I have an older 2000 Mercury 115 horse. Whenever I put gas in it I use Stabil and Seafoam. I have recently found a place that sells non-ethanol treated gas. A boat mechanic who has helped me a lot once told me that if you are using standard gas and you haven't put Stabil in before 5-7 days you might as well not because the gas has already started to break down. That's with standard gas.

 

 

 

If I use the non-ethanol treated gas though should I still use Stabil?

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking the answer is no, unless that is could be the last tank of gas I put in the boat before storing it for the winter, and if that is the case then yes, put Stabil in.

 

 

I always do.

Except I use Quickare, Quickleen.

When e-free gas was available here, I would run the pink sta-bil in it.

Ethanol and gas cannot form a chemical bond; that is why E10 fuel is formulated to be used within 30-45 days of blending. You can certainly add a product 5-10 days later and still get a good effect. The breakdown is not that sudden or catastrophic.

 

After 30-45 days E10 fuel begins to break down, forming gums and other solids that can clog carbs or injectors. You should use a stabilizer for E10 fuel that will not be used for a month or more, Traditional chemical based stabilizers work, but they can cause the engine to run a  bit smoky or balky. The trick with all fuel is to make sure it stays fresh and that it burns as completely as possible for max power and fuel economy, as well as a clean engine. 

 

As you can imagine, I prefer Star Tron as it does all the above (stabilization, cleaner burn, more power, etc), but our advice is that you whatever product makes you and your boat's engine happy.

 

Water in E10 is another issue, No product can magically remove water or make it burn - the products making these claims are usually a form of alcohol or another emulsifier that actually degrades fuel quality. (alcohol is the problem, so adding more won't solve it)

 

Run the engine often, turn the fuel as quickly as you can and you'll be fine.