?? About octane for mowers and chain saw

[Texasmark]

He already answered the question. It's Mass.

I said "MAY INCLUDE" meaning Texas could be that way too.

 

[AxleHub]

Texas,

Every state has to sticker their pumps with the "may include up to 10%. But you want to watch out for a new trend which is E12 sold at a chain in our area of 240 stations - they have E10 at one price - and E12 a few cents lower - and then Premium that is no ethanol.

My understanding is the E10 sticker is mandated federally - and tracked at state level - but E12 is a state thing so stickers are ???? And numerous locations on Premium may or may not indicate if they are ethanol 10 or non-ethanol. Just because its premium doesn't mean non-ethanol either.

What is something most people don't realize is that even just a couple points more of ethanol increases a stations profits nicely. Many more modern vehicles exclude the use of ANYTHING over e10 - so E12 is a no no in my wife's 2010 Lincoln MKX (or Ford Edge). They have it right on the gas cap.

 

[CMV]

Didn't read whole thread so someone else may have posted.....But in addition to airports and marinas which usually always have non-ethanol gasoline, this site helps find stations near you that offer 0 ethanol gas. We are fortunate to have several around and a couple are along the route I normally take for other things, so real easy to throw some gas cans in back of truck and get good gas. Here it's not ALL gas at those places - just 1-2 pumps with the no ethanol stuff. Typically about $1 more but I consider that cheap insurance for mower, ATV, chainsaw, generator, etc

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

 

[goeduck]

I poured some non ethanol 87 octane gas from Cenex into a plastic cup to clean a hydraulic strainer today. The gas was as clear as water. No amber color, nothing.

 

[mcfarmall]

Ethanol-free 90 octane.

 

[SirMaxwell]

I am one of those in the "anecdotal" camp. Didn't read it on the internet. Did not study chemistry related to petroleum and ethanol. I have worked on IC devices since I was 10, which was appx 45 years ago. So no, my mechanic. nor any dealer, told me anything. ALL, of my gasoline engine devices, that is all, not some, of which there are 6 Cars/Trucks, 8 Gas engines below 27HP and 4, 2-strokes of varying CC, run poorly or not at all, when I use ethanol laced fuel. I've got a 4-cycle Trimmer, and a 2-stroke Chainsaw that will not start when using ethanol laced fuel. Others that I can eventually get running, but stall, run roughly, etc. My UTV takes 2-3 x's longer to start and sputters along, change fuel, immediately fires up runs smooth (Honda V-Twin) (and don't even get me started about what it does to the 83 Yamaha 750 Triple).

2008 Jeep Commander 4.7, loses 3 mpg and hates the cold when forced to used E10. Change the fuel, problem solved.

1992 Ford F250 460, hates the stuff - flat out.

Truth being, by using various additions to my fuel of Stabil, or Redline, or Lucas, et al - and some satisfactory performance can be had with the dreaded e10. But really, the gas is NEW, why should I have to modify it?

Bottom line, by changing nothing but the fuel, all of these issues disappear. Anecdotal? Un-scientific? Perhaps. Fact? Absolutely.

That's my story, YMMV.
Max

Seriously, who hear has actually had a proven ethanol related issue other than some guy told you it was ethanol related? And I'm talking about modern engines, not antiques.

I've been running 87 octane 10% ethanol since 1984 in every piece of power equipment and automobile, toys, etc... that I've ever owned. We had one of the first ethanol plants in the country here, so it was common from the mid 80's.

I've had exactly ONE fuel line on a chainsaw gum up. I MAY be able to attribute that to ethanol, but I more likely will blame it on leaving a tank full of gas for a year.

My IH2500b tractor was a 4 cylinder gas engine that sat on our farm for 4-5 months at a time with untreated 87 octane 10% ethanol for 10 years. I'd shut off the fuel peacock at the tank and run it dry. Come operating time, I'd turn the fuel back on, crank it a few times, and boom, off it would go.

Cars, trucks, tractors, lawn mowers, chainsaws, weed eater, snow blowers, tiller, generator... not one provable ethanol related issue. Not one.

So, who's had the issues, what were the issues, and how did you prove the issue was caused by ethanol? Am I just that lucky that I've never had a problem, and no on in my family, my trusted mechanic, any of my employers, etc... have ever had ethanol issues?

 

[AxleHub]

Sirmaxwell,

I read the words 83 Yamaha 750 triple.lol

I have a 73 suzuki 550 triple and an 81 Yamaha 850 triple.

 

[SirMaxwell]

Sorry about the year mix up, its a 79 750 Triple. DUH - Brain bust for a moment. 81, saw its replacement the 826cc, "850".

How about this:

Sirmaxwell,

I read the words 83 Yamaha 750 triple.lol

I have a 73 suzuki 550 triple and an 81 Yamaha 850 triple.

 

[AxleHub]

Sirmaxwell, I think ages of vehicles and bikes is easy to get confused. . . because it's hard to imagine our youthful activities could be that long ago lol.

I am getting ready to put my 1979 Toyota supra up for sale. And when you think how fast that car was in terms of performance and then you look in the book andi it proudly proclaims it's 6 cylinder engine output at 170 HP. Lol.

 

[MossRoad]

I am one of those in the "anecdotal" camp. Didn't read it on the internet. Did not study chemistry related to petroleum and ethanol. I have worked on IC devices since I was 10, which was appx 45 years ago. So no, my mechanic. nor any dealer, told me anything. ALL, of my gasoline engine devices, that is all, not some, of which there are 6 Cars/Trucks, 8 Gas engines below 27HP and 4, 2-strokes of varying CC, run poorly or not at all, when I use ethanol laced fuel. I've got a 4-cycle Trimmer, and a 2-stroke Chainsaw that will not start when using ethanol laced fuel. Others that I can eventually get running, but stall, run roughly, etc. My UTV takes 2-3 x's longer to start and sputters along, change fuel, immediately fires up runs smooth (Honda V-Twin) (and don't even get me started about what it does to the 83 Yamaha 750 Triple).

2008 Jeep Commander 4.7, loses 3 mpg and hates the cold when forced to used E10. Change the fuel, problem solved.

1992 Ford F250 460, hates the stuff - flat out.

Truth being, by using various additions to my fuel of Stabil, or Redline, or Lucas, et al - and some satisfactory performance can be had with the dreaded e10. But really, the gas is NEW, why should I have to modify it?

Bottom line, by changing nothing but the fuel, all of these issues disappear. Anecdotal? Un-scientific? Perhaps. Fact? Absolutely.

That's my story, YMMV.
Max

I hate to say it, but if all of your equipment that you maintain runs poorly or not at all on E10, it's probably not the E10 that's the problem. It's you.