The Ford Barn

David in San Antonio · 10-06-2025, 10:45 AM

Do you store your A over the winter? Do you put Marvel Mystery Oil or Sta-bil or Sea-Foam or something else in the gas tank? The linked video should provide endless discussion, controversy, stories of personal experiences, perhaps some outrage, the popping of bubbles and maybe, just maybe some regrets.

https://youtu.be/OHXYWxMkhog?si=73OZ_9W8GZ6AVBR6

32Ford13 · 10-06-2025, 12:47 PM

I've had Sta-bil not work as good as Startron. I've been 100% Startron for the past hand full of years and it has never given me grief

ModelA29 · 10-06-2025, 12:48 PM

I use the Sta-bil if It's going to sit for more than a couple months. I never used to but with ethanol in the gas it seems to go bad so much faster.
Try and find a place with pure gas to fill up at before you store it. Still use the additive anyway. Also a full tank will help keep rust from forming on the exposed metal.

LeonardS · 10-06-2025, 01:04 PM

Do some research on PRI-G by Power Research Inc. I think it is by far the best stabilizer. Ever wonder how they keep the fuel fresh in those huge storage tanks? Check these guys out. www.priproducts.com

BButturff · 10-06-2025, 01:39 PM

First, I don't use gasoline with any amount of ethanol in it in my small engines, outboard motor or Model A. I realize that some of you don't have this option but this has been the key to my never having fuel related problems. Second, I've been using Sta-bil as a medium term (1-year or less) fuel stabilizer for close to 55 years. After 1-year I transfer the gasoline to my regular cars and replace it with fresh.

Y-Blockhead · 10-06-2025, 03:59 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by David in San Antonio

Do you store your A over the winter? Do you put Marvel Mystery Oil or Sta-bil or Sea-Foam or something else in the gas tank? The linked video should provide endless discussion, controversy, stories of personal experiences, perhaps some outrage, the popping of bubbles and maybe, just maybe some regrets.

https://youtu.be/OHXYWxMkhog?si=73OZ_9W8GZ6AVBR6

Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoy watching Project Farm comparisons. Being in So Cal I don't store my Model A in the winter months. I do use Seafoam to help keep the fuel system clean.

My main problem is that the current fuels evaporate out of the Model A vented tank.

nkaminar · 10-06-2025, 05:58 PM

Where I live it is warm enough in the winter to keep running my Model A. Although some days are too cold or too wet. I keep the battery maintainer connected if I am not going to drive it for a week or more. If I am going to be away for more than a month I will run the carburetor dry and put the car on jack stands to keep the tires from getting flat spots. I don't use any stabilizers in the tank and run gasoline with ethanol but I keep the tank mostly full. My car lives in my garage with a dehumidifier.

norcalal · 10-06-2025, 10:10 PM

We in California have the worst gas for old cars. However, I have added Any transmission fluid to gas just before filling up with name brand gas, and am over six or seven years sitting without a problem restarting. Cheap, AND it works!

1928Mik · 10-07-2025, 08:42 AM

I fill mine up with non-ethanol and put a few glugs of either Sta-Bil, MMO, or Seafoam, whatever I have on the shelf at the time...I also take the carb off and spray it out with carb cleaner. All have worked great for me.....

The Master Cylinder · 10-07-2025, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalal

I have added Any transmission fluid to gas just before filling up with name brand gas, and am over six or seven years sitting without a problem restarting. Cheap, AND it works!

Can we assume that is Automatic Transmission Fluid? I have heard of this before. How much ATF do you add per gallon?

Planojc · 10-07-2025, 09:25 AM

Winter time here I just keep both cars topped off with non ethanol gas.

Bob Bidonde · 10-07-2025, 09:55 AM

For many decades, I have been storing my A's over Long Island, New York winters with full tanks of 87 Octane ethanol gasoline in them, and no additives the likes of Sta-bil or Marvel Mystery Oil.

alexiskai · 10-07-2025, 10:06 AM

Worth noting that the test performed in the video is a 20-month storage, so more than a year and a half, with 10% ethanol.

SAXBY2 · 10-07-2025, 10:17 AM

If any one has gas.leaf blowers and other equip. loaded up with crap gas, wait for the seals to rot and carbs clogged. We'd lose the tiny carbs yearly. Stabil does work with the fuel oil mix to keep them going. Same thing in old cars. The Farm test person does comprehensive tests on scores of products so one can see the results, rather than just rely on opinions without some back up..

