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Location: west michigan
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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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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI Last edited by stevej37; 12-14-2025 at 10:47 AM.. |
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12-14-2025, 04:51 AM
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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. |
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12-14-2025, 05:10 AM
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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.
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12-14-2025, 05:15 AM
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Project Farm, 2 videos with many more to go through
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12-14-2025, 05:17 AM
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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.
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 05:17 AM
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^^^ Yeah...one of those might do the job. I'll stop in at Auto Zone and see what they recommend.
Thanks
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 05:19 AM
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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.
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dolor et pavor Copyright |
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12-14-2025, 05:20 AM
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^^^ Seafoam has a large following here...I've never used it.
The guy in the video likes Sta-Bil the most.
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 05:30 AM
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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.
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dolor et pavor Copyright |
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12-14-2025, 05:35 AM
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^^^ 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.
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 05:38 AM
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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.
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Bill K. "I started out with nothin and I still got most of it left...." 83 911 SC Guards Red (now gone) And I sold a bunch of parts I hadn't installed yet. |
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12-14-2025, 06:19 AM
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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.
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12-14-2025, 06:29 AM
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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 .
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2002 Boxster S . Arctic silver + black top/int. Jake Raby 3.6 SS engine " the beast ". GT3 front bumper, GT3 side skirts and GT3 TEK rear diffuser. 1999 996 C4 coupe black/grey with FSI 3.8 engine . Rear diffuser , front spoiler lip with ducktail spoiler . |
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12-14-2025, 06:49 AM
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^^^ Amazon had it...will be here Tues.($9.50) No snow forecast before then.
Thanks. .
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 07:01 AM
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Quote:
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2002 Boxster S . Arctic silver + black top/int. Jake Raby 3.6 SS engine " the beast ". GT3 front bumper, GT3 side skirts and GT3 TEK rear diffuser. 1999 996 C4 coupe black/grey with FSI 3.8 engine . Rear diffuser , front spoiler lip with ducktail spoiler . |
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12-14-2025, 07:10 AM
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12-14-2025, 07:41 AM
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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.
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12-14-2025, 07:56 AM
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Quote:
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.
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Scott '78 SC mit Sportomatic - Sold |
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12-14-2025, 08:42 AM
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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.
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78 SC Targa Black....gone 84 Carrera Targa White 98 Honda Prelude 22 Honda Civic SI |
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12-14-2025, 09:09 AM
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Brew Master
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I bought another carb for mine on Amazon. Easy Button and costs about as much as the fuel additives.
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Nick |
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12-14-2025, 09:13 AM
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1983 Porsche SC
My former car
1985 Porsche 911 Cab
