geo g]

I have always heard you should keep your tank topped off if it is going to sit for any length of time.  The gas will break down and water form if there is air in the tank.  I would top it off.

[starweldpro16]

Stabil and its relatives are good products, but don't overlook StarTron.  Not only is it an excellent stabilizer, it also has de-gunking properties that, with consistent use, will keep your carburetors or injectors squeaky clean.  I've been using it religiously for years and add it to every tank of gas.  Come the end of the season I winterize my boat by trimming the motor all the way down to drain any water.  That's it.  StarTron does the rest.  The boat is parked outside, under a canvas cover, so it is definitely exposed to the elements, including temperatures approaching zero.  When the weather warms enough to take the boat out on the water, I know the engine will fire up almost immediately, despite the fact that it has been sitting there for months with a half tank of gas in the tank.  BTW, I have no affiliation with StarTron, I simply believe that it has an outstanding product.

I did a web search for StarTron and found various applications. Bright,concentrate,marine. Which version do you use?

[tcbass]

I have always heard you should keep your tank topped off if it is going to sit for any length of time.  The gas will break down and water form if there is air in the tank.  I would top it off.

 

 

 

 

The problem with this is there will always be some air pockets and that's where water could form. It's basically impossible to have a fully filled tank I'd think.