Fuel stabilizer

[Tazwa]

With pretty much all gas stations now selling gasohol at the exclusion of benzine, this poses some problems for those of us who don't reside here permanently.

The problem is that gasohol left in cars, scooters, lawnmowers etc while we're away for weeks or months will separate, absorb water and go bad relatively quickly. This can cause big problems for our equipment.

Has anyone seen fuel stabilizer for sale around Hua Hin? I think this would be the easiest solution for preventing fuel issues with gasohol.

How about gas stations that still sell benzine 91? Any in the Hua Hin area?

Cheers

[Nereus]

How about gas stations that still sell benzine 91? Any in the Hua Hin area?

Pure Benzene 91 has been withdrawn from sale, it is no longer available anywhere in Thailand.

Pure Benzine 95 is available, but hard to find. Most Caltex stations stock it, but not all.

I doubt very much if you will find any stabiliser suitable for Gasohol. Any that you may find will not be of any use for the ethanol part of the fuel, as it is a completely different chemical structure. The safest, and really the only way, is to drain the remaining fuel out and discard it before you leave.

[Tazwa]

Thanks mate, I thought that might be the case. Rather than draining the tank, I might completely fill it to minimise oxygen getting in. Won't stop the fuel separation but might prevent oxidation of the tank.

[Nereus]

Filling the tank will stop oxidation / corrosion of the tank, just make sure that the tank is not plastic, as many of them now are. The water is not absorbed from the air, it is already there in the ethanol.

One way could be to run the tank dry and then put 10 or 20 litres of pure petrol 95 in it from a portable can. The slightly higher octane will not damage the engine for a short while, and then fill it up with Gasahol when you come back.

If you intend to keep the car then it might be worth considering converting to LPG / CNG.

[SunandFun]

What I have done for the last two years is use only 95 with Nitro. This is available at Shell. The Nitro is some additive I believe and it does have Gasohol in it too. But I top off the tanks and disconnect the battery. Come back in 2-4 months, hook up the battery and off I go. I don't use the A/C on the car for the first few days until fully charged. I have had no problems with the car doing this. Be careful putting a cover over the car as this will encourage Rats and Mice to come and eat your wiring. Same with my PCX 150. Although I put a cover on this, I have had no problems. Good luck.

[dundrillin]

Do you have any problems leaving a car with a Diesel engine?

[STEVE G]

Do you have any problems leaving a car with a Diesel engine?

Not from my experience, I have a diesel Vigo that's over eight years old and has been left for months at a time since new whilst I'm away working, I've left it for 16 weeks before with the alarm on and it still started first time. To be honest, I wouldn't bother with a petrol engine if they need that much pampering when you're away at work!

[Nereus]

By Government mandate, from 16-01-2008 all high speed diesel sold in Thailand has to be classed as "B2", that is, 2% biofuel. (B100 is pure diesel, B2, B5 B10, etc. refers to the amount of Biofuel added)

To prevent the same seperation problems as found with gasoline and ethanol, an "emulsifier" has to be used in the mixture. One suitable emulsifier is Ethyl Acetate, but it is supposed to be used 50 / 50 %, so for B2 it would be 5% emulsfier and 5% ethanol.
I have no idea if this is in fact being followed in Thailand.

Diesel road vehicles have a much better filtering system than gasoline cars. Usually 2 filters, plus a water trap. Any water getting into the injection system will rapidly cause serious damage, so it is important to have adequate filtering.

Like Steve G has posted, I have an Isuzu diesel that sat for a year(with the battery out), and it started right up and run without a problem.

[mwbrown]

I searched for gas stabilizer for a while, never found anywhere that carried it. Lots of handwaving and even an English-Thai dictionary, it's like the Thais don't even know the product exists. My Click 125 will be parked for 7 months starting in July, wondering if I should start my search again.

[SunandFun]

For a small bike like this, you may want to just drain the tank and burn out all of the fuel left in the carburetor. Then a few drops of oil (after removing the spark plug) and a few cranks to disperse it. Disconnect and remove the battery. Then when you return, charge the battery, fill with petrol and start it up. Goo luck.

[mwbrown]

Thanks, very helpful.