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

[Timothy]

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.....

Who knows!  I was an auto mechanic back in the day and I treat my mowers and trimmers like crap and I know better.  I also don't spend a lot on lawn equipment, my last mower cost me about 100 bucks and my BIL is still using it after at least 10-12 years.

I abuse the crap out of them and they just keep running.  If I treated my cars the same way, I'd have to replace them every other year.  I do treat all my fuel (or did) with Sta-Bil regularly without fail and only used Stihl 2 cycle oil in my trimmer.

[MikeBjerum]

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.....

If anything the higher temp will cause the ethanol to evaporate out quicker.  That is one of the issues brought up about Brazil where they use straight ethanol from sugar.

[fullautovalmet76]

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.

Just picked up some Sta-bil from Home Despot....On the back of the bottle it talks about how it prevents problems that are created by Ethanol in the fuel....Thanks for the suggestion as it is going in my fuel this week.

-FA

[Big Frank]

I haven't seen Marine Sta-bil but I heard it's better for ethanol fuel. Sea Foam is good too.

[Badgersmilk]

Next time anyone has any problems with small engines post something on here before you pay anyone to do anything to it!  Money wasted.  

No matter what brand engine you've got, if it's over 3 years old replace the fuel line with Goodyear brand hose.  If it's smaller than 1/4" (weed eaters) go to your local hobby shop with a little chunk and have them match up the ID size for you.  Tell them it's for a gas engine, not nitro.  The sythetic hose they have is 1000 times better quality than what you'll get from most lawn service places.  Won't break down and clog the carb like rubber or cheap stuff.

And never pay somebody to work on these things!  GEEZ!  

[Sponsor]

[jnevis]

But can you blame that on Alcohol ?   

It may very well be the alcohol, just not the fuel component.

[billt]

I'll put this one into the same category as the one that made claim to the "fact", Automobile engines THRIVE on LEAD! Don't hear that one much anymore except at bars on a Saturday afternoon from retired 1960's car mechanics.   Bill T.

[tt11758]

But can you blame that on Alcohol ?   

I think he hates it because it postpones his exposure to the alcohol.   

[Hazcat]

Ask Deepwater what the ethanol is doing to him.  Cost him like 500.00 so far!

[deepwater]

Ask Deepwater what the ethanol is doing to him.  Cost him like 500.00 so far!

yup. waiting on a replacement tank in New Mexico because the damn tank sealant keeps sloughing off and clogging fuel lines and carbs. nasty crap. had the tank cleaned and re coated but even the new stuff is coming off. anyway, stuck here until Friday when I get the new tank. turns some tank coatings into gel and it then travels downline to the carburetors and or filter. also ruined one original fuel line, ate the rubber.  as stated in an earlier post, if it's an older engine, it probably won't take the ethanol very well. I've been looking for non ethanol gas stations throughout the trip, but it is not easy to find. Alcohol is for drinking and cleaning, damnit!


deepwater