Gasohol and Small Engines

[Tractor Seabee]

Thought some of you would find this useful; an answer from the maker of StaBil regarding their products:

Hello Ronald,

Thank you for contacting Gold Eagle Company. For small engines, we usually recommend using STA-BILｮ 360 Performance. The marine formula has additional additives that are mostly designed to work in very humid conditions. However, in your situation, perhaps the marine formula would be more beneficial because of the humidity. At the moment, we offer STA-BILｮ 360 marine in 8oz. If you require further assistance, please let us know.

Best regards,

Conrad Manzano
Gold Eagle Co.
(800) 367-3245
marketing@goldeagle.com

Protecting, Preserving, & Performing Since 1932.


I have had excellent results with their older Marine product but am now switching to 360 Marine. It is not cheap but I buy 50 gallons at a time in my transfer tank. The most temperamental of my engines are the chain saws and they have performed flawlessly using the previous Marine product.

Ron

 

[lilranch2001]

I find it best just to buy ethanol free gas, does the trick for me
:thumbsup:

 

[Walt 2002]

Of course this individual would recommend you use a product they sell and the most expensive one. Perhaps it is the area of the country, perhaps the refiner but we have been able to buy nothing but ethanol in our area for 15 years at least. We have six 4 stroke small engines, the newest 12 years old to 60+ year old Wisconsin AKN, five - 2 stroke from 5 to 20 years old and have never had a problem attributable to the use of ethanol. I use no additive and what is left in the tank or can at the end of the season is what we start with next season.

IF there is no problem with the fuel to start with you can use most any additive with probably the same results.

Walt Conner

 

[lilranch2001]

You are very lucky, because I have had nothing but trouble using normal ethanol laced gasoline.
As soon as I quit using it all of my small engine trouble went away
:confused2:

 

[Walt 2002]

There are other threads with experiences same as mine, I think much of the problems blamed on ethanol are due to other circumstances.

Walt Conner

 

[Tractor Seabee]

We have the same situation on ethanol up here, only thing available except isolated dealers that have non-alcohol and it is .20 a gallon more if you want to drive after it. It seems the newer engines are the vulnerable ones with the cheap alloys they use in fuel systems. Prior to using Stay Bil Marine I would have crudded up carburetors in 6 months. The new product is supposed to coat surfaces and prevent the corrosion. Even the previous Marine product still resulted in corrosion over a year. If the new 360 Marine stops the corrosion it is worth the price as each carburetor job costs me $60 min. With 4 chain saws, a large generator, and 3 other small engines it pencils out for me; if it works.

Remember, even non-alcohol gas has an affinity for moisture. I have never had water in my 50 gallon tank but I have a water absorbing filter on the pump and change it often.

Ron

 

[Diamondpilot]

There are other threads with experiences same as mine, I think much of the problems blamed on ethanol are due to other circumstances. Walt Conner

I disagree. I work part time in the marine business and in the last 10 years the fuel problems have quadrupled.

Chris

 

[Bota4me]

I disagree. I work part time in the marine business and in the last 10 years the fuel problems have quadrupled. Chris

i agree w you ethanol sucks!!

 

[RandyT]

As a dealer and service center for power equipment I see problems related to ethanol, but it is always due to water contamination, or just old fuel. Been using ethanol fuel at the shop for years, since my local station switched their 93 to ethanol. I only use 93 in my vehicles as well as customer products. The additive that is being pushed hard by lawnmower dealers, and atv, motorcycle dealers is the startron additive. Just never had good luck with the stabil products, especially since their product has an expiration date.

the ethanol by itself doesn't cause the problem it is the hydrophillic property of ethanol this is the issue. Also when you get water contamination of your fuel, and pulls the ethanol out of suspension and your octane drops about 2 points. So if you are starting with 87 octane it is now 85.

 

[greggn]

I would like to share this article : OPEI: PRICE is No Longer the Best Way to Select Gasoline In Canada our local Shell Gas station sells " V power" high test and it is non-oxygenated with no hooch just straight gas.

 

[ultrarunner]

I find it best just to buy ethanol free gas, does the trick for me
:thumbsup:

Not an option in my part of California

 

[3930dave]

For my one generator with a metal tank, and my street bike, I switched to 360 Protection a while back.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/271843-your-last-generator-maintenance-run-36.html

Seen too many problems around here with the tops (inside) of metal gas tanks, and I can see the dispersal method they describe having potential, so have picked up a few bottles of 360.

