Not driving the truck for 6 weeks. Best Fuel Stabilizer?

I won't be driving my truck for about 6 weeks, which is around the time that everyone seems to say gasoline goes bad, especially with ethanol in it. My boating friend also told me that ethonal treated gasoline has eaten a lot of seals in his buddies marine engines when left sitting for extended periods of time. I was wondering if all of the fuel stabilizer treatments were the same (Sta-bil, seafoam, maxima etc) or if one company is better than the other? Thanks guys.

 

You don't have to do anything to the fuel if it's only sitting for 6 weeks.

 

I'd throw a little bit of that Startron stuff, it keeps the ethanol from separating from the gasoline, it's not really a stabilizer but it works very well. 6 months isn't really anything to be concerned about, I wouldn't go with a Sta-bil or anything along those lines.

 

You don't need it but if you really want to get the sta-bil

 

I've used Sta-bil for my motorcycle the last couple years. It'll spend October-April (7 months) in storage, and it'll start right up when I bring it out.

Before putting my bike into storage, I'll add it to a full tank, and then run it down to half and refil and top that with stabilizer to make sure it's well mixed.

 

Park it when it's nearly empty. The old wive's tale about needing a full tank to ward off moisture only holds true if the vehicle is going to be parked for years. But then you need to drain it anyways because it's turned to turpentine... besides, who wants a full tank of old fuel?
Fill it next time out and good to go!

 

That is horrible advise and it is not an old wive's tale, it's called condensation and is basic science. The duration it takes for condesation to develop is dependent on the weather and can happen rather quickly if left in the correct conditions. No air space, no room for condensate, no moisture in the fuel.

 

I beg to differ:
http://www.adlersantiqueautos.com/articles/winterstorage.html

 

Seeing how that is written by people who supposedly know antique cars, I'd never take any vehicle I own there... Some older vehicles have metal fuel tanks and leaving them empty can cause them to rust. For that reason alone, an antique car shop should be against leaving the tank empty. Obviously, we have a plastic fuel tank so rust isn't a concern. I use a fuel additive for anything that is going to sit for more than a couple weeks and all it does is keep the ethanol from separating from the mix. I've left motorcycles, lawn mowers and weed eaters to sit all winter and fired up easily in the spring, visa versa with the snow blower sitting through the summer months. Sorry, but you will not convince me that leaving a fuel tank empty for storage is a good idea unless you're talking extremely long term storage (such as a rare car that will sit in a museum for years) and the tank has been properly cleaned and treated.

 

If its only sitting for six weeks you don't need to do anything...heck I have other vehicles that I leave for months without starting and they always start right up when I need them to.

 

Point taken. This site is great for arguements!
P.S.- Congrats on the little one

 

You can use Seafoam, as it also functions like a fuel stabilizer. I use it in my motorcycle which may sit for weeks without being used. Not only that, but when you do run it through, cleans the injectors.

 

Thank you

 

BTW, I put stabilizer in all my equipment, jerry cans, etc... but I still leave vehicles with less than half a tank so new fuel will dilute the old. Just me!

 

Yamalube is the best I've used.

 

been using seafoam for just such reasons for yrs. my stuff always starts up and runs first try. never tried the startron stuff and quit using stabil years ago

 

Mine is parked due to a broken leg and hand. My son drove it one day while his Ranger was in for repairs. My girlfriend may drive it a little. I had no plan to add fuel additive. Even if no-one will drive it it'll be fine fine for a couple months.

 

6wks....you don't need to do anything.....but if you will feel all warm and fuzzy put some sea foam in it........it will stabilize the fuel and once you drive it again it will clean the injectors and the top of the cylinder........good stuff Ive used it in my Harleys for yrs .....only fuel additive I use.....period.