Ethanol free gas?

[Username Taken]

Only one station within 130 miles around here that carries ethanol-free gasoline...and it is only 87 Octane. Worse, the price is 50 cents a gallon higher than regular gas which is 10% ethanol!

New Honda lawn mower I bought last year STRONGLY recommends use of ethanol-free.

I would have bought another lawn mower.

Until recently, I had a 25 year-old, self-propelled Craftsman that would sit for Months at a time. It started on the 2nd or 3rd pull every time. The only reason we got rid of it was the drive broke and those things weigh a ton, too much to push. Bought a cheapie Murray at Wally World to replace it. Just used for trimming where the Rider won't go. Bought my house 30 years ago, push-mowed the lawn one time and went out the next day and bought a rider.

I've still got an Echo chainsaw that will sit in my shed for 2 years at a time. Maybe more. Last time I went to start it, it fired right up. After following the recommended start procedure. They're finicky that way. Hope it does again this spring when I head to Michigan. If Michigan is still there......

The only thing that went wrong with it was the push bulb for the chain oiler rotted away. The gas primer bulb was still functioning last I checked.

I live in South Florida and I keep both in an aluminum shed where it gets well over 100 degrees every day for Months. And Months.

Some products just don't have good carburetors. I try to avoid them. Stihl is the best chainsaw but their carburetors are prone to fouling, making them a bear to start. My Husqvarna chainsaw's compression was so high, it required a professional football player to start (gave it away) and Honda carburetors will varnish up over lunch time. Gave two of them away. Junk.

Sometimes I wonder if it's the gasoline or the equipment. Besides, I hate carburetors. Always have. Always will.

I'm going battery-powered wherever I can. Not because I dislike internal combustion engines, because I despise carburetors.

That's just me and I'm not typical.

 

[rontaki]

The web site Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada claims to list every non-ethanol gas station in the USA and Canada.

I buy aviation gas at a local small airport to use in my small engines. It contains a small amount of lead, so it will foul sensors or catalysts. I ran a trash pump on it for many hours / tankfulls last summer, and there is some kind of deposit on the final exhaust screen, that might be lead. Doesn't seem to hurt performance.

 

[TimberXX]

that website is the best.. It was a game changer when they added the map feature.

 

[tibadoe]

Up until last summer I always used 10% ethanol 87 in all my small engines (still do in my autos). Never an issue - but I did treat the gas in winter if it was going to be sitting for a few months. Filled the tank with 87 non-ethanol this go round - can't say I see much difference. Time will tell.

 

[ruffdog]

Why do 2-stroke manufacturers want a higher octane fuel? Because, when you premix oil into fuel it lowers the octane level so, you should start with a higher number. Why should you be cautious when using ethanol fuel when premixing? Because the alcohol will absorb moisture and as it does, it will force the oil out of the mix. That is why they suggest to use fresh fuel now and you should shake your can before use.

 

[dodge man]

The link above was a help. There is a nearby town that they list having 91 ethanol free but the date was 6 years ago. I’ll check to see if they still have it.

 

[Username Taken]

We can all learn a lot by reading this --

Octane’s Liquid Diamonds: The Secret Value of Ethanol : Biofuels Digest

 

[dodge man]

The gas station in the nearby town still sells 91 octane ethanol free. It’s a BP station and the pump even has a sticker saying ethanol free. I updated the ethanol free website since the last update was 6 years ago.

 

[czechsonofagun]

The web site Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada claims to list every non-ethanol gas station in the USA and Canada.

That's what I use. I ride old Honda motorcycles and most of the time I fill them up with real gas. Makes a huge difference.

 

[Garson]

The biggest issue with ethanol in gasoline is that it converts moisture in the air to water in your gasoline. This will happen over a period of time so most automobiles use enough gas that this is not an issue. However, your lawnmower for example, may sit for 6 months unused and water will invade the tank. Or ethanol gasoline sitting in a storage can will tend to attract moisture.

Octane will only become an issue in high compression engines, for example, chainsaws.