If you are trying to find the best fuel stabilizer for small engines, you have driven to the right place.
A fuel stabilizer is used to prevent gasoline from becoming less effective over long periods. For small engines that are stored in sheds and garages for more than 6 months, using a fuel stabilizer can help you save money on gasoline, preserve the engine, and help the engine start smoothly.
While fuel stabilizers are effective, there are a lot of choices on the market. Unfortunately, having too many options can be overwhelming. This can make it harder to find the fuel stabilizer that’s suitable for your needs.
We are here to take you through the best fuel stabilizers around, so you don’t have to look elsewhere.
We’ll cover the top products in the industry including our top pick, STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer. Additionally, we will provide you with tips to narrow down your options. Because engines are expensive to repair and replace, it’s important to choose carefully. Read on to learn more.
Best Fuel Stabilizer For Small Engines
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Top Pick
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Upgrade Pick
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Budget Pick
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Description: STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is our top pick because it protects fuel for more than a year and you get a generous amount for the price. |
Description: We love Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate because it’s one of the strongest fuel stabilizers available. Aside from keeping fuel stable for 2 years, it can revitalize old gas and improve engine efficiency. |
Description: We like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner because it’s affordable and simple. You get a solid amount of fuel stabilizer and it performs as well as competitors. |
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$52.50
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$18.23
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$17.79 ($0.56 / Fl Oz)
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STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is our top pick because it protects fuel for more than a year and you get a generous amount for the price.
We love Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate because it’s one of the strongest fuel stabilizers available. Aside from keeping fuel stable for 2 years, it can revitalize old gas and improve engine efficiency.
We like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner because it’s affordable and simple. You get a solid amount of fuel stabilizer and it performs as well as competitors.
1. Top Pick: STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer
Why We Like It: STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is our top pick because it protects fuel for more than a year and you get a generous amount for the price.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 128 fluid ounces
- Strength: 24 months
- Engine types: Small engines, generators, boats, ATVs, cars, trucks
- Protects fuel for up to 2 years
- Prevents and treats corrosion
- The strong solution that requires minimal treatment per gallon
- Made in the United States
Why We Like It: STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is our top pick because it protects fuel for more than a year and you get a generous amount for the price.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 128 fluid ounces
- Strength: 24 months
- Engine types: Small engines, generators, boats, ATVs, cars, trucks
STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is an American-made product that’s high in quality and value. The solution is effective in most gasoline engines. It can also be used to prevent gum and varnish deposits in gas tanks.
Along with gas tank deposits, STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is strong enough to reduce corrosion in small engines and some larger engines. While it won’t be the same effect as manually removing the corrosion, the added protection is a bonus. Also, using STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer makes starting an engine for the first time in months a breeze.
What Sets It Apart
The unique value of STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer comes from how much you get, especially when compared to how much is used for each gallon of gas. With STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer you only need to add 1 ounce to 2.5 gallons of gas, so you’ll have enough fuel stabilizer to last you many years.
When you combine the amount that you get, the concentration, how effective it is, and the cost, it’s clear that STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is the best fuel stabilizer. It doesn’t preserve as much fuel per ounce as other treatments but most small engines only require about a single tank worth of gas to run for months, so you won’t waste its value working with common yard tools.
Things To Consider
The most notable disadvantage of STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is that it’s not efficient when used for bigger engines (cars and boats). While 1 ounce per 2.5 gallons is a good ratio of fuel to fuel stabilizer for small engines found in things like leaf blowers, it’s a terrible ratio for large engines. If used in a modern car with a 25-gallon gas tank, you’ll only get a few uses out of it. Unfortunately, this problem becomes worse when using it with boats. Naturally, boats have larger gas tanks and can require double the amount of fuel stabilizer. For an average-sized boat, you’ll only get one or two uses out of this stabilizer. If you’re looking for an alternative that can work efficiently for big engines and small engines, Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is a great choice. It can treat 16 gallons of gas per ounce.
