Fuel stabilizer ?

[Leymenaide]

I have three cars in the driveway 2 have not been used in 6 weeks. Mine is used as I have to manage livestock (bees). Yes in North Carolina bees are legal livestock. Are you or would you be adding a stabilization product to gas tanks now? Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[rstrohkirch]

For a modern vehicle, I wouldn't use a stabilizer unless it was sitting for 6+ months. For anything with a carburetor, I would I suggest either draining the gas or a stabilizer if it's sitting for months or seasonal.

 

[pauldun170]

Review the following links

Does Gasoline Go Bad?

Crude oil lasts hundreds of millions of years underground, but is gasoline at risk of spoiling?

www.livescience.com

87 octane fuels tend to be less refined and contain more unstable hydrocarbons. As the months pass during storage these unstable components react to form gums, varnishes and lower octane hydrocarbons. As a result the octane can decrease within months for 87 octane fuels, especially when stored under less than ideal conditions. 93 octane fuels are more refined and contain more stable hydrocarbons. These stable hydrocarbons can last 2-3 times longer than 87 octane fuel. Even in proper storage 87 octane gas can start to degrade in 3 months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to 9 months before degradation is noticeable. Keep in mind that 93 octane fuels are still susceptible to octane loss and vapor pressure decreases due to butane evaporation.
https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/octane-stability-high-octane-vs-low-octane-fuels

If you have 87 octane in the vehicles, a bit of Startron or Stabil will at least allow you to stop caring about it.
Having said that,let say you do nothing and the cars sit for 6 months.

At that point, you MAY deal with a bit of reduced performance as the knock sensor does its thing. It all goes away at the first refill.

In other words.....
If you car is just going to be sitting for just a couple of months, you need it for piece of mind more than you car needs it.
You car will be fine at the first refill.

What would I do?
Depends on the vehicle.
Trackday or motorcycle.? Probably.
Everything else? meh.

 

[Leymenaide]

Thanks to both of you. I wish I could use all the cars but my passat wagon is my truck. I am about to fill it for the first time in a month.

I will stop being worried

 

[WackyDan]

Don't worry about it. I usually put stabilizer in my bike over the winter... last winter it sat for almost five months filled with Premium and it was fine. I still ran some injector cleaner through it... It also now hasn't been run for about three months -- sitting on a battery tender though.

 

[trenchfoot]

Stabil specs indicate fuel can be safely stored for up to 24 months:

STA-BIL® Fuel Stabilizer

America's #1 Fuel Stabilizer Treatment Keeps fuel fresh for long term storage - up to 24 months Eliminates the need to drain fuel prior to storage Ensures quick, easy starts by preventing gum and varnish build-up* Effective in Ethanol and Non-Ethanol gasoline For use in all gasoline e

www.goldeagle.com

edit - Note of interest though, Stabil will remain viable for two years after opening the bottle cap.

 

[KentState]

I was actually thinking about this today and came here to ask. Both of our vehicles had gas put in them on March 12th and have been barely driven. Especially bad now that I have my Tesla and we just charge it at home. Sounds like there is not harm if they sit for another couple months without being driven much (< 10 miles a week).

 

[Thump553]

Maybe fuel stabilizer will be the next toilet paper.

 

[Torn Mind]

Joy ride them for 30 minutes on the highway. Keep the systems from seizing up and little critters from taking "residence" inside.