ValvTect vs Standard gas

[Old Sarge]

I understand using these products when storing your boat over the winter, but what does it do for the engine during the summer when you are burning fresh fuel? My boat seems to run fine without it. Not saying anyone is wrong, just trying to educate myself!

[Rich]

I don't put in fresh fuel on each trip. Sometimes I don't get fresh fuel for a month or two (I have large tanks).

This way I never have to worry. It's not just for long term stabilization, but helps with water, etc. As I said, it's sort of a religious choice.

Same reason some like to use ValveTect on every fill up, not just when closing up for the winter.

This is my choice:
http://www.starbrite.com/startron

One nice thing about StarTron, they do have a dosage formula, but say you can't really 'over treat' your fuel with it, so no worries if you put in a bit too much. Also they say it's compatible with other stabilizers, so no worries about using it in ValveTect or if someone used Stabil (which is only a stabilizer for long term use).

I use it in all my small engines, my motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. I should probably use it in my low use cars too.

I'm starting to sound like an advertiser... but here is their video that tells you what it's supposed to do. If it does half of this, I'm happy to use it:

Since you asked "what does it do over the Summer", I thought that would answer it.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Old Sarge

I understand using these products when storing your boat over the winter, but what does it do for the engine during the summer when you are burning fresh fuel? My boat seems to run fine without it. Not saying anyone is wrong, just trying to educate myself!

The additives offer no benefit if you are routinely burning through gas, adding fresh gas to the tank, and don't have a way for water to get into the tank.

I only use additives in fuel that's going to be stored for a few months or more. My boat only gets additive (Stabil Marine) when I fill for the last time of the season, just prior to Winterization. I buy at least 95% of my boat gas at automotive pumps (this no additives) too, because my boat is typically kept on the trailer when not in use. I've been doing this for at least 15 years without a single fuel-related issue.

[Rich]

Dave,

I hope you and your bride will join us again on a day on the lake again this year!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Dave R

The additives offer no benefit if you are routinely burning through gas, adding fresh gas to the tank

I disagree...Ethanol, which is a form of alcohol, is a wonderful de-greaser. Ethanol robs your cylinder walls of oil lubrication particularly at startup. Quality stabilizers such as marine Stabil offer corrosion protection and lubrication to offset some of this degreasing that ethanol displaces.

Dan

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I disagree...Ethanol, which is a form alcohol, is a wonderful de-greaser. Ethanol robs your cylinder walls of oil lubrication particularly at startup. Quality stabilizers such as marine Stabil offer corrosion protection and lubrication to offset some of this degreasing that ethanol displaces.

Dan

Ethanol also damages gaskets and fuel lines.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I disagree...Ethanol, which is a form of alcohol, is a wonderful de-greaser. Ethanol robs your cylinder walls of oil lubrication particularly at startup. Quality stabilizers such as marine Stabil offer corrosion protection and lubrication to offset some of this degreasing that ethanol displaces.

Dan

If this was really a problem, why do car engines last so long on plain old E10? I can't imagine many people are adding ValvTect every time they fill up. I certainly don't witness it at gas stations.

My commuter car has 192k miles, runs perfectly, and has never seen a drop of any gasoline additive. I'd estimate it has at least 4800 hours on it (assuming a 40 MPH average speed over the life of the car).

I would think the cold Winter start-ups the car has to endure would exacerbate the issue compared to the typical warm temperature a Winnipesaukee boat is going to enjoy at start up. My boat engine is probably already at least 65 degrees when I first start it up most days. It's never been started below 32 degrees. Yet, even though the car gets most of it's starts in cold weather (I ride a motorcycle when weather permits) it still works fine.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Dave R

If this was really a problem, why do car engines last so long on plain old E10? I can't imagine many people are adding ValvTect every time they fill up. I certainly don't witness it at gas stations.

My commuter car has 192k miles, runs perfectly, and has never seen a drop of any gasoline additive. I'd estimate it has at least 4800 hours on it (assuming a 40 MPH average speed over the life of the car).

I would think the cold Winter start-ups the car has to endure would exacerbate the issue compared to the typical warm temperature a Winnipesaukee boat is going to enjoy at start up. My boat engine is probably already at least 65 degrees when I first start it up most days. It's never been started below 32 degrees. Yet, even though the car gets most of it's starts in cold weather (I ride a motorcycle when weather permits) it still works fine.

Mainly the reason cars are less affected is because they are used daily or at least a heck of a lot more than most boats where ethanol corrosion becomes an issue. This is why boats, snowmobiles, ATV's and any combustion engine that either gets stored or not run daily, ethanol corrosion becomes a real issue. The longer an engine sits that has used ethanol laced fuel the worse the problem becomes. The problem is not running the engine with ethanol the problem is when the engine is not running or stored after ethanol....

Dan

[DesertDweller]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Mainly the reason cars are less affected is because they are used daily or at least a heck of a lot more than most boats where ethanol corrosion becomes a real issue. This is why boats, snowmobiles, ATV's and any combustion engine that either gets stored or not run daily, ethanol corrosion becomes a real issue. The longer an engine sits that has used ethanol laced fuel the worse the problem becomes. The problem is not running the engine with ethanol the problem is when the engine is not running or stored after ethanol....

Dan

Couldn't agree more. I have read where gasoline phase separation can happen in less than a month. Maybe that's just marketing materials being put out by the makers of these additives, but for me, I would rather spend a couple of extra bucks getting treated gas and/or buying the stabilizers than risking damage to a multiple thousand dollar motor hanging off the back of my boat.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by DesertDweller

Couldn't agree more. I have read where gasoline phase separation can happen in less than a month. Maybe that's just marketing materials being put out by the makers of these additives, but for me, I would rather spend a couple of extra bucks getting treated gas and/or buying the stabilizers than risking damage to a multiple thousand dollar motor hanging off the back of my boat.

Phase separation occurs because there is too much water in the fuel, it's not due to time. Additives are not the proper solution to that, you need to keep the water out.