Fuel stabilizer - serious test!

[Mikep328]

Yesterday I decided to take my 2019 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe to get an MOT.  It had been sitting in the garage for two years with a 1/2 tank of E10 petrol with StaBil added.  I did not intend that it sit for two years back in 2022 but it just worked out that way.  Of course the battery was totally dead but I hooked up a Lithium boost thingie and hit the start button.  It fired immediately and ran as if it had been running yesterday.  Because of the low state of the battery, all the warning lights were illuminated - Check Engine light, ABS light, Traction Control light!  I was hoping they would reset in the 10 mile ride to the MOT place but they didn't.  I figured there was no point in an MOT since all those lights were on but the shop informed me that Motorcycle MOTs did not include consideration of the warning lights, unlike cars, and it passed!

I have used StaBil for many years but this was by far the most extreme "test."  My typical use is for 4-6 months of storage.  I'm sure other fuel stabilizers work just as well but StaBil is the only one I have any experience with.  Again, this was with maybe 2 gallons of two-year old E10 fuel/appropriate amount of StaBil in the tank!

[florence]

That is impressive.  I am the sort of person who doesn't intend to leave a bike but then forgets and time marches inexorably on and before I know it a half a winter has elapsed.  Last year I had to rebuild my carbs yet again due to moisture build up in old ethanol laced fuel.  I might try using this Stabil.  Is it OK with old engines?  I wonder what is in it?

[K2-K6]

I've not used it but know friends that have good experience in doing so.

Many things sold are just a load of old tosh, but this one does appear to be based on creditable results.

We looked at it on here before, it seems quite plausible from ingredients that it can honestly achieve what it claims.

Good to hear real ife experience to illustrate this.

[Sesman]

I left my GS1200 with a full tank for 18months without treatment and it fired up straight away, carrying me 160 miles to my next fuel stop with no issues whatsoever! Probably not a recommendation, but that was my experience!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I now have StaBil in both my bikes

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I left my GS1200 with a full tank for 18months without treatment and it fired up straight away, carrying me 160 miles to my next fuel stop with no issues whatsoever! Probably not a recommendation, but that was my experience!

Likewise my XJ 900 went through 14 winters without issue aside from the usual sticking clutch.

Always started and ran without issue - pre-E5 & E10 fuel always used SUL.

[Rozabikes Tim]

i have a 1998 CB500 twin that has fuel over 9 years old in it. It still fires up and runs on that!  Yes it will be pre ethanol but impressive (a Honda!!)

[K2-K6]

I left my GS1200 with a full tank for 18months without treatment and it fired up straight away, carrying me 160 miles to my next fuel stop with no issues whatsoever! Probably not a recommendation, but that was my experience!

Likewise my XJ 900 went through 14 winters without issue aside from the usual sticking clutch.

Always started and ran without issue - pre-E5 & E10 fuel always used SUL.

Aren't the xj and gs pumped fuel application, both of them  ?  There does appear to be a little more "tolerance" in pumped system to some effects.

Drawing fuel through tiny jets with vacuum on the other hand  can be more problematic.

Whether pumped delivery to carbs holds any advantage would depend on if it's a loop around system that pretty effectively mixes fuel through that system characteristic.

[K2-K6]

Interesting thread, from some years back, in discussion of Sta-bil that at least seems to give something of balance in experience and usage.

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-q/143437-stabil-whats-really-2.html

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Interesting read Nigel, I used to add Wynns Dry fuel to my XJ900 after the first petrol tank pin holed all along the bottom edges after 5 years .
The second petrol tank was still good for the next 9 years up until I sold it in 2009 after just over 14 years of ownership.

The new petrol tank cost £434.74 in 2000 from Granby's of Ilkeston - it came fully painted with all decals etc ordered by original frame number/colour code.

.1995-2009 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Bryanj]

Common fault on Yamaha tanks Ted

[Skoti]

Was going to rush out and buy some Sta-bil fuel additive after reading this thread.

That is until I watched this comparison test recently posted over on Access Norton.

https://youtu.be/mRGRWwPC3lA


It's a simple test from a lady that's run a lawn mower repair shop for over 10 years and seems legit...

Any thoughts?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I just watched the video clip, on face value the Stab-il does not work,  hard to argue with her findings.

I do know that adding more neat anti-freeze than recommended to water has an invertion point. The basic mantra when I studied chemistry was, adding a substance to a liquid elevates the boiling point and depresses the freezing point. Different situation here so I digress.

Also some surfactants become less effective if you add too much of the product. A case in point is washing powder, doubling the amount of recommended powder actually reduces the effectiveness of some detergents.

I decided to see if I could reproduce her experiment,sorry I can't be bothered to make a video.
I poured about 25 ml of Stab-il that I bought earlier this year and added about 5 ml of neat water and shook the test tube so it dispersed. The clear pink colour went cloudy as the water appeared to form bit of a mixture , after 5 minutes I saw that the water had indeed seperated to the bottom as per her video, not instant but not good.

So she is right, or is she?
Is it a realistic situation to add neat water if fuel stabalizers are designed to react with  Ethanol to prevent it becoming Hygroscopic?

It would have been a more convincing test if using Ethanol instead of water had the same outcome.

My experience with Wynns Dry Fuel was that after 9 years my Yamaha petrol tank was fine.

The last interesting feature is she is not paid or sponsored though clearly you come away with the idea that Stab-il does not work but that Ethanol Shield does - at least on water!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The closest I have to Ethanol is Methylated Spirits, so I added about 5 ml of Meths to about 20ml of Stab-il it disperses out immediately, no shaking needed.

I don't think I have  proves anything except I have too much time on my hands..
Mr Google says the so called Phase Seperation when Ethanol attracts water for E10 - it can hold up to 0.41% water in solution
E10: Can hold up to 0.41% water in solution. E15: Can hold up to 0.85% water in solution.
It does not appear to be linear so E5 will be quite small.

I'm not sure even if water is held in solution in E10 petrol that itself can cause an issue, isn't it when there is too much water that the separtion phase is reached forming a globule at the bottom of you tank.

[Mikep328]

 I have seen non-stabilized E10 totally clog carbs over winter storage - requiring manual disassembly/cleaning to restore them to operating condition.  I have used Stabil for 20 years and had E10 fuel/Stabil in a tank for 2+ years with no issue.  Probably any fuel stabilizer will do the job but Stabil is the only brand I have used and since it works, I have no reason to try something else.  But I believe that SOME brand of fuel stabilizer should be added for long term storage of ethanol-treated fuel. 

FWIW I know that condensation is often said to cause water in fuel over time. I've never had an issue over the years using stabilizer.  As I said, vehicles stored for 2+ years started as if running the day prior so clearly there was no water or degradation of the fuel.   Re condensation, here is an interesting article:
https://www.yachtsurvey.com/myth_of_condensation_in_fuel_tanks.htm