There are probably a million threads on this, but I can't find a single one. I am a new tractor owner and with my small engines I try to use premium (no ethanol) for gas. Is this also true with the gas tractors? I have a 3-cylinder gas in my JD 1020.
Premium or regular unleaded
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davesl708
Elite Member
I do the same. My 18 yr old push mower still starts with one push on the primer and one pull on the cord. Only replace the spark plug once a year. Never have touched the carburetor. Pure gas at 93 octane. 87 pure is not available in my area.
Wagtail
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Regular is the way to go.
I was using E10 for years as it was 1 cent cheaper at the pump and 'environmentally friendly'... what a CROCK! I switched to regular and immediately got better 'mileage'. Then I received a new RSL (Australian Veterans Organisation, like your 'Legion') members card that knocked 6 cents off regular petrol @ a specific provider. Woo HOO!
I was using E10 for years as it was 1 cent cheaper at the pump and 'environmentally friendly'... what a CROCK! I switched to regular and immediately got better 'mileage'. Then I received a new RSL (Australian Veterans Organisation, like your 'Legion') members card that knocked 6 cents off regular petrol @ a specific provider. Woo HOO!
KennyG
Elite Member
Unless you can get non-ethanol in premium (and only premium), use regular. Unless an engine is tuned for premium (or has an engine management system that can adjust to premium) regular gas will give as good performance and slightly better fuel economy. Most people don't realize that premium actually has lower energy content than regular. It's only advantage is greater resistance to pre-ignition (knock) which allows it to be used in engines with higher compression and more aggressive timing.
MossRoad
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That's a 40+ year old tractor.
It was designed to run on regular, low octane gas. So that's what you should use. If you're worried about ethanol related problems, try and find ethanol free low octane gas. Personally, I've never, ever, had any ethanol related issues in anything I've ever owned, with the only exception being one fuel line in one chainsaw that turned to mush one time. And I can't prove it was the ethanol that did it.
MossRoad
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Around here, E10 IS regular.
Copperhead
Veteran Member
We have regular and premium in both ethanol and non ethanol varieties. Ethanol free gas readily available all around me. I will get ethanol free regular for my smaller engines, simply because I usually fill a drum when I buy gas for my smaller stuff and gets used over time. E10 is not the best fuel for storing over time in a non sealed environment. For my vehicles, it is purely cost per mile. And for that, E15 is the winner right now and has been for a little over a year. E0 regular is 40-50 cents higher than E10 so it is never a value in my vehicles. E15 is 5-10 cents cheaper than E10. I never use premium in anything. Too darn expensive and no value in doing so. But then, I also will never buy a vehicle or engine than requires premium.
Sawyer Rob
Super Member
MY first choice would be to put E zero fuel in it, no matter what the octane was!!
I'm running 90 octane E-0 fuel in all of my small gas engines, even my old garden tractors! They run good on it and I'm having NO E related fuel problems.........like I had when I ran E-10 fuel...
SR
I'm running 90 octane E-0 fuel in all of my small gas engines, even my old garden tractors! They run good on it and I'm having NO E related fuel problems.........like I had when I ran E-10 fuel...
SR
4570Man
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I run ethanol free gas on anything with a carburetor. My boat is fuel injected, but I still try to run ethanol free gas in it because it's prone to sitting. I hear people complaining about the increased cost of ethanol free gas. I gladly pay it. It's a pretty marginal expense given the amount of fuel the the average TBNer is going to burn through carbureted engines.
MossRoad
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I run through about 60 gallons of gas in my tractor each year. 25hp Kohler engine. 15 years. No fuel related problems that I can find, yet. All E10 87 octane. Been running E10 87 octane in everything, cars, trucks, tractor, mowers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, etc... everything, since the mid 80's. ONE (1) fuel line that went gummy in a chainsaw that sat for a long time. 30 years. ONE $1.00 fuel line.
motownbrowne
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Not sure about Tomah, Wi, but in Hudson at the fleet farm, they sell ethanol free 89 octane. That's what I would use in a gas tractor.
Grouse09
Silver Member
Any benefit to adding "Ethanol Shield" to the E10 gas? Its about a dollar an ounce. 2 ounces per 5 gallons.
Copperhead
Veteran Member
Can't hurt, especially if fuel sits for extended periods of time.
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
Unless your running several tanks a week use the Ethanol Free. Less water problems and less corrosion with the ethanol free and everything starts on the first or second pull.
David
David
In 99% of engines made, the compression ratio determines the octane fuel required.
Low octane fuel will ignite during the compression stroke, if used in a high compression engine.
This causes knocking, and high temperatures, which and can damage the engine.
If your engine was made for regular 87 octane fuel, and you a put higher octane in it, all you got out of it, is a lighter wallet.
Even the oil companies will tell you that, and they make a ton of extra cash off the people who do it.
If it makes you feel better to do it, enjoy. But, it's not making any difference.
Low octane fuel will ignite during the compression stroke, if used in a high compression engine.
This causes knocking, and high temperatures, which and can damage the engine.
If your engine was made for regular 87 octane fuel, and you a put higher octane in it, all you got out of it, is a lighter wallet.
Even the oil companies will tell you that, and they make a ton of extra cash off the people who do it.
If it makes you feel better to do it, enjoy. But, it's not making any difference.
MossRoad
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Not so true anymore.... our 2013 Impala is 11.5:1 and recommended fuel is 87 octane.
KennyG
Elite Member
Things like engine management systems, variable valve timing, etc have reduced the direct correlation between compression ratio and required fuel. If I recall correctly, the first Ford Ecoboost engines required mid range to get max power but ran fine on regular, with just a bit less peak power.
Grouse09
Silver Member
Thanks guys. Interesting stuff. I will go thru my small engines (ice auger, chainsaw, backpack blower, weedeater), and powerwasher {unleaded only - not mix}, and see which octane is recommended with each. I had a chainsaw that ran one day, but not the next. Don't want to go thru that fiasco again and have protected with E free since.
dieselcrawler
Elite Member
I cannot get ethanol free gas unless I buy the higher grade stuff. I use so little gas, most of my stuff is diesel. But the chain saws, weedeaters, and atv's sit for long periods of time so its worth it to me to get good gas. I think I bought 15 gallons of gas all summer.
Foxl3830
Bronze Member
Hello just my thoughts most of my equipment is getting older so I do believe it was designed to run on reg. And have had no problems so far in all my gas equipment I run gas stablelizer as soon as I buy gas at the pump I add it to the cans I'm the same way most of my items set except my lawn mowers I n season but I still just add stable as soon as I by gas! I did have a chainsaw go down last winter when I tried to start it carburetor/reed problem probably from the ethanol just bought a whole ne carb from Internet cheap and was running in less than a week other than that I also have a 9.9hp Honda 4 stroke out board I use maybe 3 weeks a summer I do the same to it the only thing I do different to it is I add a bit more stable to the gas tank before storage and run it for like 10 to 15min then I dump cas out of can and use in other equipment then start fresh in the spring/summer ok thanks hope this helps so far so good! I have a 8n and since I got the newer Kubota I only brush hog with it on purpose just to try to burn a tank or two of gas threw it just to have newer gas in it I also put more stable in it right be fore winter thanks to all a great place to learn on this site!
