Snowblower Question
 

My 8hp Tecumseh engine started surging last season. This winter, it is doing it a little more than last year. By the time I'm halfway done with the driveway, it's cleared out and running great. It always starts good.

I'm not wanting to tear down the carb to clean it. Is there an additive that I could add to the gas tank to try that route first?

Thanks.

edit: The snowblower is a good 20 years old....never any prior problems.

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Maybe try non-ethanol gas? TruFuel or similar from Home Depot.

No a cheap solution depending on how much fuel you burn.

If 20 years old you may need to thoroughly clean and go through the carb. Many Ace Hardware's around here will service carbs so that's an option but like wil said, maybe running a pint of real gas will help.

Project Farm, 2 videos with many more to go through

<iframe width="872" height="490" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r9Hvg210ZAE" title="Is TruFuel A Scam? Let's find out!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>



<iframe width="1160" height="653" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHXYWxMkhog" title="After 5 Years, I Found The Only Fuel Stabilizer That Works!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I have TruFuel on hand....I will try that.
I was hoping that there was a an additive that works on removing the gas varnish.

I could prob remove and clean it....but I don't really want to do it in season.

^^^ Yeah...one of those might do the job. I'll stop in at Auto Zone and see what they recommend.

Thanks

Seafoam but it'll need to be pulled for a cleaning.

Probably can buy a Chinese carb for 15 bucks.... I always add a shut off valve on stuff like this so it drains the bowl on the last start up of the season.

^^^ Seafoam has a large following here...I've never used it.

The guy in the video likes Sta-Bil the most.

That guy was using it as a fuel stabilizer... I was thinking upon the lines of a solvent to clean out a carb. Kinda like running ATF through an intake at WOT to clean out carbon/junk.

^^^ Yes...that would be best. I'll see what they have for that at the store.
The good thing is...it's still useable....which lately has been every day.

My Honda 3000i generator was surging at the beginning of the camping season. Once it burnt through the tank it ran better with fresh gas.
Stabil works well for me.
Reminds me that I didn't put the treated fuel in the lawnmower.

I was just now in my garage and found i have a full quart of TruFuel...so I dumped the whole works in. Just enough room with the gas that was in there.

It's still zero out, so I'm waiting a couple hours to run it. Only an inch or two of new snow and it it's dry powder....I'll see how it runs.

You want a fuel cleaner that has PEA in it . One example is Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner . There are others . It is not magic in a bottle but close to it . That along with ethanol free fuel may allow you to limp thru the winter . Full carb rebuild come spring time .

^^^ Amazon had it...will be here Tues.($9.50) No snow forecast before then.

Thanks.

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FYI wallyworld has it for $8.58 a bottle . Good luck hope it works .

<iframe width="838" height="471" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPdz6BMj8EA" title="Is Techron better than Seafoam? Let's see the proof!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>





<iframe width="1091" height="614" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h8i9qftqKNY" title="Does Techron Fuel System Cleaner Actually Work? (with PROOF)" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You might find swapping a new carb - which were on Amazon for $20 or so last time I bought one - is the cheapest option here.

When I was growing up we had a Pontiac wagon that Dad used to pull our camping trailer. It had 10.5:1 CR and three 2-bbl carbs and would only run correctly on Chevron Custom Supreme that at that time had an octane rating of 101.
To blow the carbon out of it when it started pinging, we'd fill an orange juice can full of water and pour it down the middle carb while holding the throttle open at about 2-3k rpm. Carbon chunks would come out of the exhausts. It always ran better after doing that.
I try to run Chevron gas in our cars because it has Techron in it from the pump. So far all's good, and my V-6 has 10:1 CR.
I don't think you're going to get a cleaned piston like those videos start with, with the application of only one can.

Just finished doing the drive....started good but had to let it warm up more because of the low temp. After about 3 minutes at a med idle, I opened it up and it surged, but not as bad. That was after adding a quart of TrueFuel.

After a couple minutes of surging...it leveled out. I'll add the Techron on Tues. and see how it goes next usage.

I bought another carb for mine on Amazon. Easy Button and costs about as much as the fuel additives.

^^^ I might do that if the additives don't smooth it out.
I don't want to do a carb switch during the snow season....it might not go good and my shovel is not fun. :)

Took 20 minutes on my backpack blower.

Fired up first pull. $20 and 20 minutes to fix a $500 blower worked for me. I loathe messing with carbs - they are like black magic afaict.

gl.

Worst case is back on with the old carb. I can't see a down side to a job that takes maybe 20 minutes.

^^^ 20 minutes...if nothing goes wrong.:)

I thought you would suggest getting this....

<iframe width="500" height="576" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g9iHJeSqe_0" title="Snow Rhino is getting it done in the Midwest! #snowremovalequipment #snowremovalblade #lawnmowing" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nah. If I suggest something it'll be something with a cab and heat!

This guy shows an easy fix....I can do that.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tfWNXsH2CVo?si=qXmprA8d6aNjy0u8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

back in the day, Techron was the go to fuel system cleaner

surge usually indicates a lean mixture, which makes sense if the jets are gummed up

I just use non-ethanol pump fuel in mine, main benefit is little to no water absorption which is the main issue w/ ethanol fuel

^^^ Yeah...I've resisted using rec fuel because it's not readily sold at most stations here.
I'm going to start using it though....also it's 90 octane here instead of our 87 regular.

Fresh Top Tier premium fuel for the season and run it nice and hot. After use turn off the gas petcock and let it run til the carb bowl is dry and she dies. I do this with all small carbureted engines to avoid shellacking the carb jets and float bowl. Ethanol blend is evil.

^^^ I don't see any 'gas shutoff' on my Tecumseh. I could drain the bowl, but the plastic cover that includes the ign switch, throttle and primer have to come off first. Could be done.

I like this one.

<iframe width="500" height="576" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MwgM3UXQf9c" title="Introducing Yarbo Snow Blower Robot #snowblower #gardeningtools #snow" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Mine was surging, needed a new spark plug at 17 years old. (already had a new carb, only run straight gas in it, always use Stabil for summer storage)

^^^ Going to switch to rec gas....not easy to find/buy it here.

My Dad used to do that too. The cloud of steam was mighty impressive.

Did you put fuel stabilizer in before you put it away for the summer?

Something about that video where the guy drills the jet doesn't make sense to me. He says it's the air jet. That doesn't seem right. Adding more air doesn't seem like it would fix the problem when he says applying the choke smooths the engine out. By adjusting the choke he's cutting air and changing the mixture. That has to be a fuel jet he's making larger.

Should be easy enough to add a shutoff to the fuel line between tank and carb just like a motorcycle. Running the carb dry is the secret sauce with ethanol blend gas these days.
I did that every day after mowing the lawn with my Honda mower and it kept all the carb jets clean.

I tried the Chinese carb for my lawnmower. It leaked like a MF.

I had similar issue living in Hawaii. Ethanol gas just sucks in moisture to the carbs. A guy that worked for me had an airplane with air cooled engine. He had to replace an entire cylinder and barrel for his engine due to the E Gas. Our solution was getting marine gas down where the SS Minnow set sail on a 3 hour cruise.

Ah Marianne...

No...I did not. It started right up a few weeks back after sitting all summer...no problem.
The surging was a little more pronounced this season...that's my problem. I'm going to switch to rec gas, so that should keep it from getting worse yet. If not, I start with the carb.

I'll look at that this spring. The 5hp Honda engine on my Trac Vac has a shut-off....wonder why it isn't on a 8hp Tecumseh.