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It's that time of year again where a lot of boaters will be putting things to rest for the winter. While I don't have much of a need for winterizing my boat, I do find that over the winter months it won't be used very often and thought about the various stabilizer options out there. I usually use Ring Free and Sta-Bil with every fill up, but with all the opinions and options out there with our new friend "'ethanol" I wanted to do some unofficial testing of my own.
Regardless of which snake oil you prefer, if any, I think most people will agree that gas that looks good is probably a lot better than stuff that has taken on a whole new look.
So far I have 4 stabilizers that will be used. I'm looking for any suggestions on other products people would like to see in my "unofficial test". Again, not a scientific test, but one that will judge results on what the gas looks like over time.
Here are the products that I have accumulated so far for my test:
Sta-Bil
Sta-Bil Marine
Star-Tron
Pri-G
I'll be adding stabilizer to each of the containers with known ethanol content (tested with over the counter ethanol test kit) at the recommended rate. Everything should be ready to start sometime this week (waiting on Pri-G delivery). I'll try to post photos every couple weeks so we can monitor the progress. I think this should be interesting to say the least.
Fuel testers has conducted a test already. Gas Shok performed marginally better than Stabil and Startron, but certainly interested in seeing the outcome of your test. Add Gas Shok to the line up.
As for Seafoam I am not sure why anyone would think that adding alcohol to ethanol gas would be a good thing especially if you plan to store gas for an extended period.
CRC Fuel Treatment for ethanol blended gasoline, available at Bass Pro Shops. Seems like everyone would be onto this one since it is sold at Bass Pro. I started using it but don't know what it will do in long-term storage. Would be interesting to know if it's worth a crap or just more snake oil.
I must be missing something. What are you testing for, and how are you testing for it?
Discoloration is visible, but does it really tell you anything other than that the color has changed? I've seen so many different shades of gas coming fresh out of pumps that it would be hard to convince me that there is a relationship between color and anything other than the additives used by the reseller. I believe (and that's all it is, a belief based on experience with a lot of old gasoline over the years) that that smell is a better indicator than looks for a completely uncontrolled sample that I didn't look at when fresh.
You could have samples analyzed at a lab, but that sounds expensive and there's no way to predict if and when you'll have any results.
If you added a quantity of water (I think I've read that 0.5% is the lower limit) you could watch for phase separation.
Bill
Sorry I thought this was an informal test for phase seperation, guess I should have read it all the way through. I don't know that any of these products claim to have an impact on color. As long as xyz product keeps my fuel fresh for 5 months or more my gas could be green for all I care.
My intention is to test for phase separation, varnish, and corrosion. I realize gas can be different colors, but if I take 10 gallons from the same pump and put various additives in each gallon it all becomes relative to the other samples. I won't be testing for octane, BTU, etc, and it's obviously not a NASA sponsored experiment, but I know corrosion and fuel separation aren't what I want to be sitting in my fuel tanks. Just looking for what appears to work best. If anyone is interested, I'll be adding the CRC additive to my little experiement. I've cut 1" x 6" strips of 0.040 aircraft aluminum to be put in the jars as well to see if there is any difference in corrosion control.
It's that time of year again where a lot of boaters will be putting things to rest for the winter. While I don't have much of a need for winterizing my boat, I do find that over the winter months it won't be used very often and thought about the various stabilizer options out there. I usually use Ring Free and Sta-Bil with every fill up, but with all the opinions and options out there with our new friend "'ethanol" I wanted to do some unofficial testing of my own.
Regardless of which snake oil you prefer, if any, I think most people will agree that gas that looks good is probably a lot better than stuff that has taken on a whole new look.
So far I have 4 stabilizers that will be used. I'm looking for any suggestions on other products people would like to see in my "unofficial test". Again, not a scientific test, but one that will judge results on what the gas looks like over time.
