Ethanol gas

[Daren Todd]

Just venting here. Had a really nice day to do yard work. So I touched off the burn piles. Had great aspirations of being a pyromaniac And burn off all the leaves as well.

Go to start the blower, prime it like normal, and the bloody thing refused to start. It worked like a champ last weekend. So, new spark plug, drain the gas, clean the carb, and mix up some fresh gas that's ethanol free That will be for another day

So, I figure I'll fire up the push mower. It's one of those choke free, and prime free models. Just pull the handle and go. It was fairly inexpensive. And chop up the leaves since the bota is down for the moment till parts come in. So, I pull, and pull and pull........ nothing

Looks like a new plug, carb cleaning and new ethanol free gas as well

Just an fyi, I treat all the gas with stabil, and an enzyme that removes the ethanol every time I get gas.

 

[sheepfarmer]

I don't know anything about the ethanol gas stuff, but it sure sounds like you have a poltergeist in your equipment, or maybe bad karma sneaked into your truck and you brought it home...

 

[tiredguy]

Sorry you had to suffer through the problems that so many of us have dealt with because some idiot legislators along with libtards and greentards and climatards
think it's right for us to burn food suffer worse fuel economy and performance
along with actually polluting mother earth more because of the high input cost and additional burning of fuels by farmers. And I didn't mention the taxpayers dollars the subsidize everything to add to our pain.

As long as our country is run/dictated by those sheeple that have no common sense and make decisions based solely on feelings we'll all continue to live this recurring nightmare over and over again. I'm so glad I bought my PTO generator so I don't have to do what you've just done time and time again whenever the power goes out which usually takes longer than it does the utility company to
get the power back on.
Al

 

[Tooljunkie]

Sea foam.
Use it in all my infrequent use stuff.
Had an impala in shop a while back, running poorly and check engine light.
Aparrently gm has an ethanol sensor in fuel system. 19% is a little high for ethanol. Resetting sensor didnt change anything, changing service station did.
Customer hasnt bought fuel there since. More ethanol= more water in fuel.


Your everyday gas now will not absorb water, as it is saturated at the pumps.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

I never used gas stabilizer until I started having problems with my portable emergency generator. Instead of shutting off the gas and running the carburetor for the generator dry I bought some stabilizer and tried it in most of my small engines. After a couple of months nothing would start until I got rid of all the stabilized gas. The worst part is the stabilizer plus the ethanol ruined the seal on the carburetor float needle and Kawasaki exited the generator business and there are no parts. Now I use no stabilizer and ethanol free RV gas. My chainsaws and ice auger start right up after sitting up to 9 months with gas in the tanks.

 

[olthumpa]

I have been using mogas, (aviation fuel), in all my two stroke and small 4 stroke engines. No ethanol and 91 or 100 octane. It is not cheep but no problems with carbs or seals and hoses (paid $4.75 a gal 2 weeks ago).

 

[Tooljunkie]

I used sta-bil for years, when i was introduced to sea foam i havent used anything since.
My snowblower fuel filter dissolved from the new fangled gas. Thats why it was given to me.

My son sait it wouldnt start(sitting for 2 years)
I went out, turned key on and pulled it twice. Runs better with key on. Two year old gas and sea foam.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

I have been using mogas, (aviation fuel), in all my two stroke and small 4 stroke engines. No ethanol and 91 or 100 octane. It is not cheep but no problems with carbs or seals and hoses (paid $4.75 a gal 2 weeks ago).(/QUOTE]

Olthumpa

There should be some marinas somewhere close to you. A lot of outboards still running that don't like ethanol. Most marine (maybe all marine) gas is premium with no ethanol and a lot less pricey than aviation fuel.

 

[rdhamill]

I have been using this for some time, no issues with seasonal equipment.

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/fuel-additives/gasoline/gasoline-stabilizer/?code=ASTCN-EA

I add some form of ethanol treatment to all my small engine gas, seems I never know when they will be used next or how long it might be between uses.

 

[skeets]

Thank you epa !!!

 

[OldeEnglish]

I never used gas stabilizer until I started having problems with my portable emergency generator. Instead of shutting off the gas and running the carburetor for the generator dry I bought some stabilizer and tried it in most of my small engines. After a couple of months nothing would start until I got rid of all the stabilized gas. The worst part is the stabilizer plus the ethanol ruined the seal on the carburetor float needle and Kawasaki exited the generator business and there are no parts. Now I use no stabilizer and ethanol free RV gas. My chainsaws and ice auger start right up after sitting up to 9 months with gas in the tanks.

Same here I don't use it. I have better luck with keeping a low fuel level and starting/running everything for 10 mins once a month. I swear that stuff destroys the gas. Used it once in a snow blower and had a hell of a time getting it going again.

 

[Diydave]

For 2 stroke stuff, I use Coleman camping fuel or VM&P naptha. Its ethanol free,about 92 octane, and relatively cheap, at yard sales. In the store, about 13-14 bucks a gallon. Cheaper in the long run, than a $50 carb.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

My Husky chainsaw that started EVERY TIME on the second pull cranked up one day and then sputtered. I got it started again and it sputtered like it was out of gas. I look inside the tank and the fuel pick-up line connected to the clunk/filter HAD MELTED INTO A FEW PIECES!!!

