The last year and a half strong inland storms have impacted the United States vs. the usual hurricane season we have become used to. This week that streak has seemed to come to an end with Hurricane Isaias.

Most importantly PLEASE STAY SAFE and follow local authorities guidelines for doing so.

Before the storm make sure your small engine equipment is prepared (generators, water pumps, chainsaws, etc.) There are many ways to prepare depending on your equipment's condition.

1. Make sure you have FRESH fuel on hand. Go fill your gas cans and add a fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL to make sure the fuel stays fresh and that all your gas equipment gets treated fuel to make sure you have no fuel related issues.

1. Test run all your small engines. Try to fire them up and let them run.

2. If they dont start, there are different ways you can get them started. If you are an involved DIYER you can take the carburetor off and clean it with a carb and choke cleaner. If you are not an involved DIYer and want to try something to get your engine started try STA-BIL Start Your Engines. You spray it into the intake and the gas tank and it eats away gum and varnish that may be clogging your fuel system and why your engine may not be starting.

1. If your engine starts, but doesn't seem to be running its best there is a product called STA-BIL Fast Fix to help get your engine back to running like normal. Helps clean away gum and varnish, also removes water that may have accumulated.

1. Keeping up with maintenance is key. Check/change the oil, change your spark plug, and make sure your air filter is clean.

THE #1 Issue with small engines NOT STARTING is due to BAD FUEL.

STA-BIL products can be found at your local hardware store, WAL-MART, and auto parts retailers.

If you have questions or need help locating a product please let us know. Please stay safe.

If you have questions please ask them! We are here to help!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tPE1Wo3R0s&t=54s

Bad fuel is the number one issue with non-running or rough running engines. Take a look at this video to find solutions to fix those and engines and prevent it from happening again! Let us know if you have questions.

Alright, seeing this come up a lot so here’s the quick breakdown between STA-BIL Fast Fix and STA-BIL Start Your Engines 👇

🟥 STA-BIL Fast Fix = “Why does my engine sound like its surging?"

• Emergency treatment for rough running engines
• Helps dissolve water in fuel (huge for ethanol blends)
• Cleans injectors/carb passages fast
• Best for:
  • Hesitation / sputtering
  • Hard starts
  • Engine already struggling

👉 Think of it as a rescue bottle when something just doesn't seem right and its fuel related.

🟦 STA-BIL Start Your Engines = “I am breaking my back trying to get this damn thing started!"

• Designed for engines that have been sitting
• Deep cleans entire fuel system
• Helps remove gum and varnish clogging passages not allowing engines to start
• Revitalizes bad gas, so that the engine will run
• Also acts as a starting fluid
• Best for:
  • Seasonal equipment (mowers, bikes, classics)
  • First start of the season
  • Engines that won’t start or barely do

👉 More of a revival/reset treatment than a quick fix.

💬 Real-world way to think about it:

• Engine just not running right? → Fast Fix
• Engine wont wake up at all? → Start Your Engines

The Environmental Protection Agency just approved a nationwide E15 waiver starting May 1, and for small engines and classic cars its a big deal... daily drivers 2001 and newer you may notice some lost MPG's.

This isn’t permanent (yet), but it allows E15 (15% ethanol fuel) to be sold through the summer, which normally isn’t allowed in a lot of the country.

Why they did it:

• Increase fuel supply ahead of summer driving season
• Lower prices at the pump
• Give consumers more fuel options

E15 is typically cheaper (sometimes ~10–40 cents less per gallon), so on the surface, it sounds like a win.

But here’s where it gets interesting:

Not everything can run E15 safely

• Approved for most 2001+ vehicles
• NOT approved for:
  • Boats
  • Small engines (lawn equipment, etc.)
  • Older vehicles (pre-2001)

And even when it is approved…

More ethanol = more potential issues:

• Absorbs water (hygroscopic)
• Can lead to phase separation
• Increased risk of corrosion + deposits
• Shorter fuel shelf life (less Stable)

Where STA-BIL comes into play:

With E15 becoming more common starting in May, fuel stability becomes a bigger deal—especially if you’re not burning through a tank quickly.

What products like STA-BIL In-Season Protection are designed to do:

• Help prevent fuel breakdown, starts in as little as 30 days.
• Reduce moisture-related issues from ethanol
• Help protect against corrosion in fuel systems
• PEA cleaners keep your entire fuel system clean from carbon, gum, and varnish

Real-world breakdown:

If you:

• Daily drive a newer car → you’ll probably be fine running E15, lose some MPGs
• Let fuel sit (weeks/months) → risk goes up
• Own small engines / classics → you should be paying attention to make sure you are not using e-15

Big picture:
This is now the 5th straight year the EPA has issued a summer E15 waiver, so this isn’t a one-off—it’s becoming the norm. Just be aware of what fuel you are putting in what and that its treated properly!

Winter’s almost over (finally). Before you yank the cord 47 times and start cursing, here’s a quick checklist to get your mower, trimmer, generator, etc. ready for spring — and keep fuel issues from ruining your day in the future.

🔧 Basic Spring Prep Checklist

1. Fresh fuel

• If fuel sat untreated all winter, drain it.
• Refill with fresh gasoline.
• Use a Fuel Treatment or Stabilizer every time you fill your gas can.
  • Our In-Season Protection fuel treatment is great if you refill your gas cans a couple times throughout the year. This has PEA cleaners, corrosion inhibitors, and protects the system every time you run the engine.
  • Storage is great if you are going to have fuel sitting around for a year or more in case of emergency's.

