New rules for ethanol in gasoline

   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #51  
Using Tru-Fuel but Echo and Stihl also sell their own branded syn fuels. They wouldn't be economical for a tree company but work well for an occasional user like me. Not cheap however. I pay about 40 bucks a gallon at Lowes for the stuff but unlike e-gas, the life in a 2 stroke gas tank is at least 5 years and all my 2 stroke engines run better on it. I have a balky Stihl that is over 40 years old (bought new) that refuses to idle on pump gas, idles just fine on syn fuel.
Weird, my 40 year old Stihl runs fine on pump gas, E10. I've not tried the syn fuel yet but have used non-ethanol. Couldn't tell the difference in either, but maybe the syn gas might run better. Full disclosure on the Stihl, i modded the exhaust and tuned the carb when i first bought it, so that might make it run different. Is there a shelf life on the opened or unopened syn gas?
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #52  
WOW! You blokes are screwed.

Fortunately our Aussie ethanol is cane sugar based, but even then we still have the option of paying 1 cent more per litre for 'straight' petrol... which I do pay for my ute, Z-turn and 2-stroke (prior to mixing).

Regarding the Ute, the 'mileage' is significantly better than the (up to 10%) ethanol blend and worth the cost.
My non scientific swag, showed worse mileage with E85, but better lugging and nice exceleration. Tried non-E one time when i was getting some for my smaller engines to try out, and didn't really notice any difference between the E10 and non-E.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline
  • Thread Starter
#53  
carburator problems or top end issues on two strokes
Why I switched to syn fuel. Not cheap but the in tank life is at least 5 years and no gumming up the works.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline
  • Thread Starter
#54  
Weird, my 40 year old Stihl runs fine on pump gas, E10. I've not tried the syn fuel yet but have used non-ethanol. Couldn't tell the difference in either, but maybe the syn gas might run better. Full disclosure on the Stihl, i modded the exhaust and tuned the carb when i first bought it, so that might make it run different. Is there a shelf life on the opened or unopened syn gas?
You have to 'mod' a late model Stihl as Stihl has succumbed to the noise police. I open them all up. 5 years minimum on syn fuel. In the tank or in the can.

My 45 years old 028 would not idle on regular unleaded. Now, it idles fine. Starts easier too.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #55  
When I lived in Maine, the only ethanol free fuel I could find was at the airports, and most would not sell to you. Where I am in VA, there are several stations that sell E0.
That must have been a while ago. I've been buying ethanol free for my small engines for years. It used to be just small independent stations selling it, but yesterday I noticed one of the big chains is offering what they call "Recreational" gas. Most places it's been 90 octane, my sled takes 91 but it's got a newly designed engine so should be able to handle ethanol.

I keep threatening to run a few tanks through my pickup to see what that does to mileage. It seems like when we went to e-10 it dropped about 10%.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #56  
Makes no sense at all.
I posted it because if I can't get gas anymore that's what it'll cost me. Roughly CAN$7 a liter for true fuel where as now buying gas and two stroke oil it's roughly CAN$2 a liter
Cheaper to separate the alcohol from the gas. Use that in your small engines. Pour the 10% you got from your gas can into your auto in hot months.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #57  
Owner's manual for my new lawn mower specifically states to avoid using any gas with alcohol in it because alcohol will rot any rubber lines and gaskets and corrode aluminum alloy. I'm lucky in that we do have one station selling ethanol-free gas - costs ~ $1 a gallon more than regular gas with alcohol but the octane rating is still the same.
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #58  
The fuel cap on my Kawasaki powered zero turn says on it.
"Higher than E10 fuel voids warranty"
 
   / New rules for ethanol in gasoline #59  
One thing Ive done to try and combat ethanol problems especially on older smaller engine junk I acquire with fuel system problems anyway. I try and use viton orings/needles where applicable and I use tygon for fuel lines. Fortunately I can afford to buy non ethanol fuel around me, I still buy and use seafoam liberally.
 
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