Dry Gas ?

[Brockport Bill 2,126]

i know the issue of gasoline treatments like Stabil and Sea Foam etc have been discussed over the years on various threads and topics - - both as gas treatment and for storage.... including for moisture reasons.

 

My question is a variation --- has anyone used what is commonly used in our vehicles called DRY GAS ? There are various products -- "HEAT" etc -- 

 

have members used "DRY GAS"  in their tractors - - or any reason not to?

thanks. Bill

[ebinmaine 75,953]

Around here we have good access to Non ethanol fuel. 

 

No ethanol. 

 

No additives. 

 

No problems. 

 

Dry gas is alcohol. Alcohol dries out rubber and possibly even damages aluminum. Carburetors are aluminum and have rubber seals.  

 

 

IMHO... do NOT use dry gas.  

 

 

This fall we put Sta-bil in the new generator gas tank. First time we've ever used it. Depending on how long the generator sets will be the answer for if we keep using the stabilizer.  

 

[kpinnc 16,284]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

No ethanol. 

 

No additives. 

 

No problems. 

 

I wholeheartedly agree. If you have access to ethanol-free gas, you have all you need. It's expensive, but worth it. 

 

And if it is dispensed from the same pump as ethanol fuel, run the first gallon (or two) into your vehicle. Otherwise you have a blend of ethanol and ethanol free in your gas can. 

 

I've seen old trucks pulled from a barn with 1/4 tank of old gas in them, after setting for years that start and run with a jump. Good luck with ethanol fuel that is 90 days old. 

[mrc 1,022]

  

[ebinmaine 75,953]

5 hours ago, kpinnc said:

And if it is dispensed from the same pump as ethanol fuel, run the first gallon (or two) into your vehicle

 

FYI.   I've been told there can potentially be as much 3 gallons IN the pump assembly. Most of that won't likely matter but I've tried to be sure I get that as a minimum into the road vehicle. 

 

I also bought an ethanol tester. I've yet to use it though because I started buying my E free gas exclusively where the hoses are dedicated. 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,957]

15 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I also bought an ethanol tester. I've yet to use it though because I started buying my E free gas exclusively where the hoses are dedicated. 

I'd test it... In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan "Trust, but verify."

 

[ri702bill 10,706]

8 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

"Trust, but verify."

Exactly... that way we all can stay friends.....

[lynnmor 8,286]

The purpose of dry gas is to absorb any water that got into the fuel system.  It is simply alcohol that causes the water to mix with the gas and carry it along to be burned. Dry gas has been obsolete for nearly half a century since you can purchase E10 gas at any station and it will have a gallon of alcohol in every ten gallons.  Yes, they may still be selling dry gas to the unsuspecting.

[sqrlgtr 1,455]

13 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

i know the issue of gasoline treatments like Stabil and Sea Foam etc have been discussed over the years on various threads and topics - - both as gas treatment and for storage.... including for moisture reasons.

 

My question is a variation --- has anyone used what is commonly used in our vehicles called DRY GAS ? There are various products -- "HEAT" etc -- 

 

have members used "DRY GAS"  in their tractors - - or any reason not to?

thanks. Bill

 

 I agree a no no, find ethanol free fuel and have a happier maaachine.

[ebinmaine 75,953]

39 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

Yes, they >> ARE << still  selling dry gas to the unsuspecting.

 

🙄

 

As we are all to well aware... marketing works whether you need a refrigerator in the Arctic or not.  

[Brockport Bill 2,126]

11 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

 

 I agree a no no, find ethanol free fuel and have a happier maaachine.

I have been using ethanol free gas for recent few years.

[lynnmor 8,286]

2 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

I have been using ethanol free gas for recent few years.

That can be a good thing, just remember that ethanol free can have a water freezing problem if you get water in the system and E10 gas can handle a considerable amount of water.  I snowmobiled for many years and got gas wherever it was available along the trails, water in fuel happened a number of times.  I carried dry gas and it often did save the day.  My worst case was in Idaho where I stayed at a marina and used their gas.  That gas had an enormous amount of lake water in it due to faulty plumbing.  Dry gas got me thru the day and when I arrived back at the marina the folks their came out to tell me the problem and drained my tank which still had nearly 50% water.  Other than sounding weird and causing my eyes to burn and water it ran reasonably well, if someone were to tell me it could run at all with that much water I would not have believed them.  Although I did say that dry gas is obsolete you do need to be aware that water contaminated ethanol free gas can be an issue.

[Retired Wrencher 6,191]

On 12/25/2025 at 6:15 AM, ebinmaine said:

 

FYI.   I've been told there can potentially be as much 3 gallons IN the pump assembly. Most of that won't likely matter but I've tried to be sure I get that as a minimum into the road vehicle. 

 

I also bought an ethanol tester. I've yet to use it though because I started buying my E free gas exclusively where the hoses are dedicated. 

 

In New Hampshire, where I go they say there’s always a little if they’re all mixed in because of the tankers. So far so good the last few years I’ve been using ethanol fuel.

[ebinmaine 75,953]

4 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said:

In New Hampshire, where I go they say there’s always a little if they’re all mixed in because of the tankers. So far so good the last few years I’ve been using ethanol fuel.

 

 

That amount would be INCREDIBLY small. 

I've driven tankers. 

Modern tankers are unloaded from the bottom. They're also extremely careful to be sure there's absolutely minimal mixing of any kind. 

The minimum tank pocket size is close to a thousand gallons. 

A few teaspoons of laced fuel in a tank of a thousand gallons would be of no effect. 

Many trucks even have dedicated tanks specifically for each type of fuel. 

 

 

[sqrlgtr 1,455]

On 12/25/2025 at 6:15 AM, ebinmaine said:

FYI.   I've been told there can potentially be as much 3 gallons IN the pump assembly. Most of that won't likely matter but I've tried to be sure I get that as a minimum into the road vehicle. 

 

I also bought an ethanol tester. I've yet to use it though because I started buying my E free gas exclusively where the hoses are dedicated. 

 

The stations around here that has ethanol free has dedicated pumps for it.

 

57 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

That amount would be INCREDIBLY small. 

I've driven tankers. 

Modern tankers are unloaded from the bottom. They're also extremely careful to be sure there's absolutely minimal mixing of any kind. 

The minimum tank pocket size is close to a thousand gallons. 

A few teaspoons of laced fuel in a tank of a thousand gallons would be of no effect. 

Many trucks even have dedicated tanks specifically for each type of fuel.

 

I used to drive tankers as well and agree we unloaded them out clean as a whistle. 

[Kenneth R Cluley 643]

We used "DRY GAS" as fuel in backpacking stove. Burns really well.