Gas/Methanol.....Your Cure?

[Scotty370]

I just chimed in on the chainsaw thread below. then noticed all the "Won't start out of storage.." Runs rough, "...worked great before.." and related posts! Thought I'd start a Thread to put all your 'brain-power' in one spot! Any cures for this government mandated crap that they make us use? Stabil, Seafoam, etc. ~Scotty

Edit: As Dodge Man correctly pointed out, I meant Ethanol, but couldn't edit title!

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Even the diesel has been tampered with. I would buy a diesel chainsaw if one could be made small enough..

 

[RavensRoost]

I think the best medicine for saws is to not store them between seasons with fuel in the tank or carb: fire it up, stop, dump fuel, start again, use choke to keep running as long as you can without touching throttle until gas is gone. (Don't be "blipping" it as it will be running mighty lean towards the end.) Besides corroding carbs, it tends to melt fuel lines and filters.

For operating, I have tried racing and aviation gas, but have gone full circle back to 91 octane pump gas (best I can find here) with the 10% ethanol and only keep it for 30 days. If I have any left after 30 days, it goes into Mule, Jeep, lawnmower, etc.. Major brand mix oils also include a stabilizer, but likely not effective at preventing issues ethanol causes.

Keep gas mix fresh and do not store saw between seasons with gas onboard and you will be OK.

Would be interested in hearing reports about effectiveness of Stabil's "marine" additive in chainsaws, is supposed to help with ethanol issues in watercraft.

 

[Bigkrank]

Do what everybody around here does, go to the airport and buy 100LL avgas. Use it in all chainsaws, weedeaters, generators, small engines, antique tractors, ect. No varnish from it. Everything starts on the second pull in the spring. I've used it for 15 years.

 

[JRobyn]

When you travel AWAY from the major metro areas, bring a 5 gallon can, keep an eye out for those rural gas stations with "NO ETHANOL" signs, and stock up. Hey, maybe I can start re-selling some to my urban buddies!

- Jay

 

[dodge man]

Its really turning into a pain in the butt in my opinion. I can find gas without ethanol in my area, but you really have to watch and make sure of what you are getting. At best, gas lasts maybe 3 months. I can't find diesel in my area that doesn't have biodiesel in it. In the summer I don't think thats a problem. In the two winters I have had my tractor, I have had my fuel filters clog up. I don't know if its gelling or just dirty, and I treat my fuel also.

BTW I think you meant ethanol. Methanol is pretty corrasive and I don't thinks its really offered anywhere.

 

[blueone]

I use Sta-Bil :thumbsup: in everything that uses gas and have no problems. In fact my splitter had a half tank from last year early 09 and started on the 2nd pull in November same with my Stihl saws, brush-cutters etc. I think it also makes things run better overall. IMO. Wouldn't run any small engine with out it including my 60HP outboard jet motor on my river boat.

 

[MMagis]

Let’s be honest, gummed up carbs have been a problem with storing untreated 2 stroke fuel long before ethanol. You can't blame it all on the fuel.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Best thing to do is use Sta-bil Marine formula. Its a 20oz or so bottle for $10 but treats 80 gallons. I have been in the boat and small engine light maintenance world for 20 years and its the best thing I have found. The red Sta-bil just does not cut it anymore.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

When you travel AWAY from the major metro areas, bring a 5 gallon can, keep an eye out for those rural gas stations with "NO ETHANOL" signs, and stock up. Hey, maybe I can start re-selling some to my urban buddies!

- Jay

Not sure about your state but mine now requires 10% ethanol in all fuel except for marinas and airports and 5% bio in the diesel as of Jan 1. Many switched over 2-3 years ago.

Chris

 

[boxygen]

Best thing to do is use Sta-bil Marine formula. Its a 20oz or so bottle for $10 but treats 80 gallons. I have been in the boat and small engine light maintenance world for 20 years and its the best thing I have found. The red Sta-bil just does not cut it anymore.