Who It’s For
STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is a great choice for most shoppers. Whether you want to fill up a few gas cans or an entire boat gas tank, STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer comes with enough fuel stabilizer to bring value. In most cases, you get enough fuel stabilizer to last you for several years (depending on the application).
We also recommend it for people who aren’t familiar with engines and fuel stabilizers. Because of its compatibility with most engine types, you don’t have to worry about putting it in the wrong engine.
Pros
- Protects fuel for up to 2 years
- Prevents and treats corrosion
- The strong solution that requires minimal treatment per gallon
- Made in the United States
Cons
- None
2. Upgrade Pick: Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate
Why We Like It: We love Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate because it’s one of the strongest fuel stabilizers available. Aside from keeping fuel stable for 2 years, it can revitalize old gas and improve engine efficiency.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 16 fluid ounces
- Strength: 2 years
- Engine types: Small engines, cars, trucks, boats, ATVs, motorcycles
- Strong formula (1 ounce per 16 gallons of gas)
- Best choice for larger engines
- Improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions
- Can revitalize old gasoline
- You won’t maximize the value if you only use it for small engines
- More expensive than other fuel stabilizers
- Less quantity than other fuel stabilizers
Why We Like It: We love Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate because it’s one of the strongest fuel stabilizers available. Aside from keeping fuel stable for 2 years, it can revitalize old gas and improve engine efficiency.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 16 fluid ounces
- Strength: 2 years
- Engine types: Small engines, cars, trucks, boats, ATVs, motorcycles
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is more than a fuel stabilizer. It’s a product with a potent solution that cleans engines, improves fuel efficiency, and preserves the life of internal engine components (on small engines).
As a testament to its strength, you only need to add 1 ounce of fuel stabilizer for every 16 gallons of gas. While the cost of this fuel stabilizer is higher upfront, you end up saving money in the long term. This is because much less solution is used versus other fuel stabilizers.
It can also be used for most engine applications and it’s beginner-friendly because adding too much to gasoline has no negative effects on the engine.
What Sets It Apart
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is one of the most unique products on the market. While it serves its basic purpose as a fuel stabilizer, it also improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions; making engines safer for the environment.
Another unique feature of Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is that it can be added to old fuel. Most fuel stabilizers only work with fresh gasoline but you can revitalize older gasoline with this fuel stabilizer. So, you can save some money if you have a few gas tanks filled up already.
Things To Consider
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is one of the greatest fuel stabilizers on the market. However it isn’t for everyone. For people that don’t want to pay the high upfront cost, a fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is a great alternative. It gives you 128 ounces and only uses 1 ounce of treatment for 2.5 gallons of gas; the perfect amount for small engines.
Another drawback is that many people don’t need to treat 16 gallons of gas. With that, it becomes less valuable if you’re only treating a few gallons of gas at a time. That’s because you’ll be using the same amount of treatment for a smaller amount of gas, which will make you run out of fuel stabilizer without maximizing the number of gallons it can treat.
Who It’s For
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is a great product for small engines but people who have larger engines like boats and cars get the most value out of this fuel stabilizer.
Therefore, we recommend Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate for people who plan on treating large quantities of gasoline. If you need a fuel stabilizer to maximize the mpg of your vehicle you can’t go wrong with this Star Tron product.
Plus, you’ll be left with some extra gallons of gas you can use for your small engines. It’s a great fuel stabilizer for people who need to maximize efficiency but otherwise, you can get more value out of something more affordable.
Pros
- Strong formula (1 ounce per 16 gallons of gas)
- Best choice for larger engines
- Improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions
- Can revitalize old gasoline
Cons
- You won’t maximize the value if you only use it for small engines
- More expensive than other fuel stabilizers
- Less quantity than other fuel stabilizers
3. Budget Pick: Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner
Why We Like It: We like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner because it’s affordable and simple. You get a solid amount of fuel stabilizer and it performs as well as competitors.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 32 ounces
- Strength: 6 months to 1 year
- Engine types: Small engines, motorcycles, ATVs, cars
- Perfect for Yamaha vehicles
- Best-suited for motorcycles, ATVs, and other vehicle-based small engines
- Low cost
- Only protects fuel for up to 1 year
- Not the best choice for general small engine usage
- No unique features
Why We Like It: We like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner because it’s affordable and simple. You get a solid amount of fuel stabilizer and it performs as well as competitors.
