Sorry, read it the wrong way.

Most of the problems that ethanol causes are due to the fact that it is a solvent.

The most common is when it partially dissolves varnishes in the fuel system left by non-ethanol fuel. It can push them into the carb, and when the engine is shut off, they can form clogs. This can usually be cleared up with a can of carb cleaner. Sta-bil can help when the engines are sitting.

I have a snow blower, lawn mower, leaf blower, and trimmer that have all been run on nothing but ethanol gasoline without issue. Illinois has had ethanol in its gas for close to 20 years.

The more insidious problem that ethanol causes is that it can break down fuel lines and seals that weren't designed for use with ethanol. This is particularly a problem with older engines. I still think that ethanol contributed to the engine fire in my 944S.

I hate the stuff. I'm old enough to remember when gas was red. Star Tron makes an ethanol stabilizer aimed at the boating community. I use it for all of my small engines and when putting the 911 away for winter.

VP racing fuel, specialty lubricants, performance chemicals
Not a Ethanol fan. I am able to get 93 octane REAL gas at one station in town.
If that goes away, VP Fuel has a pretty good gas, pricy but ain't no ethanol goin in my car !!!

This was the first year I had any real problems with ethanol in my mower, weed eater and leaf blower. Had to clean them all out and now only using ethanol free gas. what a PIA!

Kwik Trip sells premium unleaded without alcohol. They even advertise it as safe for your toys and is what I use in everything but the Durango and Cavalier.

It just cost me over $100 for repairs to my $300 chainsaw.
Add that to my tax money that pays for ethanol subsidies.
BRILLIANT

I'll add that today's fuels just don't smell good like in the 1960s. I used to love sniffing the fumes when I was a kid.

Or maybe it was growing up in a refinery town...

or maybe it was Testers glue? ;)

But I agree. Gasoline just doesn't smell right.

Time to go electric.

You mean from one special interest that's been bribing politicians to another special interest that's bribing politicians? Either way the public loses.

How long before the government-mandated solar-electric powered vehicles?

Now with patented/mandated Solyndra cells... :eek:

You guys need to use more/better fuel stabilizer

Do you know any that are sure to work as I have still had problems in recent years with Stabil.

Tim, I have been using SeaFoam as a stabilizer for close to 10 years and have not had a bit of trouble with any of my cars or yard equipment.

It's expensive but it seems to work pretty good.

I don't know the % of ethanol in our fuel here in MI but I know they increased the amount a couple of years ago.

IMO, it is not the ethanol per se, but the other additives that are now being blended in with the ethanol that are causing the plugged pilot jets. The ethanol attacks rubber hoses and seals along with being corrosive to aluminum, but the clogged jets and varnish type accumulations are what cause me the most trouble with carburated engines.

That sort of sums it up.


It doesn't taste as good either when you siphon it from your neighbors car either.

We went through this last year I believe. The best way I've found for small engines is to put some Colemans stove fuel in them and run them till it gets through the carb. Shut it off and when Spring rolls around, drain the fuel tank and put clean gas in it and it will start on the first try. Don't run the thing on pure Colemans fuel as it is only 55 octane. Avgas is best but some people don't have access and if the airport people don't know you they will, for some reason, not sell you any.

Tim,

What problems have you encountered with Stabil..?

I'm curious about this as well. Have stored mower gas with Stabil over the winter,
had no problem using it the next spring. I hope to have even better results now that I have a no alcohol gas source.