Fuel stabilizers keep fuel fresh and protect your fuel system if you don’t use your car or other engine equipment for a while. Two of the most popular fuel stabilizers are Sta-Bil and Sea Foam? Sta-Bil vs Sea Foam – what are the differences between them?
Sta-Bil is a glycol-based fuel stabilizer that works by making a thin film layer over your fuel to keep moisture and air. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years in storage. After that, it can be used for gasoline fuel engines. Make sure the fuel tank stays still when using Sta-Bil. If the fuel tank gets jostled or moved vigorously, the film breaks and does not reseal.
Sea Foam is a petroleum-based fuel stabilizer and cleaner in one. Sea Foam mixes well with fuel and so, it isn’t sensitive to movement. This makes it great for smaller equipment such as lawnmowers. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years. You can also use it for gasoline and diesel fuel engines.
Read on to find out more about Sta-Bil vs Sea Foam fuel stabilizers so you can choose the right one for your car or equipment.
Sta-Bil Vs Sea Foam Fuel Stabilizer
When you leave fuel sitting for too long, it can be harmful to your engine because many kinds of fuels contain ethanol. Ethanol is a form of alcohol and can cause oxidation.
Oxidation can damage your entire fuel system. A fuel stabilizer added to your fuel tank can stop oxidation if you don’t use your car for a long time. Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are both popular choices for fuel stabilizers.
Sta-Bil is a glycol-based fuel stabilizer that works by making a thin film layer over your fuel to keep out air and moisture. Using this product, you can keep fuel good for up to 2 years in storage. Make sure the fuel tank stays still when using Sta-Bil. If the fuel tank gets jostled or moved vigorously, the film breaks and does not reseal. Sta-Bil can be used for gas fuel, but not diesel fuel.
Sea Foam is a petroleum-based fuel stabilizer and cleaner in one. Sea Foam mixes well with fuel and so, it is not sensitive to movement. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years. It can be used for gasoline and diesel fuel.
Yes, gasoline and diesel fuel can go bad because they are both perishable products. Fuel stabilizers can make them last longer while they are in storage. Failure to use a stabilizer can lead to an engine that won’t start, the poor performance of an engine, or worse, a damaged one.
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About Sta-Bil
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Sta-Bil is a storage fuel stabilizer made by Gold Eagle Co. The company was founded in 1932 and had since then been producing fluids and additives. To date, they have more than 100 products, including Sta-Bil fuel stabilizers of various kinds.
Sta-Bil keeps fuel fresh and clean when stored and provides you with fast and easy starts coming out of storage. It is a glycol-based product and is like an anti-freeze additive. It works by removing water by creating a thin film over the fuel to keep out moisture that corrodes the fuel system while cleaning the carburetors and the fuel injector.
Sta-Bil gives the fuel system protection from a build-up of impurities from the gum, rust, varnish, etc. Save yourself the trouble of draining your gas tank before storing your vehicle by treating the fuel with a Sta-Bil Storage Fuel Stabilizer.
Try Sta-Bil now and see for yourself how good it is for your vehicle or gasoline-powered equipment.
How to Use Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer?
You can use Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer in any gasoline-run vehicle or equipment you will keep in storage for 30 days or longer. It can keep gasoline fresh for up to 2 years. Also, you can use it in all types of gasoline, including Ethanol-blended fuel, up to E-85. For every 9.5 liters of fuel, use 30ml Sta-Bil.
You’ll need to run the engine for 5 minutes after adding the product to the fuel so that the entire fuel system gets treated. Sta-Bil does not contain alcohol.
For gasoline that you’ll store in cans, fill your gasoline can with fresh fuel and then add the right amount of Sta-Bil to the fuel.
For outdoor equipment powered by gasoline like the following:
- Lawnmowers,
- Leaf blowers,
- Snowblowers and others.
Have a can of fuel filled at the station, add Sta-Bil to the fuel, fill up the equipment, then run it for 5 minutes before storing.
For cars and trucks and motorcycles, have the gas tank filled to about 95 percent full with clean, fresh fuel and then add the correct amount of Sta-Bil and then run the engine for 5 minutes. To get additional protection, put a car or motorcycle cover over your vehicle.
For boats and jetskis, have the gas tank filled to about 95% full with clean, fresh fuel and then add the correct amount of Sta-Bil and then run the engine for 5 minutes. For added protection, cover your boat or jet ski with a boat or jet ski cover.
About Sea Foam
Sea Foam is a motor oil that Sea Foam International manufactures. The company was founded in 1942 and has since then been manufacturing motor oils in the U.S and then, recently, in Canada.
Sea Foam is a fuel stabilizer used for various types of engines, from pickup trucks to lawnmowers. It is petroleum-based motor oil and mixes very well with fuel. It works by preventing moisture build-up in the fuel tank, thereby stopping corrosion and varnishing.
Sea Foam also acts as a fuel engine system cleaner and can even be used to lubricate many engine parts, including the oil crankcase of your car. It can clean your intake valves and cleanse your chamber deposits. Another good thing about Sea Foam is that it can mix with gasoline and diesel fuel and work in fuel injected and carburetor engines.