Quick Facts:
- Amount: 32 ounces
- Strength: 6 months to 1 year
- Engine types: Small engines, motorcycles, ATVs, cars
Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner is a more niche product. While it performs like a traditional fuel stabilizer and protects fuel for up to 1 year, it’s designed for use in small engines that are found in motorcycles and ATVs.
Sure, you can use it for your car or lawnmower, but you get the most value out of it if you own a motorcycle, jetski, go-cart, or ATV.
It works well in these applications because it treats just enough fuel to fill most motorcycles (3-6 gallons per ounce), so you don’t need to worry about using too much treatment. It’s also produced by Yamaha, which is a company that’s well-known for producing vehicles with small engines.
What Sets It Apart
Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner is a special product because it’s perfect for small engines that see daily usage and short-term storage. It doesn’t have the best fuel storage length or provide the best fuel efficiency but it’s perfect for motorcycles, ATVs, and other vehicles that get used several times per season.
For these applications, it keeps the engine prime and running smoothly. We also recommend this product for people who are working with a fuel stabilizer for the first time.
Because of its low cost, there’s less risk if you don’t like it. In other words, you won’t spend a lot of money on something that’s a waste.
Things To Consider
Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner is a great choice for its specific applications but it loses value in other categories. Several products can treat more fuel per ounce and that protect fuel for more than 1 year. For example, Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate does both of these things.
It also doesn’t come with any unique features that you can’t find in other fuel stabilizers. Additionally, it doesn’t come with as much fuel stabilizer for the price when compared to products like STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer.
Who It’s For
A product like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner is a great choice for people who own small engine vehicles like motorcycles and ATVs.
It’s also a great choice for people who own Yamaha products because it’s produced by Yamaha; you don’t have to worry about any product incompatibilities if that’s the case.
We also recommend Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner for people who want to give fuel stabilizer a try. Its low cost makes it a low-risk product even if you don’t use all of the fuel stabilizer.
Pros
- Perfect for Yamaha vehicles
- Best-suited for motorcycles, ATVs, and other vehicle-based small engines
- Low cost
Cons
- Only protects fuel for up to 1 year
- Not the best choice for general small engine usage
- No unique features
Factors to Consider When Shopping for Fuel Stabilizer for Small Engines
Having a list of the best fuel stabilizers is a great place to start. That said, you need to choose the fuel stabilizer that suits your specific needs and the needs of your small engines. While each of these fuel stabilizers is a great option, they all have unique attributes and purposes.
Therefore, choosing the wrong fuel stabilizer can be a costly mistake. We’re going to take you through a handful of factors to consider to help you narrow down your options even further.
Amount
We’ll start with the simplest factor to consider, the amount of fuel stabilizer. Depending on how many small engines you have, you might need a large quantity of fuel stabilizer or very little fuel stabilizer.
To determine how much you need, consider the types of engines you’ll be using fuel stabilizers for. Many of these products work for cars and boats too, which require more fuel stabilizer (especially boats).
If you’re only working with small engines, something like Yamaha Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner is a great choice. While it’s not the most potent fuel stabilizer it doesn’t cost a lot of money and you can use it for most small engine applications. In fact, it treats just enough fuel per ounce to fit in a storage gas tank. On the other hand, if you’re working with larger engines something like Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate is a great choice. We recommend this fuel stabilizer for larger vehicles and engines because one ounce of stabilizer treats 16 gallons of gas.
Strength
Fuel stabilizers come in various strengths. When we refer to the strength of a fuel stabilizer, we’re focusing on how long it can stabilize the fuel. Some products can preserve fuel for up to 24 months (2 years), while other products can only stabilize fuel for a few months or a single year. Depending on the small engines you have and where you live, something that only offers a few months of stability might not be enough.