MAY A THOUSAND FIRE ANT MOUNDS AND A THOUSAND TERMITE MOUNDS APPEAR OVERNIGHT AROUND THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO THOUGHT UP THIS STUPID FUEL FORMULA.

This "climate madness" is going to kill us all.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[Daren Todd]

My Husky chainsaw that started EVERY TIME on the second pull cranked up one day and then sputtered. I got it started again and it sputtered like it was out of gas. I look inside the tank and the fuel pick-up line connected to the clunk/filter HAD MELTED INTO A FEW PIECES!!!

MAY A THOUSAND FIRE ANT MOUNDS AND A THOUSAND TERMITE MOUNDS APPEAR OVERNIGHT AROUND THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO THOUGHT UP THIS STUPID FUEL FORMULA.

This "climate madness" is going to kill us all.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Amen brother ray

 

[sheepfarmer]

I thought adding ethanol to gas had mostly to do with cheaper fuel, and fuel that we could make or grow in the US instead of buying it from the Arabs? Don't think it is that much cleaner burning? Someone probably knows, but I don't think the EPA is entirely to blame for this particular problem. Bet the lobbies from the corn growing states had their guys in Washington buttonholing the Congress. The long standing horrible politics in the Middle East have been influenced by the US's need for oil, so replacing it with a renewable source of energy may or may not help the environment, but has the upside that we are less dependent on those bad guys for oil. That said, we should be free to buy gas with ethanol or without it depending on equipment and personal preference.

 

[bmblank]

I believe the lobbies have a ton to do with it. As far as oil dependency, we could be doing just fine on our own if we were just allowed to go get it.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[HighSierra79]

Unfourtunately, many of us here in the midwest live under the corn tsars and thier minoins in the state legislatures. The false narrative of mandatory ethanol blends to reduce CO2 emissions is a gimmick to create antoher market for excess corn. Mileage sucks, eats the snot out of rubber grommets, and gums up boat carbs from one day use on the lake. Don't ask me how I know about the last one. Fortunately though, we are lucky in the region to have a company that sells non-alcohol fuel. Pump states that "this selection is recommended for marine and small-engine applications only". It is 0.70 higher per gallon than 87, but it does not contain alcohol. I've sat in line and watched a guy who runs a lawn service fill his 300/gl tank, $75 at a time. This says a lot in my book. Seafoam is my choice for regulating fuel.

 

[Changnam 59]

In Thailand I have no practical alternative to using gas with 10% ethanol in it.

This nasty product has cost me a lot of money over the years in repairs.

One lesson I have learnt with mowers and other small gasoline engine equipment is to always drain the carb after use and, if the tool is not going to be used for some time, to also drain the fuel tank.

I believe that the ethanol mix fuel used here promotes corrosion in fuel systems and deteriorates much faster than alcohol free fuel in storage.

Others have mentioned damage to seals and fuel lines . I too have had problems with that.

Alcohol free fuel is available at a few fuel stations but coverage is less good in rural areas.

One motorcycle I have absolutely must use alcohol free fuel. The tank has a range of 100 miles and the nearest gas station where I can get alcohol free fuel is 50 miles away!

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Sheepfarmer,

Out West we deal with EPA "seasonal blends." This effort is designed to "supposedly" cut back smog in winter in order to comply with EPA smog limits. My brother tells me most of CA is on ethanol fuel 24/7 365 days a year, at least in L.A. Here in PHX, the blend comes and goes seasonally. It is these EPA mandated seasonal blends that run the price of fuel up so high because they require different production and handling for the different markets.

I just bought regular ethanol blend for $1.61 here in Phoenix. My brother said his "special blend" out in L.A. is about $.90 more. I am sure California adds a few % in taxes on that blend as well.

No doubt King Corn influences our politicians. But time and again its has been proven that ethanol is neither cheaper to produce and add to our fuel when production fuel costs and environmental impact is fully accounted for nor is it better for our vehicles. In fact, many manufacturers will void warranties above 10% ethanol blends.

That leaves the environmental reasoning forced upon us by the EPA.

This is the same governmental group of a** clowns that due to negligence flooded the Animas River north of Durango with 1.5 million gallons of heavy metal pollutants located in an abandoned mine. This river flows into the Colorado and eventually into the water source for four major states out west. Zero people got fired and the EPA refused to answer media and state governmental calls about the impact on that water contamination for nearly a week after the event THEY caused. A week later, the EPA releases a statement saying the contamination is over because the toxins are so "diluted" due to the amount of water it's contaminated. Wells in reservation lands adjacent to the Animas are showing high contaminants and have been shut down.

Sorry to rant but, my opinion of the EPA is not very high.

(sigh)

Ray

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks Ray, that is interesting. Michigan may be quite different in its rules, is different as far as I know. May be the automobile mfgr lobby influence? I am not sure how much alcohol is allowed in regular gas, and the high alcohol pumps are labeled. There is no excuse for the Animas River accident and the consequences.