?? About octane for mowers and chain saw

[doneill127]

Actually ethanol was not added for octane purposes. Back in 1990, the EPA required oxygenated fuels in certain parts of the country that didn't meet clean air requirements. The oxygenated fuels burned cleaner with less emissions. The gas suppliers met this by adding MBTE to the fuel. Many probably remember those stickers on the gas pumps. In the mid 90's MBTE was found to be contaminating the ground water in many locations and was eventually banned. The MBTE was replaced with ethanol which happened to improve the octane, but also contains less energy then gas. Just an FYI

 

[Ford850]

110 years ago, Henry Ford made the Model T to originally run on ethanol. It had an adjustable carb so it could also run on gasoline if desired. Who would have thought we'd still be arguing over this?

 

[Texasmark]

That's all subjective. I know many of us, including me, tend to think something is working better when we make changes, however, it's not a measureable thing. It's a feeling. Hey, if it's working for you, that's what counts. I just like to see things measured once in a while, to see if I'm nuts, or I really am feeling an actual difference.

Really it does. I'm a skeptic, where's the proof kind of guy. So when "Jeffcat" on a different site did what he did for me on the BS carb thing on a mower I had with a 22 V twin, and recommended that the premium worked great for him, I did try it. Yes it works for me too. Was out mowing today and verified it again on my 61" Ferris which needs a lot of whoopie to stay running when you engage that deck, even with the BS 26 hp Vanguard cubes.

On the "meets the requirements" answer you posted elsewhere on this subject, something I overlooked and possibly others do too is that these machines you mentioned recommend 89 octane, not 87 like I put in my Silverado. So right there I have been running my engines contrary to mfgr. specifications. Didn't pre-ignite and ran ok, but there was room for improvement.

 

[4570Man]

And the sky is blue.

It's a non-issue in modern cars. And a non-issue in small engines designed to run on E10 87 octane fuel.

I put ethanol fuel in my gasoline vehicles. I don't and I'm not going to as long as the price difference is minor put ethanol in my carbureted engines. My Dixie chopper would be the first piece on a ethanol diet if no ethanol fuel prices increased significantly.

 

[goeduck]

I think Moss is invested in the corn business. Not that there is anything wrong with that. :confused3:

 

[MossRoad]

I think Moss is invested in the corn business. Nothing wrong with doing that.

NO. I dislike the whole ethanol/gasoline business. There's a thread out there somewhere on TBN that'll back me up on that. Ethanol, its creation process and use, is a tremendous waste of BTU's. The entire country would be better off if we powered our cars with natural gas, burned corn for heat in our homes, and used oil to make diesel fuel, fuel oil for trains and ships, etc... That would be the most efficient use of the BTUs in corn and oil, as it requires much less processing and loss of energy as when you convert corn to alcohol and oil to gasoline.

 

[goeduck]

NO. I dislike the whole ethanol/gasoline business. There's a thread out there somewhere on TBN that'll back me up on that. Ethanol, its creation process and use, is a tremendous waste of BTU's. The entire country would be better off if we powered our cars with natural gas, burned corn for heat in our homes, and used oil to make diesel fuel, fuel oil for trains and ships, etc... That would be the most efficient use of the BTUs in corn and oil, as it requires much less processing and loss of energy as when you convert corn to alcohol and oil to gasoline.

Now we are getting somewhere :drink:

 

[AxleHub]

Why do you keep talking to me about buying gas in sealed cans and a 30 day time limit? I do neither of those.

You wrote:
I guess the reason I haven't had fuel related issues in anything in 30+ years of using nothing but E10 fuel is because I've followed good practices from the manufacturers, used sealed gas cans, only mix a gallon of 2-stroke fuel at a time, and rotate out my stored fuel a couple times per year. The only thing I use Stabil in is my generator... and I'm thinking about running that dry from now on. But its 22+ years old and starts and runs fine, so why change a good thing.

 

[AxleHub]

110 years ago, Henry Ford made the Model T to originally run on ethanol. It had an adjustable carb so it could also run on gasoline if desired. Who would have thought we'd still be arguing over this?

I thought Fords original fuel for his invention was kerosene which was plentiful and used in lamps.

 

[Jstpssng]

Now we are getting somewhere :drink:

AMEN!!!