Off season fuel conditioner

[shade2u2]

What do you add to the tank for the winter?
Why did you pick that one?

Getting ready to top off the tanks for the season end.

[jralbert]

I always used a "stabilizer" called Sta-bil. Can't say why I used it. At the same time, I always took mfr claims with a couple of grains of salt. But I didn't want to chance a bad outcome and it was relatively cheap stuff. I never saw any objective article reporting on independent tests of stabilizer concoctions. I think fuel additives are somewhat over-hyped.

Others on the forum may be able to point to good reasons for one brand over another... or any brand for that matter

UPDATE: Got un-lazy and thanks to Google found this citation on testing: https://www.boatingmag.com/gear/boating ... ers#page-3

ANOTHER UPDATE: make sure some of the stabilized fuel is in t he carbs before hibernation - that is, run some thru the engine before you winterize.

[carl]

Here are a few tips...Go ahead and top off your tanks before you pull the boat for the winter to help minimise the condensation space within, hopefully your buying 100% Gasoline with no ethanol, if not you should. Add Sta-Bil per the instructions. Any additive only works best with fresh fuel, if your fuel is not fresh try running it out before refilling. A water separating fuel filter is best before the carburetor(s). One often overlooked item in the fuel system is the integrity of the O-Ring on your fuel fill cap(s). Pull your caps and check them, if there missing or cracked replace them with new ones. They are available. Otherwise every time it rains or snows the water will make it into your tanks and come spring you could be looking at a substantial amount of water in your fuel to deal with. Additionally I have used "Marvel Mystery Oil" in every fuel tank on everything I've ever owned for the past 40 years and I swear by it. Added to the fuel it gives you top end lubrication like nothing else out there, you can hear it and you can feel it...just saying.

[Fastjeff]

I've also used Startron. Not sure if it's any better (or worse). The main thing is to fill the tank(s) full as possible with conditioner, then run the motors a bit to get it into the fuel system.

Here's a piece of good news on this hotly debated subject: This summer was such a mess--way too hot, then raining like crazy, then... repeat. I filed the tank of my 19 footer last November with that 10 % ethanol crap, stabilized the fuel, and burnt only half of it this entire year. Still, the motor ran just fine. I intend to pump the rest out before refilling with fresh gas and more stabilizer, but that really old gas DID run fine.

Jeff

PS: Boat is stored outside.

[shade2u2]

Thank you for the details.
Good information.