Use of fuel stabilizers in HMVs

[Stuart Fedak]

Text removed as information is no longer current

[chris vickery]

Stuart
Fuel stabilizers are a stop gap measure; todays fuels contain up to 10% ethanol which is not good for old engines and engine components, especially rubber parts.
In recent conversations with my local small engine shop, they actually reccommend the use of high octane fuels only. I believe Shell is one of the only companies that offers non ethanol fuel in their high grade. There is also a website which shows a province by province list of stations offering non ethanol fuels.
Alternatively, many guys in the US are using aviation gas in their engines, especially for off road vehicles such as bikes, Mules, jeeps etc.

[chris vickery]

Stuart
Ypu are correct that the list does change.
As a rule of thumb, I use hi test fuel in all of my antique and lawn and garden equipment.
I do add fuel stabilizer anyways over the winter just in case.
I also try to make sure that I do not store fuel for more than 6 months at a time. If its been around, throw it in the truck and get some more fresh stuff.
The main issue with ethanol is WATER, alcohol attracts water. The condensation in your half full fuel tank is absorbed into the gasoline by the ethanol. Once the water concentrate titrates out of the gasoline it settles into the bottom of your fuel tank, your carb etc. Now you have water in your fuel system which leads to all sorts of problems...
I found out recently with a snowblower that was giving my friend some issues. The reason it would not start was water in the fuel. Once the fuel was drained and flushed out and some new fuel and a new plug added it started up immediately.

[david moore]

Presumably, stabiliser helps stop the gas going bad - but does nothing to stop the perils of ethanol/water?
Will switching to hi-test for my MB jeep hasten valve problems? Maybe only ca. 200 miles per year makes that not an issue?

David

[chris vickery]

David

Your valve problems have more to do with the fact that you are running unleaded fuel in an engine designed for leaded fuel.
Optionally, the use of hardened valve seats allow for the use of modern unleaded fuel.
You can purchase a lead aditive for old engines to help with the old style valve seats. Some guys run AV Gas which is actually leaded but not technically legal to run in on road vehicles...
For a couple hundred miles per year I would not worry about it.

[Perry Kitson]

I think the use of high octane fuel will eliminate the ethanol problem. Most fuel companies post the ethanol content on the pumps. Regular fuel (87 octane) usually contains 10% ethanol, mid grade (89 octane) around 5% ethanol and the premium (91 octane) is usually ethanol free. I have been told ethanol actually lowers the octane rating of fuel it's added to, increasing fuel consumption.

Perry