Gas Choice

Sam Spade wrote:

WTP-GC wrote:
But of course, you can eliminate the need for stabilizers if you just use non-ethanol gas.

Like most blanket statements, not universally true. Stabilizers existed prior to ethanol blended gas.

It depends on the storage period, the age of the gas when it went IN and the design of the engine (carb).

The cost of stabilizer is negligible.....IF you only use it during storage periods. I agree that Seafoam is mostly snake oil.

Agreed, storage is dependent on a few things. As I posted earlier, there appears to be regional differences in gas blends and that does make sense.

FWIW, at one time I was the guy on the barge owned by Koch fuels pumping ADM's shipment of ethanol into Koch's fuel distribution facility. Also delivered everything from pure gas oil and, years ago, MTBE. I could have blended my own gasoline, lol.

The stabilizers help to keep stored gas, whether in a can or in an equipment tank from oxidizing and breaking down. Every rubber fuel line from 1990 (or so) and to present is made to withstand 10% ethanol added gas. Personally, I use Stabil but Seafoam is on the shelf for those situations that I want to dissolve any perceived elements in a fuel system. Seafoam seems to have more and higher aromatic solvents than Stabil.

For Honda owners, Seafoam seems the best stabilizer or fuel additive to use. I'm understanding that by what I read and the few times I've had Honda engines in hand. I don't own any Honda gear so take it for what it's worth. I've also read that draining all fuel from the fuel system in Honda generators is a prefered process and there is little to argue about that situation for storage.

Lots of ways to skin the storage cat but I don't have a problem with E10 in my area. I would actually have to travel a few miles to get non-oxygenated gas.