How to Use Sea Foam Motor Oil?
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As we mentioned, you can use Sea Foam Motor Oil in both gasoline and diesel fuel. For regular maintenance of your fuel system, add 1 ounce per gallon. To clean your entire fuel system, you need to use 2 ounces per gallon.
If you’re using an injector cleaning machine, use 50/50 to the gasoline. When you’re priming a diesel fuel filter, use 100% Sea Foam. And for storing vehicles or gasoline-powered equipment, use 1 ounce to a gallon of fuel. Sea Foam can keep fuel fresh for up to 2 years.
To use Sea Foam, these are the recommendations:
For cars and trucks used regularly, add Sea Foam to fuel every 3000 miles. As for small engines, regularly add to the fuel every time you refuel. Lastly, for equipment that you use regularly, add Sea Foam to a full fuel tank every 3 months.
Again, Sta-Bil vs Sea Foam – what are the differences? Sta-Bil is a glycol-based fuel stabilizer that adds a thin film layer over your fuel to keep the moisture and air out. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years in storage. It can be used for gasoline fuel engines. The fuel system should be kept still when Sta-Bil has been added so that the thin layer of the film stays in place.
Sea Foam is a petroleum-based fuel stabilizer and cleaner in one. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years. Sea Foam isn’t sensitive to movement. This makes Sea Foam great for smaller equipment such as lawnmowers. You can also use this for gasoline as well as diesel fuel engines.
Tips for Picking a Good Fuel Stabilizer
- Pick a good brand and when you find one that works well with your engines, stick to it. Choose a fuel stabilizer from a trusted brand from a company with years of experience making additives. Both Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are trusted brands in the motor fuels and additives market.
- Make sure you’re using the right product. Not all fuel stabilizers can be used for diesel fuel. Read the product label if the fuel stabilizer you have is okay to use with diesel.
- Choose a stabilizer that’s easy to use. A fuel stabilizer that you measure and pour into the fuel is ideal. Some require mixing procedures.
What Do Fuel Stabilizers Do?
Car fuel systems and smaller gas tanks are not airtight. Preserve your fuel if you aren’t using your vehicle, lawnmower, snowblower, chainsaw, generator for a while. Fuel stabilizers are made to stop oxidation in the fuel to extend the lifespan of your fuel.
Fuel stabilizers aren’t necessary if you use your car or truck regularly. They keep the fuel fresh and effective for up to two years. However, it is a must for seasonal equipment and vehicles that go into storage for more than a month.
They prevent evaporation and stop chemical reactions within stored fuel that can cause sticky resins. Old and stale fuel also can cause a build-up of tacky deposits in various parts of your motor. You can use this if you use a good fuel stabilizer.
Benefits of Fuel Stabilizers
1. Helps You Save Fuel
When it’s time to store a vehicle or equipment that runs on gasoline, chances are, the gasoline tank won’t be almost empty. So that you don’t have to drain it, and make sure that it stays fresh, use a fuel stabilizer to save whatever fuel is in the gas tank.
2. Helps Clean Your Fuel System
Fuel contains impurities that cause build-up over time in your fuel system. There are fuel stabilizers that also work as fuel system cleaners that can cleanse out the impurities. This can secure your vehicle from accumulating impurity build-up.
3. Lessen the Chances of Cold Starts
After you let your vehicle or equipment sit for some time in storage, starting it can be not easy. When you use a fuel stabilizer, starting up the engine again will be quicker and much easier.
4. You Get Better Over-all Performance
As we said, impurity build-up isn’t good for your engine because it needs to work harder. When an engine works harder, there will be a noticeable reduction in performance. When you use a fuel stabilizer that’s also a cleaner, it ensures that your fuel system runs smoothly and boosts the performance of your vehicle or equipment.
Types of Fuel Stabilizers
For Storage
These fuel stabilizers were designed to keep fuel fresh while storing fuel. They were made to extend the storage life of fuels. Many of these fuel stabilizers can protect and preserve fuels for up to 2 years. There are fuel stabilizers that can only be used for gasoline and some which you can use for gasoline and diesel. Always check that the fuel stabilizer you get is compatible with the type of fuel you have.
For Performance
Fuel stabilizers made for performance can usually keep fuel clean and fresh for less than 24 months. These fuel stabilizers are best used for eliminating impurities to give your vehicle a better performance.
Conclusion: Sea Foam vs Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer
Both Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are reliable brands to use as a fuel stabilizer when you intend to let your vehicle or gasoline-powered equipment sit for a while in storage.
Sta-Bil is a glycol-based fuel stabilizer that works by making a thin film layer over your fuel to keep moisture and air. Ensure that the fuel tank will not be moved if you’re using Sta-Bil because the thin film protection may break, and it does not reseal on its own. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years in storage. Also, you can use it for gasoline fuel.
Sea Foam is a petroleum-based fuel stabilizer and cleaner in one. Sea Foam mixes well with fuel and so, it isn’t sensitive to movement. It can keep fuel good for up to 2 years. You can use this product for gasoline as well as diesel fuel.
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