If you’re looking for a fuel stabilizer that gives you the best long-term protection, STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer is the best choice. With THIS STA-BIL fuel stabilizer, you also get a generous amount of product (128 fluid ounces), so it’s not something you need to purchase often.
Engine Types
When deciding on a fuel stabilizer you also need to consider the type of engine you’re using it for. While each of the products we cover can be used for small engines, many of them can also be used for car and boat engines. If you have a car or boat, you’ll want to choose a fuel stabilizer that offers more benefits or even one that can stabilize something like diesel fuel. For small engines, though, you only need a basic fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer because the engines are less complicated.
Most fuel stabilizers work well for small engines but some products take it a step further. If you’re working with small engines and larger engines (cars and boats), you might want a fuel stabilizer that adds more value. A great example of this is Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate because it treats 16 gallons of gas per ounce, increases fuel efficiency, and reduces emissions.
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Fuel Stabilizer for Small Engines FAQ
What Is a Small Engine?
Small engines are engines with low horsepower and displacement. Most small engines are 2-stroke engines and you can find them in ATVs and motorcycles. Engines found in motorcycles and ATVs can have between 50 and 80 horsepower, which is plenty of power for these vehicles. Companies like Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are well-known for manufacturing these smaller, 2-stroke engines for automotive applications. It’s also common to find these engines for off-road vehicles because they can handle more of a beating.
What’s the Best Fuel Stabilizer For Small Engines?
The Best fuel stabilizer for small engines is STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer. With STA-BIL, you get a generous amount of premium fuel stabilizer that can preserve fuel for up to 2 years. This fuel stabilizer also acts as a fuel additive and helps engines perform better after they’ve been dormant for a few months or years. With STA-BIL small engines start better, run better, and can use the same fuel for longer.
Do Fuel Stabilizers Work?
Yes, fuel stabilizers work. The best fuel stabilizers like STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer can preserve fuel for up to two years and can even enhance engine performance.
Fuel stabilizers also work well in vehicles that have larger engines like cars, trucks, and boats. If a vehicle is sitting for an extended period with gas or diesel in the tank we recommend using a fuel stabilizer.
How Do You Use Fuel Stabilizers?
Fuel Stabilizers like STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer are simple to use.
The steps for fuel stabilizer use are listed below:
- Grab a gas tank and fuel stabilizer.
- Fill the gas tank with the desired amount of gasoline.
- Check how many ounces of a fuel stabilizer is required for each gallon of gas; an example would be 1 ounce of stabilizer for 3 gallons of gas.
- Add the appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank.
- Fill the engine and let it run for a few minutes to distribute the fuel stabilizer.
You can also pour a fuel stabilizer into an engine’s gas tank but we recommend against doing this because it’s harder to get an accurate measurement.
Can Fuel Stabilizer Be Used in Old Gas?
Fuel stabilizers should not be used in old gasoline. Unlike new gas, old gas is already contaminated and fuel stabilizers can’t remove the contamination. Fuel stabilizers should only be used with new gas and if a small engine is filled with old gas that gas should be drained before adding new gas and a fuel stabilizer. Doing this will ensure that the engine runs well and that the fuel stabilizer works as intended.
Keep Your Fuel Safe
If you want to make the most of your fuel you need a good fuel stabilizer. The best fuel stabilizers can help you preserve your fuel for up to two years, which is useful for both small engines and big engines.
Ultimately, any engine that’s left sitting for several months at a time should have a fuel stabilizer.
Otherwise, it can be hard to start a small engine and bad fuel can make it run poorly. All of the fuel stabilizers mentioned above are suitable options, so be sure to choose the product that best suits your needs.
Jed Lehman
Jed Lehman is a born gearhead who has been working on cars since he could crawl. He inherited his love for auto from his grandfather who owned a maintenance shop in Carlsbad, California. Jed is the driver behind Gearshift, and started this site to provide straightforward, helpful automobile information. From maintenance tips to product reviews, you can find it all here.
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