Here are the products that I have accumulated so far for my test:
Sta-Bil
Sta-Bil Marine
Star-Tron
Pri-G
I'll be adding stabilizer to each of the containers with known ethanol content (tested with over the counter ethanol test kit) at the recommended rate. Everything should be ready to start sometime this week (waiting on Pri-G delivery). I'll try to post photos every couple weeks so we can monitor the progress. I think this should be interesting to say the least.
You need to also do a non treated sample as a benchmark.
The containers need to be clean, so pickle jars are out. The material of the containers should be similar to tank material. (and there are three or four common types.) Again pickle jars are out.
The jars need to be vented, the same as a marine fuel tank would be.
The jars need to be exposed to the same temperature swings that the boat would be.
Humidity must mimic the humidity that the boat would be exposed to , so the basement is out if its air is conditioned ( cooled or heated).
Finally, what is it that you expect to measure or assess during the test?
Lostsinker, Yes there will be an untreated sample to benchmark against. I will be using Glass mason jars with lids drilled for venting which will stay outside in a dry place. The reason for the jars is to simply be able to see what's going on. Again, this is just a low budget backyard test for my own curiosity and thought I'd share the progress on here -- nothing more. See my above post for what I'm looking for.
Ironically I've had no ethanol problem yet from any of my boats(did have bad gas/water once), but I have had some issues with ATV's, trimmers, edgers, and other yard equipment which is why I'm interested to see if any one additive appears to work better than the other for separation, varnish, and corrosion. While the results might not mean anything at all to some people who will claim a flawed test for some reason or another at least I'll have a better idea for may or may not work.
I recently saw a test that a marine shop did and the results were amazing. What thy did was. They took thier jars and placed equal amounts of water and gas in the jars the aded the fuel additives. The additives they used were Stybil,Startron,Seafoam,EZorb and a new product called K100. Once they finished filling the jars they placed a samll strip of aluminum in each jar. Then they shook the jars for 5 minutes.. Then they placed each jar on a shelf and labeled them for which product was which. They are now into thier 3rd month and the results are amazing. One of the products turned into a vasoline looking substance.
One of the products turned into a vasoline looking substance.
I changed the engine mounted filter on my Evinrude about 6 months ago and it had about half inch peanut butter looking stuff in it...glad I changed it when I did -- this while using a racor filter installed BEFORE the engine filter.
Also have some pictures of some phase separated fuel from my lake boat -- I was draining the tank because the boat wasn't used for a year or so and it was a good thing I did. All this had lead to my thinking of doing a little test of my own. Should have some pictures by the end of the week for the start, but realize it will be many months for any real results...if any.
Jigger, do you have a link for the test you mention ?
Although I am very happy you are doing testing I hope you know that no matter what results you get there will be people that will defend their product of choice. Comments like "I've used Brand X for years and never had a problem" will abound.
I have read a lot of reports based on scientific, unbiased research and firmly believe that there is no product available today that prevents or even slows phase separation in gasoline with ethanol.
My personal opinion is that NO gasoline additive does any good-this includes Sta-Bil, Seafoam, Star-Tron, etc. for boats and also includes products like STP for cars.
Let the flaming begin!
My personal opinion is that NO gasoline additive does any good-this includes Sta-Bil, Seafoam, Star-Tron, etc. for boats and also includes products like STP for cars.
Let the flaming begin!
This is exactly the reason I'm doing it. Everyone has an opinion on what works for them and that's great and life goes on. I have become frustrated trying to find any info that is a remotely fact based comparison other than the testing info provided by the mfrs. So maybe in a few months I'll have some answers for myself....As for the flaming, I think it can wait since there are probably several months to prepare .
What Fish, I'm glad we are on the same page on this issue.
The flaming I was talking about was of me for saying gas additives don't work.
I wish there was a true "Truth in Advertising" law which said "If you can't prove what you say, you can't say it in advertising".
My personal opinion is that NO gasoline additive does any good-this includes Sta-Bil, Seafoam, Star-Tron, etc. for boats and also includes products like STP for cars.
Let the flaming begin!
And then there are those people that believe all additives are snake oil despite lab test results.
Fuel Stabilizer Test 
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