Sea Foam OR Sta-Bil? By krylon80 (Read 1,511 times)

[krylon80]

Scoot's gonna sit for a few months. Which is better and why?

[ellpee]

Thanks for asking that, I've had the same question. I'm actually using an enzyme-type product that was recommended to me, StarTron, available at AutoZone and elsewhere, but I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned here, so hopefully the responses will help me rank that one against the two you mentioned.

[bobf]

My doings. I have no reports or justifications, just prefer to not totally abandon things.

In Colorado at 6,300 ft I would always keep it on a battery tender. If a warm day arrived I might just take it out for a short ride in town. If no warm days then once a week I would start it up and warm it up, then shut it down. Of course in warmer weather I would ride when in the mood.

Now while living in south Arizona at 1,200 ft, lung problems at high altitude, I keep it on the battery tender again, but having learned the hard way I will now take it off the tender for a few days of idle and see if it can still start the engine. This fall I unhooked the tender, drove 3 miles to the post office, shut down, went inside to mail some letters, Came back out and the scoot would not start. Soon a guy in a pickup pulled in and he gave me a jump start. Now I do a periodic battery check before going on a ride.

Well, down here, I don't ride much in the summer with temps in the high 90's on up to 117 one day. More than I wish to handle. But now in the fall till likely late June I will have the weather and temps to allow a ride.

In both cases I have used Sea Foam. I assume it is working as I have not had carb problems so far.

I just think that mechanical items not used, neglected, will fail on their own. Occasional use will keep them awake and if something comes up in the down time season, you should find and fix so your are ready for riding season.

[Luke]

i 'd say if you are going to winterize your scootie,use Stabil(it's milder,),i'm not a fan of stabil fyi)...but if you are going to clean your carbs aggressively and thoroughly, seafoam is the best. don't use seafoam to winterize any vehicle, it should not stay in contact with the rubber for a very long time,,,it eats up the non metal parts of the carb and fuel system when left in contact for months...remember that!!!

[ellpee]

I just searched for StarTron customer reviews, and there's a slew of them on Amazon, all highly favorable. Makes me consider putting some in my Ford Ranger as well as the scoots; the Ranger's mileage has dropped off considerably, and a $300 "fuel system flush" plus new plugs and wires made absolutely no difference.

[rapidjim]

Nov 12, 2013 20:54:11 GMT -6 Luke said:

i 'd say if you are going to winterize your scootie,use Stabil(it's milder,),i'm not a fan of stabil fyi)...but if you are going to clean your carbs aggressively and thoroughly, seafoam is the best. don't use seafoam to winterize any vehicle, it should not stay in contact with the rubber for a very long time,,,it eats up the non metal parts of the carb and fuel system when left in contact for months...remember that!!!

I am not a believer in Mechanic in a Can normally, but I have used Sea Foam in everything I own since 1992. I was introduced to seafoam from a Seafoam rep when it was only available from parts stores. I orginally used it as an injector cleaner for automotive and found it did what it was advertised to do. That winter I tried it in my Harley for winter storage. Up here in Wisconsin the winters are long and we all know what todays fuel is like, and I was having problems with spring start up. Come spring, the Harley fired right up and purred like a kitten. From that point forward Seafoam is all I use.

I am not sure where Luke gets his data about eating non metal parts, I have never had that happen and I would guarantee that machines get stored up here longer than they do in AZ. What eats rubber parts is ethonol gas. Every scooter or motorcycle I sell here leaves with seafoam in the tank. I also tell my customers to use it to prevent carb issues, some listen and some don't. I can tell the ones that don't because I see them every spring with carb issues.

The proceedure I use is a full can of seafoam in a 5 gallon can of gas. Fill the tanks and take the machines out for a 5 to 10 mile run. Bring them in, shut off the fuel ( machines with manual petcocks ) disconnect the batteries and let them sit until the weather is better.

