Best fuel stabilizer for older 2 strokes

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Aug 9, 2021
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With the new standard petrol being e10 here in the UK and Ireland, does anyone know what the best fuel stabilizer would be for an older 1977 evinrude 15hp. Are the stabilizers that are engineered for newer cars, too harsh for an older worn 2 stroke. Thanks in advance
 

topgun3690

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Can't go wrong with the Sta-bil products......red for storage and the 360 for regular use. Never heard of stabilizers being too harsh......
 

kbait

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I’ve been using

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment​

for a few years on all equipment for winter storage. Also using non-ethanol fuel so double-good.. supposed to work fine with e10 too.
 

Lou C

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Same I’ve had good luck with both Stabil red and the blue 360.
 

roonie

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I've been told that by having 2 stroke oil in the tank will stabilize fuel🤷‍♂️not sure if it's true or not
 

QBhoy

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To be honest, the best of the tcw3 oil will do a good job of that kind of thing too. But if you absolutely must use e10..I think the trick to it (apart from not using it) is to keep things fresh and regular use or a thought to your use, so to keep from a situation where the e10 is left in the tank stagnant like. Encouraging things to go wrong. Keep an eye on fuel fittings and perishable items like seals and gaskets in and around the fuel system. But good oil definitely helps lessen the horrible effects otherwise
 

Crosbyman

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Odd but I never had issues with e10.... in 60 years of boating. no e10 back in the 70s when gas was 3-4$ for 5 imp. gal :)

for my current ETEC 2005 75HP and kickers

I always store the boat fully fuelled in Oct. and take it out in May ( 6-7 months with temps ranging from +50 f to -20-30 f)
I run 2+4D before end of season to circulate the stuff in the injectors. I use EV engine cleaner in my mid-season tank and always use xd100 .
 

909

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The best stabilizer is no stabilizer .

Drain your carb, after every trip . When it dies, pull the choke and start it over and over until there's no fuel left . E10 is perfectly fine for a 77 15.
 

Chris1956

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The first time you use the E10, it may well loosen and old dirt in the fuel system. You may need to change filters, or the carb may clog.

After that, when the fuel system is cleaned by the e10, you shouldn't have any trouble with the E10 fuel.

On a small motor like that, that you are not going to use for some weeks, run her out of fuel or drain the carb.

Most only use a fuel stabilizer over the winter, and some use it all the time. I use it for winter storage, along with the usual storage items like fogging oil, new gear oil and new grease in the fittings.

E10 is not an issue, IMO, despite what some believe. It absorbs water in the fuel, which is good, and the motor runs just fine on it.
 

rolmops

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You have a small engine with probably a small tank. The best thing to do is empty the tank out and put that fuel say 2 gallons at a time in your car. A bit of oil is not going to hurt your car any. Before you winterize your engine run it with a generous of injector cleaner mixed into your fuel and let it run for a while before you fog it. Then drain the carburetor. For next season get fresh fuel. The better stabilizer is a product called "seafoam" which you can also run as a injector/carburetor in your car or diesel engine. Alcohol in older engines tends to eat up your pre 2000 rubber hose and seals so you would be wise to replace all that stuff with alcohol resistant material.
 

roscoe

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The best stabilizer is no stabilizer .

Drain your carb, after every trip . When it dies, pull the choke and start it over and over until there's no fuel left . E10 is perfectly fine for a 77 15.
We've all smelled gas that has gone bad, so how does no stabilizer prevent that from happening to the fuel left in the tank?

Sometimes it can go bad over a winter, but usually longer.

I've actually used 4+ year old gas that was treated with sta-bil, with no issues.

If I had to use e10 gas, I'd be using star tron, or make sure the tank is empty when stored. You never know just how long it will be stored, before you get to use it.
 

kbait

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Alcohol absorbs water. E10 in tank/carb will absorb water over time, and phase separate.., then you are trying to burn water in combustion chamber..
If you figure out how to burn water.. let me know, and we’ll be extremely wealthy.😎
 

tphoyt

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Alcohol absorbs water. E10 in tank/carb will absorb water over time, and phase separate.., then you are trying to burn water in combustion chamber..
If you figure out how to burn water.. let me know, and we’ll be extremely wealthy.😎
When I tell people this they think I’m nut. Although that may very well be true so is your statement. I agree with you 100%.
 

Chris1956

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Gee, It is true that the alcohol in E10 absorbs water and allows that fuel to be burned. That is a good thing, as regular non alcohol gasoline does not absorb water and it separates immediately. Remember your father or grandfather dumping DryGas into the car so it would run. DryGas is simply isopropyl alcohol.

The more E10 you use the less water there will be in your fuel tank. E10 also does not magically attract water into your tank.

Everyone gets so scared of E10. All it does is clean the fuel system, absorb some water, and still fuel the engine well. Larger motors should have a water separating fuel filter, which should be changed or at least dumped out at the end of the season. Dumping the separator give you an idea if your fuel has water in it, so you can take remedial steps to fix it.

It is unnecessary, IMO, to use any product advertised to mitigate of fix the effects of E10, as there are no bad effects. However, if you want to donate your $ to the good folks who make Startron, stabil and other additives on a per tank basis, it is a free country.
 

guy48065

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If E10 is completely harmless why do so many owners manuals advise never to use E15?
That tells me that 10% alcohol is at best "tolerable".
 

Chris1956

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That is a good question. However, most of the country has been using E10 for a couple of decades, some in real old engines.

I have not heard of a big scandal on engine failure/damage so far, using the E10, only old wives tales. The oldest motor I ran E10 in was my '77 Merc 1500. They are pretty high performance and pretty "high strung" for outboards, and I had no issues.

Flex fuel vehicles can use anything up to E85, w/o damage. The way I understand their technology, is that the vehicle senses the mix of gas and alcohol and adjusts the fuel injection to compensate.
 

rolmops

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The truth is that alcohol usually is mixed in while the tanker truck is filled up and it is really anybodies guess how much the percentage really is. At least on the fuel pumps in New York state is says that the alcohol content is between 10 and 15 percent. Since alcohol burns hotter than gasoline the engine timing often is not adjusted there are potential problems with alcohol.
Besides, alcohol in your gas really is a subsidy for farmers who can now grow more corn and have a guaranteed customer. Even though distilled corn alcohol product overall is more expensive that straight gasoline.
Personally, I feel that if you already want to turn corn into alcohol it should be in a beverage.
 

roscoe

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Original poster asked if there was a preferred stabilizer for e10 vs e0 fuel, presumably for long term storage, as that’s what fuel stabilizer is for.
 
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dingbat

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E-10 exclusively since mandated back in late 1990's. Changed out gaskets and hose on units built prior to 2011, (E10 compatibly mandate) and never looked back.

Stabil red in the winter. Keeping fresh fuel in the tank gets through the other 8-9 months a year w/o problems

Locally, E85 is gaining in popularity. A good number of stations now carry E85 as well
 
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