Many of us use fuel stabilizers in our machines when we store them for the off-season in the hopes of having an easier time starting them when the time comes. This is a good practice but if you are not using the right product or using the incorrect amounts it can do more harm than good. We cover the two most common types of fuel stabilizers and explain why one might suit your needs more than another.
Sta-bil
Sta-bil over the years has become a household name when it comes to fuel stabilizers. They promote that if you use their product it will keep your fuel fresher longer and you will have less trouble with your machines. The one thing that they don’t tell you is how it works.
Fuel stabilizers like Sta-bil are a glycol based product, which is more similar to an anti-freeze than a petroleum product like gasoline. Once it’s added to your fuel it separates and creates a thin film on top of the fuel which keeps out the air and more importantly keeps out moisture. The problem with that is if the fuel gets bumped, moved, or shifted in any way, that thin film breaks and does not re-seal itself, letting that air and moisture get to your fuel.
A fuel stabilizer like this is more suited for larger items that can’t be easily jostled such as cars, boats or campers things that are going to be parked in on spot undisturbed for a long time.
Sea Foam
Another popular name in fuel stabilizers is a product called Sea Foam. This is a multipurpose fuel stabilizer and cleaner. This is a petroleum based product that offers you similar protection but with an added bonus of cleaning the internal components as it burns.
The best part about this product is that it mixes with the fuel as opposed to separating itself which means you can shake, move, or bump your piece of equipment without the worry of exposing your fuel to moisture. This is a better fuel stabilizer for small engines such as lawn mowers, snow blowers or handheld trimmers as they tend to be disturbed more.
The differences in these two fuel stabilizers are clear. Both offer protection from air and moisture, and both help to extend the life of your fuel but they should be used in different applications.
Fuel stabilizers are great for proper small engine equipment storage but they do have their drawbacks. Adding a stabilizer to your fuel does not guarantee that it will keep the gas fresh for the entire off-season. A considerable amount of our customers express frustration with equipment that has bad fuel in its tank. Most claim they have used a product like Sta-bil or another glycol based stabilizers.
Since the glycol separates itself from the fuel it doesn’t offer the greatest protection for your fuel. It’s usually an easy fix; all we have to do is flush the fuel system and change the spark plug and the machine will start up without any problems. When choosing a stabilizer try to look for something that is petroleum based so it can mix with the fuel.
You May Also Enjoy These Articles:
How to Store Small Engine Equipment
5 Reasons Pre-Mixed Fuel is Best
How to Mix the Correct Ratio of Fuel and Oil
Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.
Weingartz
11875 Northland Dr.
Cedar Springs, MI 49319
(616) 696-2913
info@weingartz.com
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