Mothball

[HOZ]

Don't know if I covered all products, never done this before, but with 2 Valks now I think it needs to be done to one or both. I live in Washington State and it is not cold but very wet at times so can't ride much in the winter without getting wet and I am getting older and don't like to get wet.

[DFragn]

Stabil & Seafoam are manufacturer suggested fuel stabilizers.
The Jury is still out on whether or not Techron can be used as a stabilizer.


With Stabil I never had a problem with clogged slows following winter storage for 7 years.

Seafoam however was a different story. I'm not saying it caused the blockages in the slows, but I had issues the first Spring after I used it as a stabilizer.

I've been running Techron [.5 oz./gal] to manage a heat-soaked idle drop issue. So I know my new 38's [3 years now] are clear and Stabil is my choice the winter.

[Patrick]

I've used both Stabil and sea-foam without problems,,but,, I prefer sea-foam..  I think the problem some folks have is not mixing the product with fuel thoroughly and then not running the engine long enough to allow it to go thru the carburetors..

[Hoser]

I checked the nothing cause I am able to ride in the winter.  Longest time I couldn't was about 2 weeks last year.  If it happens to get really tough, I would probly treat the fuel  if it lasts more than a month.  This is in north east Kansas, really doesn't snow all that much around here.  It can happen though.    hoser

[98valk]

I will not use seafoam for that purpose, only sta-bil.  
Last line from another site indicates seafoam could be cause of HYDRO-LOCK.

They say its 100% petroleum.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/gas-engines/gasoline-engines/e-85-fuels/view.html

The MSDS says otherwise
http://www.seafoamsales.com/consumer-information/trans-tune/msds-trans-tune/view-2.html

IPA 67-63-0 is Isopropyl alcohol
http://www.chemblink.com/products/67-63-0.htm

very expensive for this purpose, seafoam is only 10-20%. Iso-heat, sta-bil are much more cost effective IMO.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-isopropyl-alcohol.htm
Isopropyl alcohol is also a component of additives intended to prevent or treat water accumulation in fuel lines, such as "dry gas." In fact, it helps to reduce the risk of water freezing in fuel lines. It does this by making the water soluble, which would otherwise separate from the gasoline and turn to ice during cold weather.

Seafoam Ingredients
CAS # Wt.%
Pale Oil 64742-54-7 40.00 - 60.00% N/Av >15000 mg/kg >5000 mg/kg
Naphtha 64742-49-0 25.00 - 35.00% N/Av >5000 mg/kg N/Av
IPA 67-63-0 10.00 - 20.00% 17000ppm 4720mg/kg 12890mg/kg


http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/203184-seafoam-contains-10-20-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa.html
Seafoam will absorb small amounts of water. What it will not fix is E10 that has phase separated.
PALE OILS are light coloured, non-staining naphthenic oils refined from specially selected wax-free crude through the use of severe hydrogenation. This process produces oils of excellent initial colour and colour stability while maintaining their compatibility with most synthetic elastomers. With a flash point of 330 degreee F or more. E10 flash point is around -40 degrees F. Diesel is around 143 degrees F by the way. Have you ever wondered why Seafoam will stall your gasoilne engine unless you rev the piss out of it. Well now you know; the stuff does not want to go BOOM.
Naphtha flash point is a little lower then gasoline. If want to buy Naphtha go buy some Coleman Stove Fuel.
Seafoam has a flash point of 55 degrees F and gasoline is -40 degrees F. That is why when you pour it in a carb the engine wants to die.
Bottom line is the stuff seems to work in the old 2 cycle outboards I have tried. Now filling the racor with straight seafoam seems like you are asking for trouble. The stuff does not want to burn like gasoline and by filling the racor that is exactly you are trying to do. Anybody hydrolocked a motor trying this?

[Farther]

I see nothing in the MSDS that contradicts SeaFoams statement that it is a petroleum product.  You do know that isopropanol can be a petroleum distilate?

[98valk]

I see nothing in the MSDS that contradicts SeaFoams statement that it is a petroleum product.  You do know that isopropanol can be a petroleum distilate?

understood.
its a trick marketing ad. A lot of things have their origins from a barrel of oil but they are not known as that. It is now in an alcohol form which they are using and now functions as an alcohol and not a petro product. Why do they not just say it? why the play on words?
http://www.icis.com/V2/chemicals/9076017/isopropanol.html

[alph]

I don't use anything; I drain my tank 100%, yes 100%.  Not a drop left in my tank, and for my carbs, I drain the floats over night, this usually gets the residue to evaporate out.

[POPS 57]

I live in minn. so mine takes a long winter nap. I also have a 57 chev. that sits alll winter. The worst is the snowmobiles that sit in the summer heat. What we have found out that works is aviation gas. Its 100 octane and has to be made to higher standards as far as shelf life. I go to the local airport and put my credit card in the pump and fill it up at $4.00 a gal. With the car i just go 50/50 with non/oxygen 92 octane gas. This has worked for years for me and the other people that i know in the area.

[timmer]

I'm in Mn also and Seaform works great for me, never had a problem in the spring with start up. On the other hand I can not say the same for Stabil when I use to use it years ago. I'm still riding, hope to make it to January (did one year  ). It's all over for me when they coat the roads in salt.

[Anthony]

Living in Belgium, i can get my hands on "Fuel System Clean" from Motul (purchased at Hein Gericke)
i checked specifically and the label does mention to be suited for longer (winter) storage.

my F6C has been very happy with it for the last 6 winters.

