Gasoline Stabilizer Question

Ksfarmmer · Jul 7, 2008

I have a very, very small gas tank leak on my 300 Farmall. As I was talking to the local tank repair shop he mentioned to me that gas bought from a service station was very unstable and that in as little as one month it breaks down into a benzene compound that "rots" your tank. He stated that "farm gas" does not have this same stability problem. He stated that you could buy a stablizer that prevented the break down. Now I certainly have heard that gas will get "bad", but this is the first I have heard that it is corrosive enough to damage the gas tank. Can anyone confirm or refute the 30 day time frame and the corrosive nature? I may have to really change the way I treat my infrequently used vehicles.

CNKS · Jul 7, 2008

I have 7 tractors, most of which get used less than an hour a year. I do not use stabilizer. The "newer" gas is not nearly as bad as most people think it is. In fact I think it is better than 40-50 years ago, remembering a motorcycle I had that sat idle for a few months, gummed up the tank.

rustyfarmall · Jul 7, 2008

I've got an H that runs at least once a week for an hour and a half all through the summer mowing season, and then just sits all fall and winter. I have never used a fuel stabilizer and the tractor always starts right up the next spring. I do agree that todays fuel is not the same as it was 40 or 50 years ago, but it is not as bad as that fellow told you.

Roger46 · Jul 7, 2008

I always thought that what rusts your gas tank is not the fuel, but water that condenses in the tank. I put stabililzer in my tractor tanks in the winter, but I am not convinced that it is necessary for these old Farmalls. I have an old 68 Chevy pickup that I drive very little since I got a new pickup and it has gas that is at least two years old and it starts OK. Roger

Anonymous-0 · Jul 7, 2008

One of three things---He didn't know what he was talking about, He wanted to sell you some stabelizer, or you misunderstood him. Most any gas from a reputable station will last several months without stabelizer but I use it over the winter in all my equipment that I don't drain.

Hugh MacKay · Jul 7, 2008

Ksfarmmer: Bullfeathers to your buddy's opinion on differences between farm gas and service station gas. With the very low percentage of gas burned in farm tractors anymore, do you really think the refiners keep it separate.

Your tank is rusted from condensation, and condensation happens as a result of the tractor sitting around less than half full of gas.

Bob S. · Jul 7, 2008

Hi
There are so many things that I just dont understand, Like when I was in Germany a few years ago, Gas was selling for $7.50 a gal. It was sold in litres and Deutsch marks but it worked out to $7.50 a gal in American dollars. The people I stayed with only drove their 25 year old VW on Sundays using bicycles to go to work during the week, not a bit of rust on the car or the gas tank. By the way the sign at the service stations say benzene not gasoline in Germany.
I put Stabil in all my gas engines that sit for months or years without use, no problems so far.
Bob S.

JT · Jul 7, 2008

Gasoline in large quantity will not go bad in 30 days, now if you have a small amount, it can go bad in 30 days or less, I run into that all the time at my shop. Never seen gas turn rancid and start eating metal.
Jim

Tom Fleming · Jul 7, 2008

Guys, maybe I can help a little bit. What we call gasoline is not a single liquid, but a blend of different hydrocarbons. Some with a low vapor point and some with a high vapor point. by refining and blending these various hydrocarbons together, you get gasoline, and the blend gives you the different octane rating (notice I said "rating").

As gas sits for awhile, in a vented tank, the more volatile compounds evaporate off, leaving behind the lessor ones. over time, you will get what old timer mechanic ( like myself) refer to as "varnish". All as gas stabilizer does is bond with the volatile compounds so they dont evaporate as quickly.

So, I use it in my generator, as it is run twice a year if not used other times. If you are using gas over 2-3 months and adding fresh, there is no need for fuel stabilizer IMHO.

Poneykeg · Jul 8, 2008

BP---Amoco mid grade and premium have stablizers in the gas, this might be in all major brands.

Gasoline Stabilizer Question

Ksfarmmer

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CNKS

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rustyfarmall

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Roger46

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Anonymous-0

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Hugh MacKay

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Bob S.

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JT

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Tom Fleming

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Poneykeg

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