Does gas really go bad?

[MossRoad]

My first power mower was a $89 Sears circa 1983 that I'd haul around on the roof of my Plymouth Valiant every Thursday as part of my rental property management business...

Amazing mower and thrifty... did wear out several sets of wheels... the clamshell catcher never faltered but eventually there was nothing left on the deck solid enough to patch...

I think I too have the motor under the bench.

The replacement mowers all with increased HP were fuel thirsty and all met their demise from bent cranks from hitting something tenants left in the grass such as pitching horseshoes...

Currently Honda Powered Husky $199 then mower... thankfully used enough so that fuel going stale has not been an issue and the Honda motor I like

:laughing: That's what I have too!!! :laughing:

It's a push mower, with big rear wheels. Got it at TSC or Rural King. Can't remember. Honda engine. I never change the oil or fuel in that, either. I want to see how it compares to the Briggs on the old Sears. It doesn't have a primer bulb, though. It has that weird choke lever that starts retracting as soon as you pull down the RUN bar on the handle. It takes a few resets of the choke to get it going anytime the temp is below 50, or the first start of the year. I've started just pulling the rope 4-5 times before bothering to set the choke. Then it starts the first pull with the choke.

 

[ultrarunner]

Can't remember ever mowing/starting in 50 degree weather ;-)

Temps generally very mild here and one pull with slider choke and go...

 

[MossRoad]

Can't remember ever mowing/starting in 50 degree weather ;-)

Temps generally very mild here and one pull with slider choke and go...

We do get the temperature swings here, that's for sure. There's an old joke about the weather in northern Indiana..... if you don't like the weather, wait an hour.

 

[MossRoad]

I think it's plagiarized from Mark Twain's reference to New England.

 

[ultrarunner]

The weather in Oakland CA is about as mild as it gets... heaters were optional in older homes back in the day and not unusual to see multi-million dollar homes with no A/C.

I've thought about adding a Stihl battery mower since I have charger and batteries.

Doubtful battery would be a good match for back to back all day mowing...

So far all my bad gas problems are with seasonal or seldom used motors...

 

[not2old]

I had this problem years ago when I converted an engine to propane. The dry fuel doesn't wash the back of the valves. Apparently the carbon comes from oil working it's way through the valve guides and then being subject to the heat. This was on a souped up 460 Ford producing over 450 HP and it had a very large effect on the power.

 

[MossRoad]

I had this problem years ago when I converted an engine to propane. The dry fuel doesn't wash the back of the valves. Apparently the carbon comes from oil working it's way through the valve guides and then being subject to the heat. This was on a souped up 460 Ford producing over 450 HP and it had a very large effect on the power.

Ahhh, now I remember. The oil, not the fuel. Thanks. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

The weather in Oakland CA is about as mild as it gets... heaters were optional in older homes back in the day and not unusual to see multi-million dollar homes with no A/C.

I've thought about adding a Stihl battery mower since I have charger and batteries.

Doubtful battery would be a good match for back to back all day mowing...

So far all my bad gas problems are with seasonal or seldom used motors...

Yes, I think you are probably the extreme example of number of engines in storage here on TBN. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, I think you are probably the extreme example of number of engines in storage here on TBN. :thumbsup:

Just counting off the top of my head, we have in order of use most to least:
4 running vehicles
the PT425
the push mower
weed eater/pole saw
2 chainsaws
pressure washer
log splitter
generator

And that's it. Just 12 gas engines. All use 87 octane E10. None go longer than about 11 months without use.

How many vehicles do you have in storage now? And what do you do to them to keep the fuel issues at bay?

 

[4570Man]

Just counting off the top of my head, we have in order of use most to least:
4 running vehicles
the PT425
the push mower
weed eater/pole saw
2 chainsaws
pressure washer
log splitter
generator

And that's it. Just 12 gas engines. All use 87 octane E10. None go longer than about 11 months without use.

How many vehicles do you have in storage now? And what do you do to them to keep the fuel issues at bay?

I’ve got a varying number of vehicles. 4 currently, a backhoe, lawnmower, 4 chainsaws, hedge clipper, push mower that I might as well not have, pressure washers, a couple weed eaters, a wood splitter, gas engine air compressor, generator, and probably stuff I’m forgetting about. The push mower is the only one that’s ever had a fuel problem and it’s been years since I used it. I’ve never had a problem with ethanol free gas going bad. I don’t drain anything either. Personally I think it’s worse than not doing anything especially when you do a half way job and just dump the tank.