?? About octane for mowers and chain saw

[AxleHub]

I have a 2010 ford car with 200k and around here you can only get e10 gas

Peter, I would assume Ford in 2010 recommended the same thing they did for Lincoln cars (the Edge and the MKX are the same as an example) - stamped right on the gas cap of a 2010 Lincoln MKX - a not to exceed E10 - as E12 voids the warranty.

 

[MossRoad]

We have a 2013 Impala that's E85 compliant. When it was about 2 years old, we got a check engine light. The code read there was water in the fuel. Took it to the dealer. The sensor in the system that determines the amount of ethanol in the gas went bad. $600 part (warrantied). We never used E85 in it. The sensor has to be able to determine what % of ethanol is in the mix constantly. Think about that. Let's say you have 1/2 tank of E0, then add half a tank of E10, and a week later add half a tank of E85, then go back to E0 or E10. There'd be an ever changing dilution going on in there. Kind of impressive use of a sensor and computing.

 

[Todd727]

Jack Daniels isn't Bourbon.
Evan Williams is a mass market Bourbon.

Head to Kentucky and hit the Bourbon Trail. You'll find some very good Bourbon.

 

[AxleHub]

Jack Daniels isn't Bourbon.
Evan Williams is a mass market Bourbon.

Head to Kentucky and hit the Bourbon Trail. You'll find some very good Bourbon.

Greetings Todd,

Actually there is quirk to Bourbon's. Coming from any location but Tennessee, Bourbon are labeled as Bourbon - as Kentucky products are. But Tennessee is a bit different and especially an original like Jack Daniels. They "can" label themselves as Bourbon if they choose but Jack Daniels was staunchly not wanting to be called "Bourbon" - as they saw themselves as a whole different quality of "taste and perfection" LOL.

Here's how Wikipedia describes part of Jack Daniels - "Jack Daniel's is a brand of Tennessee whiskey and the top selling American whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee, by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which has been owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation since 1956. Despite being the location of a major operational distillery, Jack Daniel's home county of Moore is a dry county, so the product is not available for purchase at stores or restaurants within the county."

"The product meets the regulatory criteria for classification as a straight bourbon, though the company disavows this classification and markets it simply as Tennessee whiskey rather than as Tennessee bourbon. As defined in the North American Free Trade Agreement, Tennessee Whiskey is classified as a straight bourbon authorized to be produced in the state of Tennessee."

When I was on a tour of Jack Daniels two decades ago - I was disappointed there was no "sampling room" or even an ability to purchase fresh from the factory. And all around you were the scents and "colors" of production distilling. LOL

Quick story. I'd done a couple favors for someone across the alley from my office. He was a bright type of guy originally from Kentucky/Tennessee and I'd mentioned I appreciated certain beverage choices. One day he stopped over with a bottle of homemade that he occasionally produced for his own use. It turns out as he told me the story - in the old old days doctors had incredibly remote areas they had to travel to get to patients and moonshine was often used in a pinch for pain reliever. But moonshine was too hard for women to tolerate and so he and a professional distiller came up with a special recipe of their own specifically for women patients needs - never to be produced commercially. This neighbor of mine was the youngest grandson of that doctor and he had the recipe and the training in how to make it from his grandpa. The process is quite focused on safety and health of course but designed for women struggling with certain types of maladies. Smoothest liquor I've ever tasted in a Whiskey type process - but its for "hill women" so it doesn't lack potency. Its an occasional "sipping" opportunity I save for special occasions as I can't get more. LOL

 

[bmg88201]

I do not know a lot of technical data on engine combustion and fuel mixtures. I burn premium non-ethanol in my Yukon and I get better mileage, I burn non-ethanol 87 in my little 4 cylinder Isuzu pick-up, I burn 89 octane non-ethanol in my Echo trimmer and Husky chainsaw. I burn E10 87 in my JD X300 but I do fill up it to the neck with premium non-ethanol when I store it for the winter. I have had no issues with any of my equipment.

Also, I have had more than one small engine mechanic tell me that Stabil is crap and would never put it any thing they own. They all told me the same thing, Stabil is what will gum up your carb not the gas itself.

Where I live, (Arkansas) non-ethanol fuel is sold everywhere, I guess I am lucky in that respect.

 

[MossRoad]

Five STA-BIL Myths Debunked. Get The Real Fuel Stabilizer Story

 

[bmg88201]

I prefer to take the word of several mechanics over the promotional statements from Sta-Bil. But I guess, to each his own.

 

[MossRoad]

I prefer to take the word of several mechanics over the promotional statements from Sta-Bil. But I guess, to each his own.

Read the last myth from Stabil. It probably confirms what your mechanics were saying, but not for the reasons they think.

"MYTH #5: “STA-BIL BRANDED PRODUCTS GUNK UP CARBURETORS.”
If your equipment’s fuel system is already dirty and you’ve never used a fuel system cleaner, it’s possible the cleaning agents in a STA-BIL product will wash the dirt and grime off walls and into the fuel system. This is a common issue with older equipment and can end up clogging the carburetor.

If you’re facing this problem, we recommend running a high-quality fuel system cleaner through at least one tank of fuel before you store your vehicle equipment."

 

[bmg88201]

I agree with your premise that the gunk loosened by the Sta-Bil could cause issues. I fill my mower completely full all the way up to the neck of the tank with non-ethanol premium when I put it to bed for the winter. I have not had any problems with my mower by doing this each winter. If I do experience problems I will try the fuel cleaner that you suggested.

Thanks for the input.

 

[MossRoad]

I agree with your premise that the gunk loosened by the Sta-Bil could cause issues. I fill my mower completely full all the way up to the neck of the tank with non-ethanol premium when I put it to bed for the winter. I have not had any problems with my mower by doing this each winter. If I do experience problems I will try the fuel cleaner that you suggested.

Thanks for the input.

I've told this story before, but its worth telling again... when my wife and I got married, our in-laws bought us a lawnmower. A 2.5hp Craftsman with a Briggs engine. While I appreciated it, I really wanted to pick out my own mower. I didn't like it all that much, and being young and stupid, I didn't treat it very well. I kinda hoped I'd kill it so I could by one myself that I liked. So... I never changed the oil. I never drained the gas over the winter. All I'd do is top off the oil the first of spring, add gas only when it ran out, tap out the air cleaner if I could see grass sticking out of it, and that's about it. Well.... that stupid lawnmower would start first pull every spring with last year's gas. And first pull every time throughout the summer. In fact, after about 10 years of this, it became a family ritual to see if the lawnmower would start first pull each spring. It did.... FOR 22 YEARS! The wheels were falling off, the height adjusters were broken so I drilled self tappers through them into the side of the mounts. The deck finally cracked, and I knew it was the end. But I couldn't bear to junk the motor. So I removed the motor from the deck, and it now sits in a place of honor (the corner of the do not throw away skid) in my shed, waiting for a worthy project.

22 years of never an oil change, E10 87 octane gas, original air cleaner, original spark plug, never had the gas drained. Left gas at whatever level it was at all winter.... started first pull every time.

I realize that motor was an exception, and I've never treated any of my other equipment that way.