Ethanol in Gasoline - Fuel Additives Gasoline - Truth

[Hog86r]

Wow.
I think we can all agree on one thing; there are far more fuel related problems with small engines than ever before. I have started making a deliberate effort to purchase gasoline advertized as ethanol free. I have also started putting fuel stabilizer in all gasoline destined for small engines and my outboard motor. I read somewhere about a quickie test for ethanol content in gasoline. It may have been on this forum. I do not take credit for it but do not know to whom credit is deserved. At any rate, I simply take a test tube shaped rain gauge and fill it with one part water and ten parts gasoline. Stir the mixture. When the liquid has a few moments to settle out, the liquiid on the bottom of the tube will be twice as much as it was before if the gasoline was 10% ethanol. It appears the ethanol migrates out of the gasoline and combines with the water. If this works in a test tube i am sure it works in your gas tank. Since the pickup tube in the tank is on or near the bottom, the water/ethanol mix is the first stuff to enter the engine. It causes the dickens on carb systems. I would also guess that the 2 cycle oil that was mixed in the gasoline does not migrate to the water/ethanol mix, so if the machine were to run on such concoction, looks to me like it would be running without lubrication.

Dont know the science behind it all, but it's ethanol free and stabilizer attitive for me.

 

[Bedford24]

Go to a Local Briggs & Stratton Dealer and Buy a tester for fuel just for $7 - 10$ Part Number 795161.. It is a glass tube - keep one in my pocket and a bottle of water handy. I encourage this purchase so if a station is posting Non-Ethanol and you test on the spot you can call the owner out on it if it has caused damage to your equipment the station owner is then responsible though he may blame the distributor who will have documented he signed for or knew it contained ethanol here in Virginia the Department of Agriculture had to order Stations shut down - Ethanol complaints top 400 in southeast VIrginia - wdbj7.com. Alot of people on this topic over a year ago wrote contrary to their conversation here - but oh well this has been discussed before and I should have posted there instead of starting a new thread - can't take back words people see in the same post for the sake of argument then.

here are the older conversations FYI and very informative too one or too of them had links I had not seen as well as some scientific reports that had some good information!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/144425-10-ethanol-problem-can-i-2.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/189071-ethanol-ropes-13.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/183464-problems-no-ethanol-gas.html

 

[Fixemall]

Nobody needs to read about "secrets" associated with this topic on the 'net, they just need to read their operators manuals. You just won't find one that says you should store the equipment the way most owners do it....


You have that right, even old leaded gas turned to varnish in time. I have done a couple of restorations that the carbs were loaded with green varnish smelling goo, makes a mess and you have to factor in disposal. Right now I mix it in with used oil and the guy up the road burns it in his shop oil burner. I wonder what the costs of bad fuel related "repairs" have been on the environment...I'm sure not everyone has a place to unload it safely a mile away.

 

[WilliamTO-35]

The fuel additives " truth" article is ridiculously inaccurate. I spent my career as an automotive engineer specializing in fuels and lubricants, and that article was not written by anyone well informed on the subjects.

 

[Buggs67]

The fact that the PDF has no accreditation, knocks several well known products AND pushes Stihl products makes me think it's a Stihl sales device. Not that I have any problem with Stihl; all my 2 stroke yard equipment is Stihl.

I believe the E10 is less efficient and causes problems with small engines but it's all that's available in NJ. I use premium mixed with Star-tron and 2 stroke oil in my 2 strokes and only mix a gallon at a time to keep it fresh.

Any of the experts here know if Star-tron is real or snake-oil? and how effective is Sta-bil with E10?

Thanks.

 

[Bird]

how effective is Sta-bil with E10?

No scientific knowledge at all, but my 10 year old Stihl string trimmer and 8 year old reconditioned Mantis tiller have had no problems with E10 and Sta-bil. I do run the mid grade gasoline instead of regular.

 

[Ford850]

I started using Sta-Bil about 10 years ago in all gas cans (reg unleaded) except my Stihl mix can. I use 87 unleaded for everything but my 2 cycle mix. I never drain a tank, run it dry, or even turn off the fuel line for storage. Yet, my gas mowers, tiller, wood splitter, and old Ford 850 tractor start easy and have no issues. I do try to keep their tanks full though.
I religiously use Stihl mix oil with 89 gas for the 2 cycle stuff, since Stihl advertises their oil has stabilizers. Same thing with those engines as far as storage with gas in them, and they always start like I just used them yesterday.
I have to think these additives have many of the ethanol moisture issues licked. As for long term breakdown of seals etc, well that's another story.

 

[davesl708]

That linked PDF is full of factual errors-

"Products that call themselves
Octane boosters or even Sea Foam are mostly
more ethanol, Methanol-Butane Ester, K-1 Kerosene
(Naptha) or a combination of all."

Skyco. I had to laugh when I read the above. In Missouri there is a station that has a sign on there pump that read "Missouri law requires 10% ethanol in all fuel" next to it is a sign on the pump that reads "No ethanol in this fuel"

I believe all states have some stations that sell pure gas.

If you tried to sell an additive to gasoline that reduce MPG and created more pollution to produce than it saved by adding to fuel the EPA would ban it. Yet they turn a blind eye to ethanol.:confused2:

 

[Copperhead]

All that PDF the OP linked to does, is help perpetuate urban myths. Like most things, it has just enough truth to be acceptable, but interlaced all thru it is half truth and untruths. It plays on the general lack of information that seems to be embraced by the conspiracy theory crowd.

 

[Buggs67]

Skyco. I had to laugh when I read the above. In Missouri there is a station that has a sign on there pump that read "Missouri law requires 10% ethanol in all fuel" next to it is a sign on the pump that reads "No ethanol in this fuel"

I believe all states have some stations that sell pure gas.

If you tried to sell an additive to gasoline that reduce MPG and created more pollution to produce than it saved by adding to fuel the EPA would ban it. Yet they turn a blind eye to ethanol.:confused2:

I haven't found a pure gas station yet in NJ but I'll keep looking.

And I agree with your second/last comment.