I will also say, if you already have carb issues, most of the time Seafoam or any other product, is not going to fix it. These products are meant to be used to keep systems clean. Fuel injection is different due the to fact that there is fuel pressure forcing the fuel thru the injector, in that instant, seafoam does clean very well.

Jim

[Luke]

don't get me wrong, seafoam can clean....no doubt about it....yes it eats and deforms non metal pars of the carbs and fuel system in PROLONGED contact and it's based from experience.

just ignore rapidjim's tagging my name in his post, he has a personal grudge on me. he just can't get over it, he wants to crash me anyway he can,,,same as KZ...he recently photoshopped something in my account on the other forum.

[46u]

Sea Foam has been around for like 50 or 60 years. I run it all year long do to the damn ethanol not in every tank but about every 3 tanks. Ethanol absorbs moister big time. In my opinion letting any combustible engine sit is the worst thing you can do as it will get moister in side the motor and the only way to get it out short of taking it apart is run it get it to running temperature and burn it off. I have taking motors apart and I could tell they sat do to looking at the cylinder and you could tell where the rings where for a while sitting. The customers I have that ride a lot have fewer problems then the ones that ride maybe a couple times a month. The only time I do not ride is when there is snow on the roads and where I live that only happens about every 10 years. I ride rain or shine hot or cold all year.

[alleyoop]

Got to ask if going on FIVE years is PROLONGED ENOUGH of using Seafoam and I mean all year long not once or twice every fill up. I do it LIKE JIM does it, I have a Five gallon gas can I use to fill my Trikes gas tank and I pour in Seafoam into the empty Gas can then go and fill it up with about 4 1/2 gallons of gas. So my gas ALWAYS has some seafoam mixed in for like I said going on FIVE YEARS now.
Haven't had any problems whatsoever with the Carb(SAME CARB) by the way and just took it off to change the jets.

But if you put on a cheap fuel filter that may allow particles to get through there is no amount of additives that you can add to magically clean those out for you. At that point you need to take the carb off and clean it out manually.
Alleyoop

[wolfhound]

I use Sta-Bil and have used Sea Foam, both are good. I do what Ally Oop does, and it is always in my fuel tank. In cold weather I
take my scoots out of the garage and run them for a few minutes. Also keep battery tenders on them year round.

[rapidjim]

Nov 13, 2013 18:23:33 GMT -6 Luke said:

don't get me wrong, seafoam can clean....no doubt about it....yes it eats and deforms non metal pars of the carbs and fuel system in PROLONGED contact and it's based from experience..

Define prolonged contact and are you talking full strenght without mixing with fuel? Even then I would doubt it, can't speak about that for sure since I have never used it full strenght to soak non metal parts.

[ellpee]

Oh boy, another flame war. Unfortunate.

[wolfhound]

Sadly, Ellpee,you are right. This seems to be an ongoing, time wasting problem and I think the moderator needs to take some steps
to put a stop to it. Visitors seeing this going on will not be interested in become members, IMHO. I have respect for both parties and
would suggest that they make peace for the benefit of the forum. Nuff said.

[tomcat]

I use Ethanol Shield in the scoot, snow blower & generator. The scoot & generator have fuel in them year round.
It was recommended to me by the mechanic at the place I bought my first scooter. This guy is no kid, been around a long time wrenching on motorcycle/scooter/snow blower/lawn mower engines so I took his advice.
Occasionally I'll add a dash of Sea Foam to the mix.
For winter I keep a battery tender jr on the trike & start it once a week, let it run for 15 minutes or so. Or if the roads are clear & it's not too cold out, take her for a short spin.
So far, so good.

[rapidjim]

Nov 14, 2013 18:21:01 GMT -6 wolfhound said:

Sadly, Ellpee,you are right. This seems to be an ongoing, time wasting problem and I think the moderator needs to take some steps
to put a stop to it. Visitors seeing this going on will not be interested in become members, IMHO. I have respect for both parties and
would suggest that they make peace for the benefit of the forum. Nuff said.

For the good of the forum, I editted my comments.