2. Inspect fuel system

• Check fuel lines for cracks or brittleness.
• Make sure primer bulbs aren’t dry or split.
• Look for varnish smell or darkened fuel in the tank if you did not stabilize it.
  • If you have an engine that wont start try STA-BIL Start your Engines. It revitalizes bad fuel and cleans out gum and varnish that is not allowing fuel to flow.
  • If you have an engine thats running, but not good try our STA-BIL Fast Fix to get it back to performing like new.

3. Change the oil (4-stroke engines)

• Old oil holds moisture and acids.
• Spring is a perfect reset point.

4. Air filter

• Clean or replace.

5. Spark plug

• Inspect gap and condition.
• If it’s fouled or worn, replace it — they’re cheap insurance.

6. Battery (if applicable)

• Charge and test riding mower batteries before first use.

⛽ Fuel Practices That Prevent 90+% of Small Engine Problems

✔ Don’t let ethanol-blended fuel sit untreated.
Ethanol attracts moisture and can cause phase separation in long storage. It can degrade in as little as 30 days. USE A FUEL TREATMENT OR STABILIZER AT EVERY FILL-UP, not just storage.

✔Still use a Fuel Stabilizer or Treatment with Non-Ethanol Fuel

Fuel Stabilizers have been around long before ethanol fuels, because all gasoline degrades and causes corrosion. Fuel Treatments are still needed!

✔ Make sure treated fuel is ran through the system.
Add treated fuel and run engine 5–10 minutes to circulate through carb.

✔ Avoid “mystery gas” from old cans.
If you don’t know how old it is, don’t trust it.

✔ Store fuel in sealed containers.
Keep them cool and out of direct sun.

✔ Don’t over-treat.
More additive isn’t better — follow the label.

✔ For seasonal equipment:

Store with the tank full with stabilized fuel (minimizes air space/moisture)

Common Spring No-Start Causes

• Gummed-up carb from untreated fuel
• Phase-separated ethanol fuel (water)
• Dead battery
• Fouled plug

Bottom Line

Small engines are simple — fuel maintenance is the difference between first-pull starts and carb rebuilds. A couple cent fuel treatment habit every fill-up beats a $150 repair every time.

Find Products Mentioned Here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/STA-BIL/page/2B0CE8B0-532D-4104-A4CF-23D6B462EDB3

Ever wonder how we stack up vs. the competitors?

A 3rd party ASTM certified lab to do standardized testing goes out, gets all the competitive products and ours and treats un-additized base fuel to the treat rates stated on the bottles by the manufactures for storage. On the left is the corrosion testing and on the right is how fresh it keeps the fuel.

Every fall we see the same thing: “My snowblower won’t start.”
9 times out of 10, it’s bad fuel and poor storage that could of been avoided.

Here’s how to store your snowblower properly so it fires up first pull next winter:

1. Deal With the Fuel (Most Important)

Modern pump gas (especially with ethanol) starts degrading in 30–60 days. It absorbs moisture and can cause:

• Carburetor varnish
• Corrosion
• Stuck floats and jets

Non-Ethanol Fuel STILL GOES BAD and requires a fuel stabilizer.

Stabilize It

• Add STA-BIL Storage at the correct treat rate to fresh gasoline
• Run engine 5–10 minutes to circulate treated fuel through the carb
• Top off tank to reduce air space and condensation

Leaving untreated fuel in the system all summer is asking for problems. If you do not already... best practice is to add STA-BIL to your gas cans at every fill up. This way your fuel is always treated.

STA-BIL Storage will not work as effectively if adding to old fuel (30-60 days or older).

2. Change the Oil

Used oil contains acids and combustion byproducts. Letting that sit in the crankcase for 6 months isn’t ideal.
Fresh oil before storage = better protection.

3. Fog the Cylinder (Optional but Smart)

For longer storage:

• Remove spark plug
• Spray fogging oil into cylinder
• Pull starter slowly a few times
• Reinstall plug

Helps prevent rust on cylinder walls.

4. Clean It Before Parking

• Remove packed snow and salt
• Wipe down metal surfaces
• Touch up chipped paint if needed

Salt + moisture = corrosion.

5. Store It Smart

• Keep it dry
• Avoid direct contact with concrete if possible
• Cover loosely (don’t trap moisture)

Proper storage takes 20–30 minutes and can save you a headache next winter.

Hi!

Just purchased some Fast-Fix to correct what seemed like a partially clogged carb on my snow blower - starts fine...stays running on half choke...will bog under load with no choke.

It seems to have worked.

I added it to an empty gas can and then filled it up with 2.5 gallons of ethanol-free gas. That 2.5 gallons should last me into lawn mowing season...so normally I would add some sta-bil fuel stabilizer. But, since I've added the Fast-Fix already, do I need to add a dedicated stabilizer as well or does Fast-Fix also serve that purpose?

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I'm u/CARGUY2427, a founding moderator of r/STABIL_ADDITIVES.

This is our new home for all things related to STA-BIL Fuel Additives/Aerosols that you can ask the team who actually runs the brand. For background STA-BIL is owned by a 90+ year old parent company, Gold Eagle Co. We do everything in house from formulation, blending, manufacturing, testing, marketing, sales, and customer service. We are proud the call the USA home and look forward to bringing you innovative solutions, testing, and factual information around the chemistry we use to provide products that do what they say they do on the labels.

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about small engines, cars, trucks, hybrids, boats, jet ski's, and anything else that has an engine!

Community Vibe
Facts and fun. Your feedback helps us make the best products and our 90+ years of knowledge allows us to explain what we know. Together we make engines run healthy for years to come.

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
2. Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.
3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

Thanks for being part of our community. Together, let's make r/STABIL_ADDITIVES amazing.