I use fuel stabilizers in all our small engines. Occasionally I add some carb/fuel injector cleaner.
I try to remember to do this but, if I forget, I don`t let it worry me.
I always use these if machines are stored for a time.
I know three brothers that own a boat sales business. They have been around and worked on boat motors for about 40 years.
This past summer I stopped at their place and was chewing the fat with one of the brothers.
I ask him what he thought about using fuel stabilizers, cleaners, and the effects of ethanol gas on small engines.
His reply was: ethanol gas is hard on seals in small engines.
We recommend ethanol free gas. If you have trouble finding it, use a stabilizer and occasionally add some carb/fuel injector cleaner.
I have read recently on the net that ethanol has a tendency to absorb water and that can cause problems.
Don`t know if this is true or not.
I tend to have faith in the guys that own the boat business. They have worked on engines their whole lives and they are honest, IMHO.
They sell only ethanol free gas at their business. High octane also. He told me it cost them about .03 more per gallon.