This why the 2 cycle fuel mix here that I mix and use is with a fuel oil that contains the stabilizer already in it so that extra step is already taken care of. Since I only mix I in one gallon increments I the gallon packages. It is a synthetic oil designed for equipment that runs 16:1 to 50:1 mixes. I got several personal chainsaws and string trimmers that may not get used but once or twice a year. It is the gasoline only engines that got to have the stabilizers added to the fuel right now.
But even with this fuel oil for 2 cycles readily available the endusers as you say Norm will cheap out by buying from the local convenience store the el cheapo fuel oils. What is strange is that what I sell is actually the same price though it is package differently (the packaging does affect the cost), in foil packs instead of bottles. It probably it is because they need to save the extra money for their tobacco and booze.
As for our cutting times we during our mowing season which is nearly 9+ months now we are cutting once a week normally to keep up with the growth in the southern US our equipment only sits unused a max of 3 months. My personal equipment usually sits longer periods since I use the customer mowers to cut large parts of lawn so ensure that I find the reported problems and that they are repaired correctly. 6 acres is a lot of grass to cut too.
I do see that fuel stabilizer becoming common in your country too as Ethanol is here to stay but if sweet crude keep staying below $50 a barrel users at the pumps will start opting more for the pure fuel instead Ethanol blends.