10-06-2025, 10:45 AM	#1
David in San Antonio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 713	Fuel Stabilizer Tests Do you store your A over the winter? Do you put Marvel Mystery Oil or Sta-bil or Sea-Foam or something else in the gas tank? The linked video should provide endless discussion, controversy, stories of personal experiences, perhaps some outrage, the popping of bubbles and maybe, just maybe some regrets. https://youtu.be/OHXYWxMkhog?si=73OZ_9W8GZ6AVBR6 __________________ David in San Antonio Late ‘30 Deluxe "Wretched Roadster" 1931 Slant Windshield Fordor “Earl Gray” Alamo A’s Club

10-06-2025, 12:47 PM	#2
32Ford13 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Redneck Ranch on Hot Rod Hill Posts: 114	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests I've had Sta-bil not work as good as Startron. I've been 100% Startron for the past hand full of years and it has never given me grief

10-06-2025, 12:48 PM	#3
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,595	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests I use the Sta-bil if It's going to sit for more than a couple months. I never used to but with ethanol in the gas it seems to go bad so much faster. Try and find a place with pure gas to fill up at before you store it. Still use the additive anyway. Also a full tank will help keep rust from forming on the exposed metal.

10-06-2025, 01:04 PM	#4
LeonardS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jamestown, ND Posts: 717	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests Do some research on PRI-G by Power Research Inc. I think it is by far the best stabilizer. Ever wonder how they keep the fuel fresh in those huge storage tanks? Check these guys out. www.priproducts.com

10-06-2025, 01:39 PM	#5
BButturff Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: The driftless area of SE Minnesota Posts: 216	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests First, I don't use gasoline with any amount of ethanol in it in my small engines, outboard motor or Model A. I realize that some of you don't have this option but this has been the key to my never having fuel related problems. Second, I've been using Sta-bil as a medium term (1-year or less) fuel stabilizer for close to 55 years. After 1-year I transfer the gasoline to my regular cars and replace it with fresh. __________________ _______________________ The other Bruce in Minnesota 1931 Model A Closed Cab (Budd) Pickup "Aurora" Model A Ford Club of America Lady Slipper A's "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis Last edited by BButturff; 10-06-2025 at 06:56 PM. Reason: Removed duplicate video URL

10-06-2025, 05:58 PM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,854	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests Where I live it is warm enough in the winter to keep running my Model A. Although some days are too cold or too wet. I keep the battery maintainer connected if I am not going to drive it for a week or more. If I am going to be away for more than a month I will run the carburetor dry and put the car on jack stands to keep the tires from getting flat spots. I don't use any stabilizers in the tank and run gasoline with ethanol but I keep the tank mostly full. My car lives in my garage with a dehumidifier. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

10-06-2025, 10:10 PM	#8
norcalal Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 111	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests We in California have the worst gas for old cars. However, I have added Any transmission fluid to gas just before filling up with name brand gas, and am over six or seven years sitting without a problem restarting. Cheap, AND it works!

10-07-2025, 08:42 AM	#9
1928Mik Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Zanesville Ohio USA Posts: 311	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests I fill mine up with non-ethanol and put a few glugs of either Sta-Bil, MMO, or Seafoam, whatever I have on the shelf at the time...I also take the carb off and spray it out with carb cleaner. All have worked great for me..... __________________ 1928 Niagara Blue Phaeton 1972 Olds 442 Convertible 455 5 speed Restomod 1976 MGB -Life's Too Short To Drive Boring Cars-

10-07-2025, 09:25 AM	#11
Planojc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests Winter time here I just keep both cars topped off with non ethanol gas.

10-07-2025, 09:55 AM	#12
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,385	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests For many decades, I have been storing my A's over Long Island, New York winters with full tanks of 87 Octane ethanol gasoline in them, and no additives the likes of Sta-bil or Marvel Mystery Oil. __________________ Bob Bidonde

10-07-2025, 10:06 AM	#13
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 3,179	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests Worth noting that the test performed in the video is a 20-month storage, so more than a year and a half, with 10% ethanol.

10-07-2025, 10:17 AM	#14
SAXBY2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 142	Re: Fuel Stabilizer Tests If any one has gas.leaf blowers and other equip. loaded up with crap gas, wait for the seals to rot and carbs clogged. We'd lose the tiny carbs yearly. Stabil does work with the fuel oil mix to keep them going. Same thing in old cars. The Farm test person does comprehensive tests on scores of products so one can see the results, rather than just rely on opinions without some back up..