Lost 40-45 RWHP from fuel additive.

[alfie43]

Last December, I added fuel stabilizer to my tank of fresh gas before I parked it in my heated garage for the winter.

I am running a Maggie, Roto-fab, Borla Cat Backs and Kooks LTs. It is currently at the tuners for spring recalibration and we are registering a 40-45 HP loss (520 RWHP) compared to last summer's 561 RWHP. We suspect its the fuel additive, so I need to siphon out the entire tank of gas.

The only change from last summer's dyno pulls is the fuel additive and the addition of the cat backs. Has anyone else experience a power loss with Stabilit?

Alfie

[SSOOCH]

It's funny you mention this. I added Stabil in my tank before I parked SUPRBARD as well. Now I'm basically stock but when I pulled it out for the first couple of drives it felt sluggish. Strange.

[IROCanSS]

Mine started right up and runs like a raped ape! you'll get it alfie! Look at it this way, if draining gas were easy, people would be stealing it all the time!!!

Now you got me sweating though bc I did put stabil in the 89 when I parked it in September.

[turboguy327]

I just posted in your other thread but use seafoam. Wont affect power. At least it hasnt in my other cars. I dont knock with it in the supra either.

[JANNETTYRACING]

Post your Log files this will answer your questions for sure as you will see a ton of knock retard.
Or you belt is slipping.

[alfie43]

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

Mine started right up and runs like a raped ape! you'll get it alfie! Look at it this way, if draining gas were easy, people would be stealing it all the time!!!

Now you got me sweating though bc I did put stabil in the 89 when I parked it in September.

No need to sweat my friend. If I didn't have it on the dyno, I wouldn't have noticed it. I just called the tuner, and instructed him to take it off the dyno. I'll drive it, (next month) empty the tank, and return the car to him in March for calibration with fresh gas.

I was hoping to get some feedback on this thread about the effects of fuel additives, especially Stabilit, has on octane and measurable power output. That's measurable power, not the a*s dyno.

Alfie

[alfie43]

Originally Posted by JANNETTYRACING

Post your Log files this will answer your questions for sure as you will see a ton of knock retard.
Or you belt is slipping.

Thanks for the input Ted. I was hoping you would comment as I respect your opinion.

He did go over the files with me. He pointed out the "ton" of knock retard as it was displayed on the graph and how it was parallel to the power loss...especially when compared to last summers graph. I should add that this tuner is very highly respected and experienced.

With all the shown knock retard, I will assume that belt slippage is out of the possibilities and you would agree that it could be the fuel or additive?

Thanks again, Alfie

[1sweet11SS]

It's been my experience (not much experience) that additives effect performance. Years ago I added a fuel cleaner to my 2003 Dodge SRT-4 and immediately noticed I lost power. The boost gauge was registering -2 lbs of boost and the car felt sluggish. After driving the tank empty, i refilled it with 91. After a couple miles the performance returned (boost was normal). I have no doubt the additive had a negative effect performance wise.

Drive your tank empty and refill it......see if your power returns.

[Russell James]

I know gas loses octane as it ages, that would be my best guess as to what is happening. Stabil does real good at preventing the varnish gum junk, but I'm not sure it totally preserves octane.

I have some sleds that are real sensative to octane, and on the first tank (last year's premium w/stabil) I always get a ton of the knock sensor light.
After I do the first refill of fresh premium, they are back to running perfect with no knock sensing. That's a Polaris with a knock sensor and a dash light that tells when it is sensing knock.

So I'd suspect your problem is more an octane loss in the older gas vs the additive. I've never noticed any difference in performance by just having an additive in the fuel. And those that know sleds will know how sensitive that Polaris knock sensor is in the head.

[JANNETTYRACING]

Originally Posted by alfie43

Thanks for the input Ted. I was hoping you would comment as I respect your opinion.

He (Alternative Auto Performance) did go over the files with me. He pointed out the "ton" of knock retard as it was displayed on the graph and how it was parallel to the power loss...especially when compared to last summers graph.

With all knock retard as shown, I will assume that belt slippage is out of the possibilities and you would agree that it could be the fuel or additive?

Thanks again, Alfie

Our Fuel Has NO Shelf Life, even with stabilizer.

I am sure the Octane went by the wayside.

Ted.

[FrankT]

I agree with Ted. I don't drive my Lingenfelter ZO6 much in the colder months (summer tires + cold pavement = no traction) and I always have to run the fuel that is in it out and refill with fresh premium before it feels like all the power is there. The way I understand it octane starts going away significantly in as little as one month.

[SSE 4 2SS]

Something else to consider is that fuel additives usually have some cleaning additives in them. This is all well and good if the car is in constant use, but when it's sitting, it allows for serious cleaning, and that can often mean sloughing of buildup on the tubing and tank surfaces...

All this crud has to try to pass through the filters and that which occurs past the filters has to pass the injectors...

I wasn't such a proponent of this until I cleaned a fluid tank at my place of work... The tank was 30 years old, and only has a water based slultion with 2.5 % mix of a environmentally friendly water based hydraulic additive. It also has cleaning and anti foam properties. I scrubbed the tank, and filled it with clean potable water, then added the cleaning solution... When it was finished working, I flushed the entire system again, and had to then bleed 4500' times 52 pilot lines or the crud would end up in the downstream valves. It took five days to accomplish all of this. I can read the orignal Pittsburgh Steel Stamp and date of manufacture from 30+ years ago...and my fluid samples are showing less than 2X micron particulate...

This having been said, I store my car with a full tank of gas, to prevent condensation build up, and when it's time to get it out, I drive it pretty steadily and hard until I'm at 3/4 of a tank and then stop and add premium gas and keep it going in quarter tank intervals of topping it off...until I feel like it's running the way it should... The new gas added keeps the octane levels up, and the constant dilution helps lessen the impact of any gas trying to go bad. I haven't had any problems "yet." I store my car a month plus at a time every other month, and for three months at a time occasionally...

[Slowhawk]

During the winter months like now we see a constant 10-15hp loss on all the cars due to the crap winter mix gas they sell around here.That is 400hp cars.
I never run additives but from the KR you pointed out it is probly the cause.

[the rich dude]

would adding some Torco Octane booster to fuel that has been sitting all winter help out?