Gas stabilizer - worth doing?

[razz]

A friend told me that they use a gas stabilizer in every tank of gas that is used for the rototiller, lawn mower etc. Is this needed? Worthwhile doing?

[Alan]

A friend told me that they use a gas stabilizer in every tank of gas that is used for the rototiller, lawn mower etc. Is this needed? Worthwhile doing?
I think use in every tank is excessive if the implement is used regularly. I use a stabilizer in my small engines, including my motorcycle, prior to putting into storage for the winter.

[goldensmom]

I'm not sure why stabilizer is needed although I could probably read the back of the bottle to find out. We used to put stabilizer in mowers, trimmers, tillers, etc. for over winter but stopped about 10 years ago and have not had any problems or seen any difference with or without it.

[Alan]

Perhaps the OP's friend uses stabilizer in every tank as a result of the use of ethanol blended gasoline. I've read that ethanol blends should be consumed within 30 days and also that many carbeurator problems on small engines are ethanol related, although I've never experienced these problems myself.

[razz]

Good point, Alan, about the ethanol as it seems so much gas has up to 10% ethanol.

[ToomuchStuff]

The ethanol issues, seemed to be on older equipment as the change in formula, might loosen varnish, etc, so the carburetors would get blocked by that.
Ethanol blends (almost all my state sells now) typically should not be kept for more then 30 days. Normal gas (have to look for stuff for experimental aircraft, typically, around here), would be good for about 3 months. These are general guidelines without testing, etc.
On equipment I am putting away for storage, I prefer to drain as much as possible (then transfer to the vehicle) and run the rest out (put a spring clamp on the kill switch and leave it where I know it is not going to get grabbed and I don't have to stand there and hold it).

[SteveinMN]

The only gas-powered equipment we have is the snowblower. In Minnesota, it's hard to find gasoline that does not have a good percentage of ethanol (I'll admit I haven't looked very very hard). I put stabilizer in that fuel as soon as I get it at the gas station because I may use the snowblower twice a week or once in two months. I've accidentally had that gas "summer over" and the snowblower still started quickly the following winter. So I use it. It does not cost so much that it's a real concern for the one piece of equipment that needs it and is used sporadically.