Fuel additives do you use them?

[Dutch]

13 hours ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

 Only put in what you plan on using that day

So do you make a plan and decide how much running you will do that day?

If that is the case then you are a better planner than I am.  I don’t even have a plan for the day except the launch site.  I may go from Cape Fair up to Walnut Springs then decide to try School House.  If that doesn’t work I have been known to head back to the river.  A lot of the time service stations are not even open when I pull out.  I actually feel uncomfortable any time I have less than a 1/2 tank.

[fishinwrench]

18 hours ago, tjm said:

As far as additives being detrimental, I'd have to guess that must depend on the exact additive in question, because all pump gas gets a dose of additives before it comes out of the hose.

Here's the deal:     With a carbureted engine that has adjustable idle jets.... Tuning with fresh fuel that has any type of additive in it, you can turn the jet almost a full turn before noticing any change.  

Dump that out and get fresh fuel with no additive at all.....and immediately 1/4 turn makes a noticable difference in how the engine idles and accelerates.     

Now, what does THAT tell you?    

If you're going to carefully calculate and measure the amount of additive, per gallon of fuel, each time you get gas...... then fine......but honestly, who wants to do that? 

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, Dutch said:

So do you make a plan and decide how much running you will do that day?

If that is the case then you are a better planner than I am.  I don’t even have a plan for the day except the launch site.  I may go from Cape Fair up to Walnut Springs then decide to try School House.  If that doesn’t work I have been known to head back to the river.  A lot of the time service stations are not even open when I pull out.  I actually feel uncomfortable any time I have less than a 1/2 tank.

The lifespan of fuel these days appears to be about 3 months in a sealed system, and about half as long in a vented system.   

It's normal for people to expect to get back out.....but Life Happens sometimes.....so it's common for folks to go out and notice that their outboard is running like crap.  

[tjm]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

The lifespan of fuel these days appears to be about 3 months in a sealed system, and about half as long in a vented system.   

Are you aware of anything that can extend that life? or anything that can revive the deteriorated fuel?

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

Are you aware of anything that can extend that life? or anything that can revive the deteriorated fuel?

Not anything that's less expensive than killing weeds with the aged fuel....and replacing it with fresh fuel, no.  

I actually had a boat in the shop last year with a 26gal.tank 3/4 full of two-year old fuel.  We siphoned it out and threw it on a hillside covered in pokeweed & poison ivy.  4 days later the pokeweed was a little wilted, but it still survived.   😅   

Now, that's either a testament to how worthless fuel can get within a couple years....or to the durability of pokeweed & poison ivy. 🤔

 

Fuel stabilizer (Stabil) is designed to create a barrier on top of a container of fuel, sacrificing itself to evaporation, and preserving the fuel below.......But that can only work if the container of fuel is kept stationary and not being moved around and shaken up.   Therefore anyone putting Stabil in their fuel with every fill-up (as alot of folks do)  is just wasting their money.  They might as well be using Stabil to polish their chrome wheels and trim.... because it does do a good job of that 👍

[tjm]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Fuel stabilizer (Stabil) is designed to create a barrier on top of a container of fuel, sacrificing itself to evaporation, and preserving the fuel below..

I'd like to see reference for that, because none the components  listed in the SDS would float on gasoline at all. From the stuff it's made from it should disperse through the fuel with no agitation. 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, tjm said:

I'd like to see reference for that, because none the components  listed in the SDS would float on gasoline at all. From the stuff it's made from it should disperse through the fuel with no agitation. 

Yo, I'm quoting what I was taught at MMI.   If that is not how fuel Stabilizer works then.....By all means, Let's hear it !   

I'm certainly not going to defend it, since there are a number of things we were taught that I later discovered were not exactly "factual".        This is yet another reason why I don't automatically trust Doctors, Biologists, and other people who display degrees in "higher education".  Because they are all full of $#!t.  

I kinda assumed that was true however...... because what could possibly be the reason to twist facts about FUEL STABILIZER ?    

So since you've properly googled it....let's hear it 😅 Please teach us how fuel stabilizer REALLY works.....or is supposed to. 🤔  And while you're at it, do us a favor and include the way you know that Google & the internet isn't programming your brain improperly. 

[tjm]

I've never used Stabil. Was curious what it is, just read the description of the "ingredients"  and there's apparently nothing in it that can float on gas.  That's why the floating bit caused me to ask. If the stuff does float on pump gas I'd question the SDS sheet they filed. If it does work, it would theoretically only work if mixed into fresh gas, so that it could bond with O2 molecules throughout the mix before the fuel molecules do. Ethanol adds a lot of O2 to the mix and is likely why modern gas breaks up so quickly.

Have you ever used Stabil?  I'll bet that if poured onto the top of gasoline in a clear container that it would not layer.

[MOPanfisher]

Haven't used stabilizing years, however I do occasionally run some seafoam or Lucas injector cleaner through my vehicles.  It always increases the mpg for a while, don't know if it doesn't anything else or not.  As for small engines I never purchase anything except ethanol free gasoline.  

[fishinwrench]

2 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said:

I never purchase anything except ethanol free gasoline

I hear this A LOT, and I've tested the fuel in the boats of those who claim that.  It has always been 8-10% alcohol,  so there's apparently a bit of a "play on words" going on there.

I used to point it out and argue about it, but I don't even bother anymore.   Everything that I work on seems to run just fine on FRESH 10% alcohol enhanced fuel.....The fuel just has a definite shelf life.