By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(November 8, 2016)  If you’ve ever been to a club meeting for owners of classic (or otherwise) cars, you’ve undoubtedly heard some form of this discussion come up in conversation: Club Geek 1: “It’s almost time to take the car off the road and put it into storage until next season.” Club Geek 2: “Seems like we just pulled them out last week, and now it’s time to put the Sta-Bil in the tank, and…”

Club Geek #1: No, no, no, no, no! Never ever use that stuff! It’ll gum up your fuel system, and you’ll never get the car started in the spring. Trust me. I know a guy who knows the sister of a guy who knows another guy that heard of a friend of a friend that this happened to. It’s not worth it. Just drain the fuel out, and run the car until the fuel left in the carb is gone. You’ll thank me later.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that story, or some variation of it. It’s almost as common as the story about the classmate of a friend who bought a one-of-one AAR ‘Cuda just before shipping out to Vietnam where he was either killed or is still listed as MIA, depending on who is telling the story. Now the car languishes under a pile of hay in a barn on the family farm, waiting for liberation.

I’ve heard the same claim from suburbanites who religiously drain the fuel from their powered lawn equipment and run the remaining gas out of the carbs before storing for the season. The only folks whom I’ve never heard this from are the people who actually use Sta-Bil Storage in their machinery every season. And, after an e-mail exchange with the makers of Sta-Bil, I think I know the reason. It can be summed up in one sentence:

“For most effective results, we recommend sticking to the directions on the package.”

What could be more simple? Especially when the directions are both concise and explicit. However, what most people miss is the admonition to do three things: 1) Use Sta-Bil only with fresh fuel, 2) Keep the gas can or tank 95% full to avoid condensation build up during storage, and 3) Run the engine for five minutes after adding Sta-Bil to treat the entire fuel system.

And, if they are not following these rules, you can bet they don’t even notice the yellow band above the directions on the back of the bottle. In that brightly colored space it says: “Product can be used for up to 2 years after bottle has been opened.” Below that is a large space in which to write in the month, day, and year on which the bottle was opened so you don’t forget. Have you ever seen a bottle of Sta-Bil Storage where this area is filled in?

However, follow the directions — use one ounce (30 mL) for every 2.5 gallons (9.5 L) of fuel treated — and Gold Eagle Co., the makers of Sta-Bil, claim it will keep the fuel fresh in storage, preventing gum, carbon and varnish deposits from forming. Interestingly, storage in their dictionary is defined as a period of disuse lasting from 30 days to 24 months.

This is important since, “An engine that has occasionally been exposed to stale fuel will tend to be more difficult to start than an engine [that is] always stored properly with Sta-Bil.” When asked what types of vehicles or equipment they would recommend use the treatment, the Gold Eagle Co. folks said, Sta-Bil Storage “is effective with all gasoline blends, including ethanol blends (E-10 through E-85), and two-stroke mixes. It’s not intended for use in diesel engines. We have a different formula for diesel fuel.”

But what about folks who either want more protection for their fuel system, or don’t store their gasoline-powered vehicles for extended periods? For this group there’s a new product, Sta-Bil 360° Performance. Good for two years after opening, it can keep fuel fresh for up to 12 months, but is recommended for use at every fill up to clean the fuel system, maximize fuel economy, increase power, prevent ethanol damage and make the idle smoother. It also has a new technology that may make car club geeks reconsider their aversion to using Sta-Bil.

“VCI stands for Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor, a technology developed by the military to prevent corrosion in the engines of stored vehicles,” say the boffins at Gold Eagle Co. While in the fuel and fuel system Sta-Bil 360° Performance releases a vapor that rises above the fuel line and leaves a microscopic coating that protects the entire fuel system, “including those parts not soaked in fuel.” This includes the valves, injectors, and intake manifold, in addition to protection provided to the fuel tank and sending unit.

Unlike its storage cousin, Sta-Bil 360° Performance recommends using one ounce (30 mL) for every five gallons (19 L) of fuel treated. And while it is ideal for year-round use in the family vehicle, Gold Eagle Co. says it “is specifically designed for use in higher end vehicles and equipment like classic cars and hot rods, motorcycles and ATVs.” When the restoration project gets back on the road, Sta-Bil 360° Performance should provide cheap insurance against fuel system corrosion and ethanol blends.

Until then, it’s been proving its worth in the family car, a vehicle that sits for extended periods while test vehicles make their way in and out of the parking space at the palatial One TVD Tower.

Enter the Sta-Bil Storage Fuel Stabilizer Giveaway

The folks who make Sta-Bil brand fuel stabilizer asked if The Virtual Driver would consider running a contest wherein we give one lucky reader the chance to receive a free 32-ounce bottle of Sta-Bil Storage, and a $50 Amazon gift code. It was an intriguing idea, but one that caused a bit of editorial consternation.

Not because we had any problems with giving away product to a deserving reader, but because Sta-Bil is one of those products that seemingly has as many detractors as proponents in the broader automotive community — especially among those who own classic cars. Because we didn’t want to promote a product that we couldn’t comfortably endorse, we peppered the folks at Sta-Bil with questions about proper use, potential failure modes, and comments we’ve heard over the years.

Rather than fade into radio silence or confuse us with spin, the folks from Sta-Bil quickly responded with straightforward answers. (You can read about Sta-Bil Storage and new Sta-Bil 360° Performance here.) Satisfied, we moved forward with our plans.

The Boilerplate

Despite the fact that The Virtual Driver has readers around the globe, our giveaway is, for reasons of expedience, limited to residents of the United States. In addition employees of The Virtual Driver, Gold Eagle Co. (makers of Sta-Bil), their contractors, sponsors or immediate family members are ineligible to participate.

All entries must be received by11:59 p.m. Nov. 18, and include the participant's name, and the city and state in which they reside. (All times are Eastern Time.) Only one entry per person is allowed. Entries must be e-mailed to: mailto:thevirtualdriver@gmail.com. Should there be more than one correct entry, the staff of The Virtual Driver will choose the winner at random from the pool of correct entries. By entering the contest, you agree to provide your name, e-mail and shipping address, and contact information with The Virtual Driver, Gold Eagle Co., and their vendors.

The Contest

It’s really quite simple. We ask a question, you give an answer. In case you need help, the answer to the question can be found on The Virtual Driver website. (It’s our first giveaway. We didn’t want to make it too difficult.)

The Question

What was the year, make and model of the American production car that provided the taillights for the 1967 Ford GT Mk. IV?

 The Virtual Driver