Anthony

[mikeb]

I don't use anything; I drain my tank 100%, yes 100%.  Not a drop left in my tank, and for my carbs, I drain the floats over night, this usually gets the residue to evaporate out.

if ya ever seen carbs that were drained and left setting they get a white chalky coating on the inside of them and i dont like the seals being left dry too. i just stable the hell out of mine and park them ..
but the great thing about this world is we are all free to do as we please. to each's own 

[Rocketman]

I will not use seafoam for that purpose, only sta-bil.  
Last line from another site indicates seafoam could be cause of HYDRO-LOCK.

Elaborate, please.  Or, point me to the other site you're referring to.

[highcountry]

I have been using Stabil for the last 5 yrs in all my winterized engines - weed wacker, lawnmowers, ATVs, and motorcycles.  Never had any issues firing them up in the spring.

[Pete]

Other - I drain the carbs and fill the tank if I am not going to ride it at least every 2 weeks. Thanks Pete,

[BrettB]

For the past several years I was using a marine fuel stabilizer that was formulated for gasoline with ethanol (can't recall the name of it now).  Now, since Sta-bil came out with the same thing, I use it.  Here in the mid west it is hard to get fuel without ethanol.  I spent several hours one day stopping in different gas stations asking if they had fuel without ethanol.  Most could not even tell me  (young kids working simply did not know).  I finally found one station that had ethanol free fuel.  This is in a town of over 100,000.
I think fuel with ethanol is bad for our bikes, especially when storing them.  The fuel can seperate and draw moisture.  And now they are talking about increasing the ethanol content from 10% blend to 15%.  I decided that I am going to carry the Sta-bil with me on the bike all the time and add a little to each tank when I refuel.  No offense to the farmers, but having ethanol in our fuel sucks. The problems it causes outweigh the benifits. 

[fudgie]

For the past several years I was using a marine fuel stabilizer that was formulated for gasoline with ethanol (can't recall the name of it now).  Now, since Sta-bil came out with the same thing, I use it.  Here in the mid west it is hard to get fuel without ethanol.  I spent several hours one day stopping in different gas stations asking if they had fuel without ethanol.  Most could not even tell me  (young kids working simply did not know).  I finally found one station that had ethanol free fuel.  This is in a town of over 100,000.
I think fuel with ethanol is bad for our bikes, especially when storing them.  The fuel can seperate and draw moisture.  And now they are talking about increasing the ethanol content from 10% blend to 15%.  I decided that I am going to carry the Sta-bil with me on the bike all the time and add a little to each tank when I refuel.  No offense to the farmers, but having ethanol in our fuel sucks. The problems it causes outweigh the benifits. 

When I go West its all I get. Bike seems to run better, imho.

[Farther]

I finally found one station that had ethanol free fuel. 

How did you verify that the fuel was ethanol free?

[R J]

It was probably a Sinclair station.

We have a few left here in Iowa and they all advertise ethanol free.

However, I use SeaFoam in all my units and they all have Ethenal in them.    If ya get the SeaFoam mixed and into the carbs, you shouldn't have any trouble, but the key, is mix and into the carbs.

PS:    I toss in the whole can to the 5.0 tank.    MGM is still starting and idleing like it should after 12 years.........   Carbs, still bone stock except for the I/S springs, and Viking needles to go with their exhaust.

[BudMan]

I selected "Other" because we manage to ride all year here in Oklahoma. 
Except that today the morning started off at 19 degrees.  Brrrrrrrr. 

[Shockbushing Gary]

Some apparently want to use this stuff......

Once this happened to a bottle of Sta-bil in my garage, I sent this pic to Sta-bil and asked them to comment.
They didn't even reply.
No more of it for me.

(edit) My vote was for Seafoam

[Farther]

So what is it you use then?

[Spirited-6]

Some apparently want to use this stuff......

Once this happened to a bottle of Sta-bil in my garage, I sent this pic to Sta-bil and asked them to comment.
They didn't even reply.
No more of it for me.

(edit) My vote was for Seafoam

Several years ago I asked Sta-Bil about "shelf life" of Sta-Bil and was told "as long it is "red" it is go to go. I have used Sta-Bil for many years with good results. I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   I am trying Sea-Form this year just for craps & Giggles in my Tourer.   Time will tell. namely , Spring.    

[Shockbushing Gary]

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did that bottle sit on the shelf to look like that?
How long have you had one on the shelf and still had it useful?

[Spirited-6]

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did that bottle sit on the shelf to look like that?
How long have you had one on the shelf and still had it useful?

I have never had Sta-Bil congeal like that. I most always use a bottle within two years. I guess if I had congealing problem I would buy smaller bottle.

[Shockbushing Gary]

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did that bottle sit on the shelf to look like that?
How long have you had one on the shelf and still had it useful?

I have never had Sta-Bil congeal like that. I most always use a bottle within two years. I guess if I had congealing problem I would buy smaller bottle.

My point was this:
you said

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did the bottle in the pic "sit on the shelf" to look that way?
The real question is, do you know? After all, it was my bottle, not yours.

Now you say it "congealed"
Are you certain?
Or is there another explanation?
Where I am going with this is that you might want facts BEFORE you reach a conclusion, or issue advice that is neither helpful or considers the facts of the matter instead of supposition. 

[fudgie]

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did that bottle sit on the shelf to look like that?
How long have you had one on the shelf and still had it useful?

I have never had Sta-Bil congeal like that. I most always use a bottle within two years. I guess if I had congealing problem I would buy smaller bottle.

My point was this:
you said

I have never had a bottle sit on the shelf long enough to look like that.   

How long did the bottle in the pic "sit on the shelf" to look that way?
The real question is, do you know? After all, it was my bottle, not yours.

Now you say it "congealed"
Are you certain?
Or is there another explanation?
Where I am going with this is that you might want facts BEFORE you reach a conclusion, or issue advice that is neither helpful or considers the facts of the matter instead of supposition.