do you use ethanol free gas in power equipment ?

[rfuerst911sc]

As the title says do you use ethanol free gas in mowers and other power equipment ? We recently ( last year ) moved to our retirement home and we have several gas stations fairly close that sell ethanol free . I have been using it in my garden tractor and recently in my portable generator . I also just mixed up some 2 cycle for my trimmer and chain saw . I may be crazy but the equipment seems to run just a tick better and supposedly the life of stored fuel both in the cans and the equipment is much longer . It is more expensive but carb rebuilds aren't free and are a pain in the a$$ .

[KFC911]

Exclusively....repair guys love the ethanol gas though . It's (87 octane) always been easy to find here, now 93 and 90 too

I run ethanol 87 in my F150....but the Carrera gets 93...sober stuff.

edited: I have run the 87 non-ethanol in the F150....a bit higher at the pump, but definitely better mpg ....not much difference.

[Chocaholic]

Yes, non-ethanol in all power equipments...and the Duc.

[Baz]

Yes. I have about 6 cans I fill up all at once. Hurricane season coming so may fill up a couple big ones I have too. I use non-ethanol in everything except my work truck.

[GWN7]

Yes, #1 non-ethanol in all small engines. Even then the repair shop say to use the special gas they sell for about $6 a liter.

You used to find some turd that had been sitting out in a field for 10 or 15 years, squirt some gas down the carb and throw a battery in and it would start. Now if any engine sits for more than 6 months with the current formulation of gas the carbs are toast.

[KFC911]

Ethanol gas is a curse for anything that sits for extended periods....but just fine for a vehicle driven regularly.

[dmcummins]

I use it in my generator and my plane. It’s called rec 90 down here. I paid 3.49 a gallon today. 87 cost around $2.79

[Mark Henry]

As a rule yes, but my newer JD lawn tractor which is used every 1-2 weeks I use regular (E10) and for storage full drain, fill with premo (pure gas) and sta-bil, just like my summer cars.
My JD LT manual says E10 is OK.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

....... It is more expensive but carb rebuilds aren't free and are a pain in the a$$ .

No simple source for ethanol free around here, but I stopped rebuilding small engine carbs. Most are available for $10-15 on Amazon, this year swapped chain saw, leaf blower and trimmer, only a few minutes, all worked great.

Some of the fuel lines were (swollen?) shut, likely from the ethanol.

[chapo]

Yes

[Hugh R]

Forgot to drain my Honda 2000 generator before I went on a two month RV tour of the USA, hopefully it will be fine, non-ethanol is pretty much NLA in Los Angeles.

[javadog]

I don't use ethanol blends in anything I own, and I never have. I used to research ethanol-free gas stations in the areas I traveled through on trips, so I knew ahead of time where to go to avoid it on trips, also.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by dad911

No simple source for ethanol free around here, but I stopped rebuilding small engine carbs. Most are available for $10-15 on Amazon, this year swapped chain saw, leaf blower and trimmer, only a few minutes, all worked great.

Some of the fuel lines were (swollen?) shut, likely from the ethanol.

Yep...ethanol works on the fuel lines amongst other stuff....I don't care what ANY manual says...it's bad news for everyone but the corn farmers....YMMV....mine doesn't waver .

It's easy for me to avoid it....so I do.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by KC911

Ethanol gas is a curse for anything that sits for extended periods....but just fine for a vehicle driven regularly.

+1

Older equipment and cars MUST have ethanol free gas.

I use only ethanol free gas for the mower, weed trimmer, edger... because they have infrequent use and the ethanol attracts water. The storage cans also get Stabil Marine treatment for added protection. The newer cars 2013-2016 get 10% and don't seem to mind (but I do use top tier gas or put a cap full of Techron in with each tank). They are expendable appliances with a fuel system designed for the ethanol crap. The `87 Carrera gets only 93 octane ethanol free and the Techron treatment once a year.

Pure gas costs more but "pay me now or pay me later..." offsets the few dimes more per gallon.

[Evans, Marv]

I don't think there are any places that sell ethanol free gas in Cali. with the exception of aviation gas.

[LWJ]

Yes!!!

My lawnmower works. Chainsaw works. Blower works. Trimmer works. Every time. No hassles!

[vash]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I don't think there are any places that sell ethanol free gas in Cali. with the exception of aviation gas.

There is a lawnmower shop relatively nearby the sells it up here. I think I heard $7.99 gal.

Never tried it.. I heard two strokes run better. Dunno

[GH85Carrera]

Yes, I use in in my lawn equipment and cars. The only time I buy gasohol is for a rental car.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by vash

There is a lawnmower shop relatively nearby the sells it up here. I think I heard $7.99 gal.

Never tried it.. I heard two strokes run better. Dunno

I see the tiny containers for sale in the lawn equipment shop too....can't remember the price....think it worked out to way more than that....pass . I don't know if all my stuff runs better or worse....because they've never had the ethanol version. I just know they start and run like they are supposed to....mebbe 15 different thingys....they don't get pampered with winter drains, storage, stabil, etc., and some might sit for long periods between use.

I just use the same gas they've always used....

Ethanol free 87 is probably around $3 per gal now that all gas has gone up significantly lately....I'll know tomorrow

[JackDidley]

In the minority here, I only have 2 mowers. Briggs&Strattons. I use 10% ethanol because that is what the local station has. Never a problem. Top off the tanks in November and they fire right up in April. Been doing this for 20 years.