Winter storage and fuel stabilizers: Snake oil?

[Paul Workman]

I used to use Sea Foam in my lawnmowers and snow blowers and weed whackers, generator, etc - stuff that sat all winter. Then it got pricy (still is), and Sta-Bil (sp?) became available for less, so I switched.

Is the stuff even necessary - stabilizers, I mean - especially if there is ethanol in the fuel? Some say no, but the one year I didn't treat fuel in my motorcycle, come spring the jets in two of the 6 carbs had to have varnish cleaned out of the jets.

Last spring I took my generator to a small engine repair shop and $125 later (labor) I was told, ("I see you used Sta-Bil in your fuel. You don't want to be using Sta-Bil.") So, I asked him what he recommended, and he said Sea Foam. Suspicious, I asked him if he sold Sea Foam, but instead he suggested WalMart or any auto supply store. (He went on to say the Sta-Bil leaves a chalky residue that plugs up the tiny orifices especially, that small motors tend to have. In fact, I've see a chalky residue in the jets of my pressure washer, but have no proof of what the source is: only the mechanic's word.)

I put a pint of Sea Foam in the Vettes for winter storage, but in spite of that, I make it a point to crank them at least once every 2-3 weeks and let them warm up.

What is your experience with fuel stabilizers? I'm curious, as I'm not entirely convinced yet that the people that sell it didn't have a great grandfather that used to sell snake oil!