Pure Gas - I got a lesson on small engines...

[fullautovalmet76]

My string trimmer (Stihl) would not run. I changed the spark plug, changed gas, tried ether, but it would not run. I took it to the shop and get it back to find out a little tidbit about gas. I was told that gas with ethanol is really a bad idea for small engines like mowers, trimmers, marine engines, motorcycles and so on. They told me to use "ethanol-free gas", or "gas" as it was once called. They directed me to a local station in town that sells it and it is a bit more expensive. I was told that ethanol's properties in the fuel attract moisture which seeps into the fuel and wreaks havoc with small engines. It wound up costing me a carburetor job but it's back to its old self now. And I was told that I if I use gas with ethanol, to replace it monthly if not before.

Here's a web site that is dedicated to identifying stations that sell pure gas - www.pure-gas.org.

-FA

[PegLeg45]

My truck runs smoother and gets better mileage on non-ethanol gas (even though it was one of the year models designed to run E85). Small engines don't have the benefit of CPUs and 'on-the-fly-adjustability'. It's a simple air/fuel ratio thing. If you re-jetted the carb and tweaked it, it would run OK (not the best, but OK), but the cost wouldn't be worth it. Best to just buy the ethanol-free.

*Funny thing is, you can get better performance and horsepower from high content (high octane) ethanol....BUT, the engine must be tailored specifically for that fuel to gain the benefits.....and, the mileage will suck with ethanol.

[MikeBjerum]

My string trimmer (Stihl) would not run. I changed the spark plug, changed gas, tried ether, but it would not run. I took it to the shop and get it back to find out a little tidbit about gas. I was told that gas with ethanol is really a bad idea for small engines like mowers, trimmers, marine engines, motorcycles and so on. They told me to use "ethanol-free gas", or "gas" as it was once called. They directed me to a local station in town that sells it and it is a bit more expensive. I was told that ethanol's properties in the fuel attract moisture which seeps into the fuel and wreaks havoc with small engines. It wound up costing me a carburetor job but it's back to its old self now. And I was told that I if I use gas with ethanol, to replace it monthly if not before.

Here's a web site that is dedicated to identifying stations that sell pure gas - [link]www.pure-gas.org[/link].

-FA

Bull Shit!!!

Small engine mechanics hate ethanol.  Most of this comes from the fact that methanol will damage rubber and rubber like parts, and they don't know the difference.  And another item is that Homelite has often used a plastic fuel line that is not compatible with ethanol - However, it breaks down with regular fuels as well just not as fast.

I have ... Let me count ... ten small engines, two outboard motors, a motorcycle, two cars and a pickup.  We run E-10 in everyone of them, and have had zero problems except the two Homelite products.  Once we replaced the fuel lines they were a non-issue.

If you move beyond a 15%-20% blend of ethanol you will ruin your electric fuel pumps and injectors (the only difference between a regular and flex fuel car).

Rant off for now.

[Timothy]

My Stihl has been running for ten years or more on the E10 and still has the original spark plug.  I see no problems at all other than I hate trimming the grass, mowing the grass or working on the lawn.

[Big Frank]

I've been using E-10 gas in my Homelite trimmer for over 15 years. I put a shot of Sta-bil in the gas and a gallon lasts me 2 years. The carb has never gummed up and it runs llike new.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

My Stihl has been running for ten years or more on the E10 and still has the original spark plug. I see no problems at all other than I hate trimming the grass, mowing the grass or working on the lawn.

But can you blame that on Alcohol ?   

[CJS3]

I had the same problem last year. The service guy told me to never put more fuel in than I was going to use at one time, and to drain what I had leftover.

+1 on the Sta-Bil.

[PegLeg45]

I had the same problem last year. The service guy told me to never put more fuel in than I was going to use at one time, and to drain what I had leftover.

+1 on the Sta-Bil.

With a 2-stroke, drain it, crank it, and run it dry before storage. My 10 year old (el-cheapo) weed-eater and my 20 year old Poulan chainsaw are both still going strong.

Also another +1 on the Sta-bil.

*As a side note, any gas will start to break down in as few as 60 days, but more and more after 90 days (so I was told by a researcher at UGA).

[fullautovalmet76]

I did use 100 octane racing fuel in my big mower (48" Ransomes Bobcat) and did it run great! But the cost/benefit wasn't there so I went back to 93 octane. It seems everything runs better on higher octane fuel....

Don't countries in Europe (Germany comes to mind) mandate minimum octane for their fuel? I'm thinking it's around 90 octane. But I could be completely wrong there....

As for M58 and Timothy, could it be your experience is different due to the climate? I live in a tropical/sub-tropical part of the country. The past few days here have been in the mid to upper 90's with all the humidity to boot.....

[PegLeg45]

Horsepower do love cold, dry air.