sta-bil:good or bad?

[Paul J.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

That would mean people that have cars that must use premium (like my daily beater) would be breaking the law?

This doesn't make sense, unless the gas in question is actually so-called 'racing gas' which is a waste of money anyway.

What it probably means is that the station owner doesn't want to re-lable his pumps twice a year to show an E-10 warning. Either that or the oil jobber can't supply E-10 premium fuel. As far as the legality of selling it, it depends upon your attainment status and your State's "State Implementation Plan" (SIP). I believe that John may live in northern Minnesota. There are no air air quality concerns there and it should be legal to sell non-oxygenated fuels.

You seem to be concentrating on octane ratings. None of this has anything to do with octane ratings. It's about EPA's oxygenated fuel requirements.

Several years ago the county that I live in was non-attainment for ozone. You either bought E-10 or MBTE laced fuel during the five summer months. The county next to me was attainment for ozone and did not have to sell oxygenated fuels. Since I live on the county line, I would go down the street to buy gas. Technically, I was breaking the EPA regulations (or perhaps bending them a little). Things are different for me now since my SIP changed.

[Michael W.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

Actually, our (premium) gas has no ethanol and is labeled at the pump "for off road vehicles and vehciles licensed as collector cars only". This stuff lasts a long time. One year in a snowmobile and it still smells fresh.

You seem to be concentrating on octane ratings. None of this has anything to do with octane ratings. It's about EPA's oxygenated fuel requirements.

John mentions 'premium gas'. What does premium mean to you other than a reference to a high octane rating?

[Valeria H.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

Michael Ward, I will galdly and frequently tell you that I have NEVER had a problem starting my car with avgas (100 % octane) regardless of the season or the temperature. Again, I will state for your education, there is a reason airplanes do NOT fly with ethanol!!!
Valeria

[Ronald L.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

So as we have seen, when you add oxygen to fuel via ethanol, you jump start the oxidation process, just a side benefit to the refinery in that the octane rating goes up with poorer quality base fuel.

And going out for a drive today, too far to consider it a regular fill-up location, 110 octane LEAD-ed racing fuel....for the humble price of..........$7 per gallon. And yes it had all those off road only warning stickers there.

Remember back 35 years ago when someone would ask about filling up that Vette and the response was if you have to ask you can't afford it??? Back when gas jumped to 50 cents a gallon? Yes! we now have inflation adjusted fuel for this kitten.

[Michael W.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

Valeria,

No need for the education, but thanks anyway. I spent 31+ years working for worlds largest manufacturer of small gas turbine aircraft engines, so I'm quite familiar with what works and what doesn't work in terms of aircraft fuel. I spent most of that career in the customer/field support area and was always amazed at hearing the myths and legends that crossed over from the car hobby to the aircraft world and back again.

One of the myths that always made the top ten list was using 'airplane gas' in cars would make them (fill in the blank here with something related to performance) or conversely and more relevant, it will stop (insert name of a bad thing here) from happening.

Yes, I'm sure your car starts and runs well on avgas, but it would do just as well on the appropriate grade of pump gas. Just like mine does, and everybody else that uses it. I do regret that you were given misleading information in a previous post on this subject. The person in question has other 'unusual' ideas about fuels that have been the subject of much discussion on another website.

From what I understand, you drive your car just about year round. If so, then the least of your worries is fuel going bad in the tank. Mine hasn't moved since the end of October (IIRC) and won't be touched until mid-April. It will start (touch wood) at the first turn of the key, just like it has first start in the spring for the last 20 years. I use E10 gas, 92-93 octane and NO additives of any type for any reason.

You're welcome to use avgas in your car if you want but since it's not an airplane and given the high cost, the fact that it's illegal, contributes considerably more pollution than unleaded (you're not a greeny?) and has a lower BTU content per volume, I'll pass.

BTW- the octane rating methods on aircraft and auto gas are not the same. 100avgas is ~ equivalent to 95 auto gas.

Thanks again.

[Paul J.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

John mentions 'premium gas'. What does premium mean to you other than a reference to a high octane rating?

He was using it as a reference probably because that's what he buys. My discussion would be the same if it's regular. All that he said was that his premium was'nt E-10 and there was a warning on the pump. I explained why.

It does'nt matter what the octane rating is.

[Jim C.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

I've been using it for years and I do think it helps. I was recently told by some "guru" at Hagerty Insurance that gas can start going bad in as little as thirty days. When I put my car into storage every Fall, I add an appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer to a fresh tank of gas. The car starts right up every Spring. Cheap insurance I guess.

Jim C.

[Michael W.]

Re: sta-bil:good or bad?

I had a thought earlier today (imagine that). With today's super efficient dual energy cars that consume little or no gas depending on individual usage pattern, I wondered what GM's recomendations would be for the upcoming Volt model that (in theory) could carry it's original tank of gas from birth to death.

Here's the response from GM's Chief Engineer:

"Have you solved the stale gas problem?Fuel is certainly going to be good for six months without concern."

http://gm-volt.com/2009/05/26/volt-chief-engineer-on-chevy-volt-gas-tank-size-and-stale-gas-management/

Please read to the bottom regarding life of gas beyond six months.