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07-15-2020, 04:40 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Winter Haven, Florida
Posts: 88
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Full tank ---- Should I add Stabil?
After new fuel pump was added, I have 55 gals of fresh gas (full tank)
This is 2005 Lex 283 with 49,800
We start engine, gen and overhead AC every 10 days and run 10 mins while in storage
Since gas gets stale, should I add Stabil to full tank? How much?
We get out with her but only short trips (70 miles round trips) since covid
Thanks------Great forum------I've leaned so much in three months since purchasing Lex 283 (Ford 6.8 L GAS V-10)
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07-15-2020, 05:40 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
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I don’t know if you necessarily need it, but adding Stabil wouldn’t hurt anything and it would ensure you won’t have any fuel problems.
Bruce
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2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
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07-15-2020, 09:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Pleasant Prairie WI
Posts: 1,466
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Lexington283,
We have the same model year powertrain and had the same parts replaced to fix the check engine light issue, 13 years ago.
I drive my unit for an hour, at least, once every 2 weeks during the camping season. Fuel up with fresh fuel as soon as you can.
I store our unit from early November through early March without starting. A full tank of gas to prevent condensation.
Never used a fuel stabilizer.
Here is what your Ford Owners Manual has to say about fuel additives. A scan of stabilizers yielded no results. However, you should check with a Ford dealer not just an ASE Certified Mechanic, on what if any fuel stabilizer you can or should use.
Chris
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 2860DS Ford V10 5 speed with Tow/Haul
Winegard T4 In Motion Satellite Dish
Furion Rear Camera, RecPro 70" Recliners
Mohawk Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
2013 AWD Acadia Denali, Blue Ox Equipped
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07-15-2020, 09:41 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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I live with Stabil. Mower, Snowblower, Golf Cart, ATV, UTV. Snowblower sits all summer with a full treated tank of gas....fires up every fall. Mower sits all winter with a full treated tank...fires up every spring. Cart, ATV, UTV may sit for a month or so at cabin. They always start right up without problem.
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07-15-2020, 10:11 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Athens, AL
Posts: 124
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Seafoam Fuel Additive
I use Seafoam Fuel Additive in all my small engines when stored for more than 4 to 6 weeks. I also pour a can in my Ford F150, GMC Acadia and will start putting it in the FR3 come this fall. Does the same thing as Stabil plus helps keep carbs and or fuel injectors clean. If you are only sitting for two or three weeks, I agree it does not hurt, but I am not sure it is needed. I used Stablil in my generator which end up sitting for 2 1/2 years. I was quite amazed when I installed a new starter battery in, hit the start button and that thing came alive. I was sure at that point fuel stabilizers in long term storage was worth it.
__________________
Lynn
Athens, AL 35611
2020 FR3 34DS
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07-15-2020, 10:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 4,295
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If I anticipate 6 months of storage, I’ll use Stabil, otherwise I don’t bother. To treat 55 gallons of gasoline, you’ll need 22 ounces of Stabil. Stabil has jacked their price way up in recent years. I greatly reduced my use of Stabil and since found that it really made no difference whether I used it or not. Untreated fuel works just fine in fuel injected engines. The engine medic in a bottle products are, in my opinion, largely a waste of money.
For carbureted engines like the generator, my practice is to run them out of fuel at the last use. If you don’t leave fuel in the carb bowl, they don’t gum up. Engines can be stored for years with no fuel in the carb, and they’ll start right up when you need them.
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2020 Sunseeker 2440DS on 2019 Ford E-450, Trekker cap, Topaz paint
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07-15-2020, 11:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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One of the biggest problems with gasoline is the fact it's comprised of liquids of variable volatility. Some of it evaporates more quickly than other parts. Unfortunately the part that evaporates quickly is the part that helps a cold engine start easily.
Stabil doesn't do anything to prevent the evaporation of these "light" components. It will help reduce oxidation that makes gasoline eventually smell terrible but that takes a lot longer than the evaporation.
For those that use it and have no problems, can the success really be attributed to the Stabil? Personally I've never used it and have had motorcycles, mowers, and other small power equipment sit for a year or two with "old" gas in the tank. Might take an extra effort to start it the first time but if I add some fresh gas they all started quicker than the last time I tried.
Like everything else in life, it's your choice. Some use it and swear by it. Others don't and for some reason everything works just fine.
FWIW, gasoline sold today is definitely not the stuff that was sold when many (if not most) of us were kids. Today's cars won't tolerate the issues with gasoline that an old 1949 ford flathead with a 2-barrel carburetor could.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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07-15-2020, 11:20 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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I store each of my boats for 6 months during the off season. I don't use a stabilizer in either of them. Never had issues and fuel in each is E10.
Personally, running an engine at idle for 10 mins every 10 days is doing more harm than good. You are not getting the engine up to full operating temperature, you are introducing condensation into the crankcase that you are not burning off. If you want to do something better, take it out for a drive for 30 minutes every month or two. Make sure everything gets up to full operating temperature.
