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Fuel Stabilizer: The Test Results
A head-to-head test of 1 fuel stabilizer options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Ranked first
Lucas Oil Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Product Claims | E 85 With Water Contamination | E 10 With Water Contamination | Non Ethanol With Water Contamination | E 85 Without Water Contamination | E 10 Without Water Contamination | Non Ethanol Without Water Contamination | Carburetor Inspection | Rubber Component Stiffness | Aged Fuel Engine Start Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lucas Oil Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers | manufacturer claims the product helps prevent corrosion and degradation in ethanol-based fuels and protects the motor from harmful side effects of alcohol combustion | after 9 months, both the stabilizer-treated and untreated E85 samples showed a lot of corrosion on the aluminum; stabilizer did not prevent corrosion, though the residue had a different (golden) color | the stabilizer-treated E10 sample had less corrosion than the untreated E10 sample, though some corrosion still formed on the bottom of the aluminum | no corrosion occurred on the aluminum with or without stabilizer, even with water contamination present | both stabilizer-treated and untreated E85 (no added water) showed significant corrosion after storage; stabilizer made no visible difference | E10 with stabilizer had a very small amount of corrosion; E10 without stabilizer had a small amount of corrosion beginning as well | no corrosion on components with or without stabilizer | a carburetor left filled with ethanol fuel had a tremendous, irreparable amount of corrosion once the bowl was removed | components exposed to ethanol-based fuel (E85 and E10) felt stiffer than those exposed to non-ethanol fuel; host called this a subjective assessment with no reliable measurement method used | using fuel stored for nearly a year: E10 without stabilizer would not run even with starting fluid; E10 with stabilizer also would not run (spark plug wet); non-ethanol fuel without stabilizer ran after a boost of starting fluid; non-ethanol fuel with stabilizer also ran, giving about 2 minutes of run time after repeated starting fluid applications |
How it was tested
- ethanol fuel plus water contamination corrosion test (9 months, aluminum coupons)
- ethanol fuel without added water contamination corrosion test
- carburetor component long-term fuel soak inspection
- rubber component stiffness comparison
- aged fuel (~1 year old) engine-start test with and without starting fluid
“If you use ethanol fuel, will fuel stabilizer entirely prevent damage? Unfortunately, it will not. It'll still do damage, but not as severely as if you don't use any fuel stabilizer at all.”
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