Ethanol

[Anonymous-0]

Folks are blaming ethanol for gumming up carburetors. This year, I've had problems with my weed wacker and my chainsaw. Same problem with both. They start up (reluctantly) and then stall out as soon as you give them any gas at all. Had to replace the carb on the weedwacker. I'll problably have to do the same with the saw. Folks are saying that I need to use an additive since all of the gas sold now has ethanol.

I don't run my tractor every day. Sometimes it'll sit for a month or two without any use at all. Question is, should I use an additive in my tractor's tank, in order to stave off the effects of ethanol? Do you? And have you had problems with the ethanol gas?

 

[jclus]

I always add Stabil to the gas in my N and lawnmowers.

 

[Dean]

CT:

Ethanol will not hurt your N carburetor. It will, however, cause fuel to "boil" in the tank when working hard on a hot day.

Dean

 

[HCooke]

Here in eastern MO we have been forced by the EPA to use ethonol in gas for many years. No problems in my tractors or chain saws or lawnmowers. I do put Stabil in my gas.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I use Marine Sta-bil & hi-test gas in the lawn mower, generator, tiller, chain saw, etc. I use Marine Sta-Bil in regular gas for the N's, and it hasn't boiled on me yet. If it does, I'll switch to hi-test for them as well.
50 Tips

 

[Paul in MN]

I service many small engines, and I'll testify that ethanol is a significant problem. Now, it doesn't mess up the car or van, because they are used often enough that the ethanol does not draw in enough water in just a few weeks period of time. But in seasonal use equipment, like snow blowers, snowmobiles, rototillers, tractors used just a few weeks per year, then there is a problem with the ethanol drawing moisture from the air and making an organic acid in the gas tank and carb. The evidence is the tell tale greenish coating on the brass parts. The green comes from the copper being leached out of the brass by the acid. Upon close inspection the carb body alloy metal is also eaten into, making it somewhat porous like a sponge.

In many cases, a tractor will not start on the old gas because it has too much water in it to fire up. We have pulled some samples and put them in a can in the driveway and tried to light the gas on fire. It burns like old kerosene and smells worse. Sometimes I can get a "set for a while" tractor to start on ether and the rotten gas will keep it going, but it will not restart without the ether spray.

Last week, my brother made a many state vacation trip and found his gas mileage was about 10% less when he was filled up in states that sell only ethanol gas. Now if we get 10% lower gas mileage, and the fuel contains 10% ethanol (with all sorts of govt payments to encourage its use), well what the he!! good is the darn stuff.

I do not work for any big oil company, and have no love for these huge multinational corporations, and I want to see alternative energy sources developed.....but ethanol just has too many problems with our present equipment. I think the answer should be to make both products available to the customer and let him/her decide which one they want to buy and use.

Paul in MN

 

[don t-9n180179]

For the last few years I've been running my chainsaw and w-wacker as dry as I can get it.
Prior to this, yep every spring I had problems either getting them started or once started to keep them running. Hi octane seems a bit better but carb problems still arise if ya leave it in the tank long enough.

HTH...have fun...don t. .....

 

[Jimmyjack]

I agree with Dean, he is right on nearly all the time. I dont believe in Mechanic in a can,but I will say Sea Foam has made me a believer especially in my small engines such as the blower and weed whacker. They run like new. I put it in every can of gas I store. I switched to the green marine stabil after my marina told me my Merc warranty wouldnt be good if I used the red stuff. I use Sea Foam there too. I will say I fill up the tank rather than run them dry. My ice auger crapped out regularly until I leave it full. My theory is that the fuel pump drys out and cracks and Ive had better luck filling the tank full. My 860 Ford definately runs better without boiiing when I dont use Ethanol gas.

 

[Devious]

I have to go along with Bill(VA) as I Have been using Stabil in everything that runs around here and it sure has kept the old Gum ups away for a long time even my Hurricane Generator that hardly gets used except when I drag it out and start it up to charge the Batt and it has Stabil in the gas in it too. Hey Just my way, don t say it s right but it works. Devious

 

[Anonymous-0]

i have used ethanol for 35 years with great luck.
However, small engines are made very cheaply and may not tolerate alcohol. Alcohol is good for the USA,,but you can call your Gas Distibutor and find out how to get pure gasoline. You can use aviation gas or marine gas in your engine.

 

[buickanddeere]

I use 100LL from the airport in all small engines and seasonal equipment.
Fuel related failure are not tolerated in the aviation industry.

 

[Anonymous-0]

what's that mean? 100LL?

 

[Devious]

100 LOW LEAD Devious

 

[Bob Harvey]

Where I live (W Canada) we don't have ethanol in our gas. Not completely sure, BUT, I axed the gas Mafia guy were I fill up and he says "no", BUT, he manipulates the prices to his own advantage other than the 'directives' from the head office - we won't bother 'going there', so he does not have my full trust. I took some time to check with my 'scattered' cronies (within 60 miles or so) and they seem to agree. What the hey! we gots a lotta oil and such here in the igloo center of the world.

 

[Jubille85 (VA)]

I too have had problems with BOTH my 23 year old Stihl chainsaw and 20 year old Stihl weedeater, both have stablizer in the off season. On both, the fuel lines have "rotted" for lack of better term. I am not sure the ethanol is to blame, but it is funny they both died lately - ethanol has been around here for a couple of years.

 

[Anonymous-0]

In Wisconsin, super unleaded which costs about 30 cents more a gallon contains no ethanol. Use it in my "48 Ford car.

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

I will pile on here as well: I have three n series tractors and two of the carburetors have leaked from water in the gas. It has fouled up the carburetors to the point that one has traveled up to Gary for a good rebuild and the other will do so once the growing season comes to a close.

I think this fall I will drain the carburetor completely while in storage and add a generous helping of seafoam to the tanks.

 

[kylemorley]

Re 100 low lead aviation gas, it is worth noting that when it comes to aviation fuel LL is a relative thing, and the 100LL contains about 4x the lead as the old Sunoco 260 "racing gas", the most highly leaded auto gas ever widely sold. This can be enough to cause problems with engines that do not require it.

BTW, I grudgingly use ethanol gas in cars, trucks and frequently used 4 stroke small engines, but make my own unleaded gas for use in 2 strokes. I has made a world of difference in how they run and eliminated the need to rebuild the carb every spring. Stabil, even the so-called marine grade, doesn't really completely address the ethanol problem.

 

[kylemorley]

excuse me I meant to say un-ethanoled not unleaded.

 

[Calibre]

"I think this fall I will drain the carburetor completely while in storage and add a generous helping of seafoam to the tanks."

Seafoam advertises "controls moisture, gum, varnish and residue deposits"!

How can it control moisture if it doesn't contain alcohol?

Just askin'!

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

I imagine it does contain alcohol, but from multiple experiences of trustworthy people on this forum they swear by the stabilizing effects of Seafoam in the tractors.

As for two cycle motors like weedeaters and such I dump the tank out in the fall and run the motor out of fuel when it goes into storage. Probably not the wisest, but it keeps the gum from building up in these little motors.

 

[Jimmy/N.Alabama]

"excuse me I meant to say un-ethanoled not unleaded"

Ok,

I have to ask....how?

Are you just heating it until the ethanol boils off? Sounds a little spooky!

jb