Fuel Additive

[thiggy]

I recently went to my local small engine (Stihl, Honda) shop to get some Stabil or similar fuel additive to place with my jerry cans of fresh gas that I keep on hand for my generator and also two cycle engines. There were several choices of similar additives. I purchased one called Startron. see URL http://mystarbrite.com/startron/ Do any of you have any specific knowledge of or experience with this product? Is there any general consensus of opinion concerning the best additives to help keep gas fresh as long as possible? Thanks

[Rodney51Cub]

There are many fuel additives on the market nowadays. I work at a lawn mower dealership. Each time our sales reps come in they have the latest and greatest fuel stabilizer. I have used Stabil at home for about 8 years now without a problem. We use Startron at work. When we setup a new mower, Startron is added to the fuel. Mowers are run for about ten minutes and then run again about every six weeks until they are sold. For the price, I believe Stabil and Startron are the best out there.

Rodney

[thiggy]

Thanks for your reply, Rodney.

[ScottyD'sdad]

I've used Startron, for about 2 years. Seems to be slih=ghtly better than Stabil, to me. Ed

[Buzzard Wing]

Cannot say for certain how it works as a fuel stabilizer, but it is listed on the SeaFoam label. Been on sale lately around here. Also good for a variety of other uses in both the fuel and oil for cleaning up carbon and what not.

[thiggy]

Buzz, what do you mean that it is listed on the SeaFoam label?

[Buzzard Wing]

There is a lot listed, including fuel stablizer (two years). It really does seem to work well for everything I have used it for....

http://www.seafoamsales.com/sea-foam-motor-treatment/

[thiggy]

Thanks for the info.

[Medic]

Something to keep in mind with additives is the shelf life of the product. I repair small motors and get a couple every spring that are full of bad fuel and old stabilizer. I still think the best pratice is using small gas cans and draining equipment if its not going to be used for more then a month. Just my two cents.

[Landreo]

Reminds me of kroil. Lots of claims but no evidence to support those claims. May be good stuff but write and ask them for any independent studies to support their claims. If an independent peer reviewed study supports their claims then that would help with trying to decide which if any fuel stabilizer to use. Likely there are none.

I never use fuel stabilizers and have equipment sit for years outside with the same e10 fuel. The starting problems if any are related to corroded points but so far not fuel related.

[Buzzard Wing]

Possibly it's the placebo effect with Kroil, but I wouldn't be without a spray can with straw tearing down a Cub or anything else with rusty bolts. A double-blind test wouldn't change my mind, but could convince me to use a less expensive product if it works as well.

Not as sold on Seafoam, but take a look at the reviews on Amazon.

I know a small engine guy told me Stabil is no good, but he is the same one that instead of removing the broken muffler bolt managed to push it into the piston on my $500 Huskvarna brush cutter. I still have a bunch of useless spare parts. He didn't charge me for the 'repair'

[lombard]

MAYBE SOMEONE WILL REMEMBER THE POST ON MAKING SEA FOAM????-----

BUS DRIVER DO YOU REMEMBER IT????---I KNOW YOU MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT IT????---

[lombard]

-------SURPRISE----SURPRISE----
------------I FOUND IT-----------
---HOME BREW SEA FOAM-----
----4 PARTS DIESEL FUEL----
----2 PARTS NAPHTHA----
----1 PART HEET--( YELLOW BOTTLE--
----DID NOT WRITE DOWN NAME OF
PERSON WHO WROTE IT UP BUT I
HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT------
----HILDSTROM ENGINEERING----
HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT----

[thiggy]

I believe Coleman fuel is naptha. Is Heet methanol?

[lombard]

HI THIGGY

YELLOW BOTTLE OF HEET IS METHANOL------

NAPHTHA AT PAINT STORE IS CHEAPER THAIN COLEMAN FUEL-------

GOOD LUCK
LOMBARD-----SC------