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MG MGA - Ethanol

I have just bought a new lawn mower!
What has that got to do with MGA's? Well it has a Honda 4 stroke engine and comes with very specific instructions to use a "fuel stabiliser" to prevent harm from the ethanol in petrol.
So I was wondering if that is something we should be putting in our cars?
From what I can glean, the additive will stop the fuel going "stale", which apparently can happen in only a few weeks, and that is when the ethanol does its damage.
Any views?
Graham V

I run 87 octane (regular here) contains 10% ethanol. Never do anything to it. Leave it standing over winter, never any problems.
Art Pearse

Ethanol has been a fuel additive for decades in the U.S. and it can cause problems, everything from degrading certain types of fuel hose and damaging the plastics & rubber components of carbs. I've used a product called "Star Tron", both to stabilize the fuel for long tern storage as well as prevent the harmful effects of ethanol in my mower, tractor, generator & snowblower, not to mention my MGA.
Nick Kopernik

Thanks.
So for people like me who rarely use the car in the winter months, I am thinking there can be no downside, and very many possible upsides to adding this to the fuel.
Graham V

Graham,
not so straight forward I'm afraid. Over one winter might be fine but even additives have a use by life and storage and use requirements, there's more to it than just tipping the stuff in, so you may be better buying smaller bottle sizes even if proportionally it costs more.

Just as a popular example, I've never used this, STA-BIL - http://sta-bil.co.uk/shop/

Then there's possible limitations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvS_D4_lF5U

For your car even over winter occasional use will be better to clear the whole fuel system, tied in where possible with an Italian tune-up. I know there are plenty of sensible driving opportunities over winter as I'm only in the next county.

You could also look for Esso Synergy Supreme+ or Jet Ultra as neither have ethanol added in our area.
Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel.Interesting video. I’m surprised the lawnmower companies make such a big thing of using stabiliser if his results are to be believed.
I guess that as a lawnmower uses so little fuel, there can often be a relative large reserve kept in a can for a very extended period of time.
Whether they are more concerned about keeping the fuel usable as opposed to damage from the ethanol, is a possibility.
Graham V

Graham

I use super unleaded (Esso) in everything, as, up to now, it has been ethanol free.

I cut the grass this afternoon and realised that I will need to buy some petrol soon, as the petrol I bought over a year ago has almost gone. It hasn't gone off, neither has the petrol in my motorbike.
Dave O'Neill 2

The video is just one chap using one additive in a shed test and IIRC the fuel was 9-12 months old so it's not scientific.

I do like the real world experience of someone like Dave though.

I think for the mower users are even more careless than with cars so Honda are taking more precaution rather than telling their customer to RtFM and follow it, the Japanese are too polite! 😊

If you're laying the car up (tut, :rolleyes:) then you're best to fill the tank to avoid, er, a void, where condensation can set. Plus of course it means you have a full tank ready to take advantage of good winter driving opportunities. You could then also top the tank up with fresh Esso.

The additional cleaning additive package to the Esso at least works on the whole fuel system when you drive the car, the more and quicker you drive the more it's cleaning, you might see a theme here. 😁

As you can only drive one car at once if I'm about I could give occasional cleaning runs for you, I wont even charge you, cos I'm that sort of helpful chap.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2021 and 28/05/2021

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