For general purpose use, esp. with plastic tanks, I still use the regular Marine Stabil. Aside from cost, 360 has virtually no distribution in Canada yet.

Around here, Costco's premium gas is Efree.

Rgds, D.

 

[Copperhead]

I have used E10 in most everything that uses gasoline for several decades. Usually with no additives of any kind. But I do concede, there are some small engine fuel system designs that the builders still haven't modernized properly. Amsoil makes a good small engine fuel additive that addresses ethanol in fuel, among other things, that is a good value. The Amsoil Quikshot fuel additive. I use it occasionally now, primarily because of variable fuel quality more than any perceived ethanol problems. I get it at the Preferred Customer pricing and it is very cost effective.

AMSOIL Quickshotｮ

Amazing that here in ethanol central, Iowa, surrounded by 46 ethanol plants, we have availability of ethanol free regular and premium to our heart's content. I use E85 frequently in my vehicles, because of the lower cost per mile, but occasionally I will get ethanol free for some small engine uses. But my JD rider mowers have seen E10 for decades without any issues.

 

[lilranch2001]

I only know what I have seen for myself
I used to have constant trouble with small engines and their fuel systems
Since I switched to ethanol free fuel, I have NO trouble

Maybe it was caused by ghosts drinking my fuel and getting drunken on it and messing with my carbs
:confused3:

 

[ultrarunner]

I never had small engine fuel problems and now I do... nothing has changed except the gas formula for California???

When the phase in started... the local mechanic had a rash of old carb cars with fuel pump failures and fuel line leaks...

I had 3 and it's the only time I have ever had the problem before or after.

The fuel lines in the 76 Rabbit, 68 Mustang and 66 Mustang all went bad and each had a strong odor of gas...

Every morning the drive time shows reported at least one older car with a vehicle fire...

It is not without risk when components in use were not designed for it.

Another problem is the Fuel Tank Sloshing compounds used to seal and coat tanks... aviation use and many of the old car guys used it too...

The new fuel turns the compound into one sticky mess... and lucky me... I restored several cars using the compound back in the 1970's...

 

[3930dave]

Amazing that here in ethanol central, Iowa, surrounded by 46 ethanol plants, we have availability of ethanol free regular and premium to our heart's content.

I think some of us would use other choice words, rather than "amazing" - that looks a lot like Having Your Cake, and Getting to Eat It, While Others Get Table Scraps That They Pay Inflated Prices For.


Good point about general fuel quality..... there can be issues at times, unrelated to ethanol.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I never had small engine fuel problems and now I do... nothing has changed except the gas formula for California???

When the phase in started... the local mechanic had a rash of old carb cars with fuel pump failures and fuel line leaks...

I had 3 and it's the only time I have ever had the problem before or after.

The fuel lines in the 76 Rabbit, 68 Mustang and 66 Mustang all went bad and each had a strong odor of gas...

Every morning the drive time shows reported at least one older car with a vehicle fire...

It is not without risk when components in use were not designed for it.

Another problem is the Fuel Tank Sloshing compounds used to seal and coat tanks... aviation use and many of the old car guys used it too...

The new fuel turns the compound into one sticky mess... and lucky me... I restored several cars using the compound back in the 1970's...

That situation was entirely predictable, and at best, Collateral Damage.

Rgds, D.

 

[mccash40]

I would like to share this article : OPEI: PRICE is No Longer the Best Way to Select Gasoline In Canada our local Shell Gas station sells " V power" high test and it is non-oxygenated with no hooch just straight gas.

I have access to 91 octane ethanol free gas. Is this OK to use in small engines like wood splitters, lawn mowers, trimmers and chainsaws?

 

[lilranch2001]

I have access to 91 octane ethanol free gas. Is this OK to use in small engines like wood splitters, lawn mowers, trimmers and chainsaws?

That is what I use exclusively in my small engines, and have for 6-7 years with none of the ethanol issues
:thumbsup:

 

[JJZ 109]

I have access to 91 octane ethanol free gas. Is this OK to use in small engines like wood splitters, lawn mowers, trimmers and chainsaws?

Use it exclusively in 2 riding mowers, a push mower, a chainsaw, a gasoline powered pressure washer, a Stihl string trimmer and 3 Harleys. No problems here.