Gasohol and Small Engines

[ultrarunner]

Never thought of a go-kart shop...

What are they getting for 5 gallons?

 

[dfkrug]

A lot of "the problem" is many people have tools they rarely use. Then
when it's time to use it, it don't work because it sat too long. Seals dry up, carbs gum up. This
always has been a problem and always will be. Nobody can remember even 8 years ago how can
they know this isn't a new problem?

Next generation of tools will be electric.

Very true. The best thing for your 2-stroke engine is frequent use.

As for electric, the very first chainsaws were electric, but the power supplies (generators)
were separate from the motor and chain.

Li-ion batteries are indeed excellent, and they have tremendously altered RC aircraft (drones),
for example. Lot less of them are gas-powered.

I hope to see more Li-ion electric chainsaws, but that comparo video was almost pathetic. 120v
chainsaws have been available for many years, and they are still not very good.

 

[Sodo]

Very true. The best thing for your 2-stroke engine is frequent use.
>>>>>>
I hope to see more Li-ion electric chainsaws, but that comparo video was almost pathetic.

Yeak only 4 cuts doesnt tell much and that 540 didnt sound like the little hotrods I've heard. That was just about the first video of a "real" battery saw - give it a couple years.

The takeaway is the starting effort, wasted time & effort we all take for granted. The pros notice quickly that starting and shutdown is a significant effort for some operations; they dont notice it until it has disappeared.

I bet Li-Ion saws will become the standard before 4-stroke (in trimming saws).

 

[arrow]

I find it hard to believe they are going to have different mixtures of E10 fuel. .

There aren't different mixtures. 10% is the current mandate of ethanol to gasoline. What might be able to change however is the dilution rate within the 8000-10,000 gallon tanker since the alcohol is added to the truck after the gasoline has been loaded. How well this mixes into the base product I would think would depend on variables such as distance to drop, sediment rates, condition of roads, speeds traveled and characteristics of travel route. Might also have something to do with ambient outside temps.

 

[dfkrug]

I bet Li-Ion saws will become the standard before 4-stroke (in trimming saws).

For me, electric battery-powered already wins over gas for pole saws. I have used the gas
poles saws, incl top-of-the-line Stihl, and they are just too heavy and fatiguing. I like
my super-cheapo B&D 18V better. Others may not prefer it, but a Li-ion polesaw would be
slick.

Of course, the slickest polesaw I have ever owned and run, is hydraulic, but then
you are tethered to your power supply.

But, back to ethanol: I just called a San Jose Conoco 76 station that sells racing
gas at $8/gal, and the clerk says it has 10% ethanol. I will double-check that.

 

[Gator6x4]

I think the problem being experienced by many with small engines and gas is they store the unit with gas in in it. Gas will expand when heated, gas caps let air in not out, the expanding liquid or fumes go one way, through the carburetor. The internal gaskets in a two stroke are flimsy and easily damaged. I loosen the gas cap on all two cycle products after use and prior to returning to storage. I have a Robin Back Blower I purchased in the late seventies, starts most times on the second pull, never have ran special gasoline in it.

The thing is heavy, each time I use it I think, you need something lighter. It calls for a 32:1 mixture. I have been using Stihl 50:1 in it for years, never misses a beat. I also have an old hedge trimmer, it calls for a 26:1 mixture. I have also been using the Stihl 50:1 mixture in it also. Prior to starting using the 50:1 mixture my eyes would burn when using and the thing smoked like a three pack a day person. It also has not complained about the "New" gas.

 

[lilranch2001]

I am starting to wonder if some regions ethanol gas is better than others.. I had some fuel hose melting problems on string trimmer, and I have had "last years gas" not be able to start no matter what the heck I did.. Just put fresh fuel in and away it went. But with my recent policy of not using ethanol fuel any more in my small engines "last years" gas starts right up and fuel hoses still look good now. This might not be a scientific test, but It is what I remember from about 3 years ago when I stopped using the stuff. It is ethanol free fuel for me from now on. But obviously some people are not having trouble with it. I don't have any problem with it in any of my vehicles, but they are both E85 capable.

Agree 100% with everything you said James, since I went non ethanol in my small engines (5-6 years ago), I use last years gas and everything starts fine ( I do not even have to drain the carbs on anything).

 

[mhammer]

I found a local station that sells 89 octane, no ethanol gas. It is significantly more expensive but I don't care. One carburetor issue and any savings I would have had is gone not to mention the aggravation. I use it in everything except my onroad vehicles that are specifically labeled for ethanol.

 

[Copperhead]

There aren't different mixtures. 10% is the current mandate of ethanol to gasoline.

Well, to some degree. And it is based on regional, state, and local government decisions. Here in ethanol central, Iowa, we have non ethanol gas available any day of the week in virtually every town. Some other areas of the country, their state environmental interests have limited non ethanol availability. There is no federal mandate that all gasoline have 10% ethanol. That wouldn't even be practical. Of the ethanol that is produced, it goes into other blends like E15, E20, E30, and E85, and even a major source of ethanol for the beverage industry. There just isn't enough ethanol being produced to supplement every gallon of gas to a 10% blend. The 10% mandate is the maximum that is allowed for general automotive use. E15 pumps clearly label that it is limited to autos 2001 and newer. Other blends require flex fuel vehicle.

I get non ethanol on a regular basis for some of my small engines. It does carry a 20 cent a gallon price above E10. I use E85 in the pickup currently.

 

[arrow]

Well, to some degree. And it is based on regional, state, and local government decisions. Here in ethanol central, Iowa, we have non ethanol gas available any day of the week in virtually every town. Some other areas of the country, their state environmental interests have limited non ethanol availability. There is no federal mandate that all gasoline have 10% ethanol. That wouldn't even be practical. Of the ethanol that is produced, it goes into other blends like E15, E20, E30, and E85, and even a major source of ethanol for the beverage industry. There just isn't enough ethanol being produced to supplement every gallon of gas to a 10% blend. The 10% mandate is the maximum that is allowed for general automotive use. E15 pumps clearly label that it is limited to autos 2001 and newer. Other blends require flex fuel vehicle.

I get non ethanol on a regular basis for some of my small engines. It does carry a 20 cent a gallon price above E10. I use E85 in the pickup currently.

The answer was in question to someone thinking that ethanol could not have different mixes and be called 10% for general road use. He was correct of course. The attempt was to explain why some areas have more trouble with ethanol than others possibly dependent on how well the ethanol dump mixes within the tanker truck.
I'd love to buy non ethanol gas for small engines for only 20 cents more per gallon. Here, non ethanol gas comes in 5 gallon containers and the cost is $60.