Ethenol a Problem ?

[Tom R S]

Recently heard I should not use gas with 10% Ethenol in my small engines or outbaord. They're saying it will greatly reduce the engine life.
I've used regular no lead forever and have not had a problem with my lawn tractors. Have not had the outboard on my boat long enough to notice a problem.
They're saying I should buy only premium gas for these engines.
Any truth to this?

 

[Gary from Muleshoe]

I have heard the same thing about running only premium but I have run regular in my small engines with no problems. Can"t see how an outboard would be any different than any other two cycle engine. I run regular in my chainsaw and weed eaters and have no problems there either. May be the guys that thought that up owned a gas station. lol

 

[old]

One of the local lawn mower shops has a sign in there shop about running high test in 2 cycle engines and it is something put out by the big name company like Stili

 

[dbrojr]

i use ethanol neutralizing stabilizer by stabil...the ethanol eats the rubber lines,gaskets and carb floats...what i was told by local mech.I use the stabilizer in everything including my older vehicles..

 

[504]

I had a talk with a Echo sale rep. They want you to use premium for two reasons, higher octane, and most high test gas is ethanol free. I poured some fresh gas(10%) in a glass jar, about two inches worth. After sitting for two weeks in a shed with the doors open it has turned to goo. The gas has evaporated and all that is left is just what I have been finding it gas tanks and carburetors for years.

 

[hd6gtom]

In reply to 504. We tested thousands of gallons of different configurations of ethanol gasoline in the early 1970's. We never found anything like you are trying to tell these guys.

 

[greygoat]

I've been running 10% ethenol ever since it
came out in Wisconsin..I'd guess that to be
about 20 years. i've put it in chainsaws, string trimmers,lawnmowers with Briggs,Tecumseh,Kohler
Engines. All sizes of 1 cyl, 2 cyl,V4 Wisconsin
engines.John Deere MT, Case C and D, and various
cars and trucks, and had no fuel problems ever!

 

[dhermesc]

Just so you know currently high octane is usually acheived by adding ethanol.


That fact that "premium" fuel sits longer in underground storage tanks collecting water is deterent enough for me to not use it when its not needed.

 

[JT Britt]

First of all premium 93 octane contains little or no ethanol.I have let it sit before as well for about 60 days and it did not turn to sludge,goo,varnish.However it did have a milky white residue that far as i know is the water that ethanol attracts.As a small engine mechanic i recommend premium gas to all my customers for their small 2 cycle equipment.For the simple reason that most of this type of equipment sits more time than say a riding mower.Most folks will agree with that.Another reason for any of you guys that know Tygon fuel hose,ethanol will shrink this hose as i have seen first hand.Fuel hose which acts as a seal against that tank on say a string trimmer,i have had leak the very next day due to shrinkage.Shrinkage to the point the hose turns hard as a rock.This is my personal experience & opinions of ethanol.

 

[dhermesc]

Why would you think premium does not have ethanol?

Ethanol is the PRIMARY additive to gasoline to boost octane now the TEL and MTBE are nolonger used.


http://www.fuel-testers.com/gasoline_octane_and_ethanol_E10.html

 

[JohnDY]

My son has a new Toro lawn mower with a Briggs & Stratton. He cleaned up around his office when we had the warm weather in March. Used gas that he had in a can. Ran okay that time. Came to mow it again a month later and it wouldn't start. I sucked the crap gas out, put some premium in from our BP station which is ethanol free and a little SeaFoam. Left it set for a day and came back and after it started and stopped a few times it took off and runs like new. I won't ever use gas with ethanol in our mowers.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bet the additives were different in the 70's.

I see ethanol problems in 2 cycle stuff almost weekly in the shop where I work.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm with JT on this. Ethanol is a real problem in the 2 cycle engines that I see almost daily. It draws moisture that impedes fuel flow and if left in carburetors causes corrosion that only replacement can fully correct.

There is such a thing as ethanol free regular, but those selling it usually charge a premium for it. At least here in NC, because they know what they have.

 

[MNGB]

Here in MN 91 octane is ethanol free, while it does boost octaine that's not the primary use for it and yes it does cause problems in small engine, my 11HP Honda just plain doesn't like it starts hard runs rich and it cause the carb to go bad and the only fix was a replacement. As post it swells plastic parts and shrinks others and is nasty to carbs over winter. I do use it in the lawn tractors but also use Sea Foam, and I never use 87 octane only 89 or better.
GB in MN

 

[dhermesc]

You'll find most Honda small engines have that problem not matter what fuel you use.

What makes it that much worse is you can almost replace the entire engine with a Chinese clone that runs just as well for what Honda wants for their replacement carb.

 

[MNGB]

(quoted from post at 11:47:44 05/18/12) You'll find most Honda small engines have that problem not matter what fuel you use.
That is not true 91 octane and 100LL Avgas makes the Honda run perfect and it starts right up and it does NOT start without choke on fuel with ethanol, and it runs much cleaner no soot with 100LL and 91 octane., yes the Chinese part do work well the replacement carb I got was a Chinese mfg built to OEM standards or so it says on it.

 

[MNGB]

 

[wisbaker]

Here in the Northwoods BP and some Shell stations advertise "Ethanol free premium" BP advertises this for all area stations, some of the Shell stations jumped on the bandwagon. Ethanol can be a problem in for for equipment not designed for it. The ethanol in car gasoline has caused problems when used in General Aviation aircraft. There is now approved STC (legal modifications) to certified aircraft where the fuel systems are modified so ethanol mixed fuel won't corrode or dissolve fuel system components, this allows the aircraft to operate on autogas. If you go on the the EAA site and boards you can get information about the differences between Autogas and 100LL (avgas) and some of the problems with gasohol fuel in equipment not designed for it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Because no piece of equipment ever had a fuel problem in the 1950s, 60s or 70s.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My tree trimmer only uses 93 octane in his chain saws. I recently switched over to 89 octane for my tractors and lawn mowers to prevent dieseling on hot days.

Many places you can't buy gas without 10% ethenol. Some people clain that ethanol is used to boost octane rating of gas.

I'm no expert when it comes to octane boosters, but I'm going out on a limb and say that ethenol is here to say. Also heard that E-30 may show up soon at a gas stations.