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07-15-2020, 11:32 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Pleasant Prairie WI
Posts: 1,466
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Use a fuel stabilizer, Stabil for instance, where the manufacturer tells you to.
See my earlier post on what the Ford Owners manual has to say.
The first reference material to consult is your owners manual. The second reference to consult is factory trained service personnel. In this case it is the Ford dealer which services commercial vehicles. Use the internet if you can find what your looking for.
The OP is rightly concerned about prevention of another check engine light occurence.
I use Stabil in my snow blowers and my lawn tractor. My JD D130 manual says to always use gas treated with a fuel stabilizer, not just for storage.
It all depends your vehicle, they are all different.
It's a lot like the differences in how car makers specify changing transmission fluid. Some specify draining, others power flush. You just cant follow a practice blindly.
Chris
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 2860DS Ford V10 5 speed with Tow/Haul
Winegard T4 In Motion Satellite Dish
Furion Rear Camera, RecPro 70" Recliners
Mohawk Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
2013 AWD Acadia Denali, Blue Ox Equipped
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07-15-2020, 12:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,724
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Stabil and keeping tank full after using is your best bet... neither can hurt and Stabil is cheap... use according to the directions on the package.
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"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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07-15-2020, 12:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Hotsprings, Ar
Posts: 210
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My 2 cents would use non ethanol gas. This will help with water condensation.
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2016 Georgetown 328ts
2015 Fiat 500 Toad
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07-15-2020, 12:30 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 91
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Ethanol is the problem
Gas with ethanol can be detrimental to small engine performance if left stored for a long period. The ethanol gums up the injectors or jets and causes starting problems.
I've found that StaBil eliminates this problem. I put it in all of my smaller engines such as my generator, chainsaw, lawnmower, ect.
If you drive your vehicles on a regular basis, it probably isn't needed, but if you are not driving them for weeks at a time, then I would add the StaBil.
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2005 Yukon XL 1500
2018 Prime Time Tracer 20RBS
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07-15-2020, 01:07 PM
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#13
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Señor Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Pacific Northwet
Posts: 287
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Quote:
Originally Posted by db7512
My 2 cents would use non ethanol gas. This will help with water condensation.
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Here's a website that lists stations that sell e-free gas.
https://www.pure-gas.org/
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2017 Forester
3051S "Bluga"
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07-15-2020, 01:11 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by db7512
My 2 cents would use non ethanol gas. This will help with water condensation.
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Actually, ethanol gas prevents water condensation since the ethanol absorbs all the water. The only issue occurs when the ethanol get saturated which is extremely rare even in marine applications.
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07-15-2020, 01:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by corky310
Gas with ethanol can be detrimental to small engine performance if left stored for a long period. The ethanol gums up the injectors or jets and causes starting problems.
I've found that StaBil eliminates this problem. I put it in all of my smaller engines such as my generator, chainsaw, lawnmower, ect.
If you drive your vehicles on a regular basis, it probably isn't needed, but if you are not driving them for weeks at a time, then I would add the StaBil.
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If that were really the case, my boats that sit for 6 months with E10 gas would have issues...they don't and I don't use any stabilizer. One has a carb and the other is fuel injected.
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07-15-2020, 01:21 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,144
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297
I don’t know if you necessarily need it, but adding Stabil wouldn’t hurt anything and it would ensure you won’t have any fuel problems.
Bruce
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Ensure is a strong word but it will improve chances.
I've had motorcycles and other things still Gunk up even with stabil in the gas.
__________________
Tom48
In Sunny So Cal /w
Now in 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador DP and The Hot Air Balloon RESTLESS
NO MORE Tricked out
2017 Sandstorm 250 T.H.
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07-15-2020, 01:29 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Jupiter, FL
Posts: 45
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before I leave 4345 months I put non-ethanol stabilized gas into my 1994 Toyota Previa and I've never had trouble starting it when I return. I use non ethanol gas with stabilizer in all of my little engines that are carburetor equipped and they run just fine. my 2 cents....
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Bill&Sue Cooper
2020 F.R. A213HW
2020 Subaru Ascent
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07-15-2020, 01:30 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Jupiter, FL
Posts: 45
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That should have read for three, four, five months
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Bill&Sue Cooper
2020 F.R. A213HW
2020 Subaru Ascent
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07-15-2020, 01:35 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 423
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Stabil is good. I used to use it it for boat storage with a full tank of gas and never had a problem. My boat used to sit for 4 or 5 months. But now I use Startron everytime I put gas in my boat which many people say is better than Stabil. I also put in my gas for lawn mowers, weed eater and chain saw.
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2015 Flagstaff 26VFKS
TV - 2014 F150 Crew Cab 5.0L
WDH - 1,200 Equalizer
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