# Should I add Sta-Bil? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281 "2016-05-12T22:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grizz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/grizz/32/2597_2.png) [@grizz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/grizz)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/1 "2016-05-12T22:59:34Z")
I just bought a Tahoe a couple of months ago. It was last driven when I picked it up from the dealer. It hasn’t been driven since because of circumstances beyond my control. Should I add Sta-Bil to prevent the fuel from getting stale? If so how much? The tank is full. Any other advice? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/2 "2016-05-12T23:04:39Z")
Sta-bil will not make bad gas good again . . BUT if you are not going to drive much in the next year on that tank of gas ? . . . ABSOLUTELY. I have a 79 Chevy pickup that gets driven twice a year at best. . has a grand total of 71,215.0 miles on it. Years ago I snapped, that old gas was its problems starting and running next spring. Finally snapped . . after using sta-bil religiously for the weedeater and chainsaw gas. Us car collectors must remember our rarely driven vehicles too. ps, When you put in Sta-bil, be sure to run the engine a bit to get the sta-bil into the sytem like injectors or carb so that gas does not caramelize. ---
**Author:** ![grizz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/grizz/32/2597_2.png) [@grizz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/grizz)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/3 "2016-05-13T00:02:40Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Joe-Guy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joe-guy/32/124_2.png) [@Joe-Guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joe-Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/4 "2016-05-13T02:40:46Z")
Hey grizzly!! I Haven’t seen you at that other place in a long time. I hope all is well with you. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/5 "2016-05-13T03:31:25Z")
Yes, and make sure it is a Sta-Bil product that is compatible with ethanol gas. At this point the gas is likely fine, adding Sta-Bil now is helpful if you aren’t going to be able to use up the current gas in 6 to 12 more months. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/6 "2016-05-16T15:49:50Z")
Ken makes an excellent point… Many people think about using Sta-bil far too late in the game. The stuff does work when added to fresh fuel…but even then…its no guarantee…it just slows the fuel going stale a bit. Like @“ken green” mentioned…it wont magically transform stale fuel into fresh again. If the tank of fuel is very old currently… I would actually look to siphon or pump it out and burn it in another vehicle…or use it up…then fill the tank with 5-10 gals of fresh fuel and immediately treat it with Sta-bil and then be sure to run the vehicle long enough to pull the treated fuel into the injectors etc… Blackbird ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/7 "2016-05-16T16:23:31Z")
When you add the Sta-bil to the tank, be sure to then run the engine for a bit (10 minutes or drive it around the block). That will give the Sta-bil a chance to get mixed in and to find its way into the fuel lines up to the injectors. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-add-sta-bil/93281/8 "2016-05-16T18:01:33Z")
Yep…what he said… lol