Chris

I have taken to using the Marine Stabil also. Whenever I purchase any gas at all in jugs, the first thing I do is give it a dose. My generator sat a year with gas and marine stabil in it and it had no problems starting when I needed it not long ago. Although it definitely ran smoother once the old gas ran out and a new fresh tank was added. However, I wish I could buy some for $10. I could only find it at Napa and it was almost $1/ounce if I remember correctly:confused2: Its still worth not messing around with all your gas engines when you go to use them.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have taken to using the Marine Stabil also. Whenever I purchase any gas at all in jugs, the first thing I do is give it a dose. My generator sat a year with gas and marine stabil in it and it had no problems starting when I needed it not long ago. Although it definitely ran smoother once the old gas ran out and a new fresh tank was added. However, I wish I could buy some for $10. I could only find it at Napa and it was almost $1/ounce if I remember correctly:confused2: Its still worth not messing around with all your gas engines when you go to use them.

I just went out and looked at my container and its 10oz, not 20 like I said, and it treats 100 gallons, not 80 like I said. Getting old I guess.

So to recap its a 10oz container that treats 100 gallons for $10.

Either way its $1 per 10 gallons of fuel treated. Pretty cheap insurance. Especially if you are looking at a carb that has taken a dump. My neighbors kids go-cart had carb issues and it was $89 for a fix or $129 for a new engine. Also if you had to throw away just 4 gallons of gas you paid for that bottle of Marine Sta-Bil...

Chris

 

[msb1766]

Tractor Supply sells the Marine Stabil for about $15.00 for a 32 ounce bottle.
This stuff works very well.

 

[CharlieR]

Another vote for Sta-bil.:thumbsup:

 

[Toyboy]

We're lucky up here, we can still get straight gas at a couple places although it'll run $.10 more than the blend. That's all I use in boat, chainsaw, weed whacker even my Mountaineer & Silverado because they sit quit a bit. I just got into this diesel stuff about a month ago so I have no idea about that fuel. I'm a big believer in Seafoam too.

 

[ModMech]

My proposed solution is to not spend any $$$ on stabilizers and to toss those ethanol mandating crooks out of office! At the VERY LEAST send your Federal and State reps a BILL for every bottle of StaBil you need to buy or receipt from the small engine mechanic to fix it.

When they can't get into their office for all the mail they get they will re-think this idiocy!

There is ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON to require use of ethanol blended gasoline in small engines, really any engine with a carb. It's just as bad on older cars and trucks with carbs, if not worse because you can't get a lot of those older carb parts any more. It's criminal in my mind.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My uncle owns a gas station, Shell, in Ohio. About 3 years ago he was switching over to ethanol blends so he let his tanks run way down then had them inspected and a fresh delivery of ethanol blended fuel put in each.

They had to change out all the hoses on the pumps to handle it and the guy doing so put a fresh filter on each pump. He came into my uncle office to sign the paperwork and he asked my uncle how many filters he had on hand. He went and checked his store room and came back and said 5. He has 6 pump stations so 12 nozzles/filters. The guy said I will leave you a case. My uncle thought the guy was nuts to demand he need 24 more filters.

Anyway he said the new filters did not make it a full shift before they were clogging and slowing down the pumps. He changed them and then next ones lasted 2 shifts. Then next ones lasted a day, and the next ones lasted a week. After that he was back to normal but it just shows you how much crap the ethanol can knock loose/clean out of a tank. Remember he had them inspected the day before the change over.:confused2::confused2::confused2:

Now think of this in your cars gas tank. Not a big deal if you have a clean system but if you are in the switch over phase it can really mess up filters, carbs, and injectors.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

Let痴 be honest, gummed up carbs have been a problem with storing untreated 2 stroke fuel long before ethanol. You can't blame it all on the fuel.

Well said.

 

[dqdave1]

we have a local station selling 100% gas. They have a sign that says no ethanol in our gas.
They are now one of the busiest stations in our town. My 2009 Malibu gets about 2 miles to gallon better; my 2004 F 250 gets about 1 mile to gallon better running this 100% gas. Small engines like it better also. I seem to be anble to mow more using the 100% gas. And the price is usually the same as other "ethanol" stations.

 

[Diamondpilot]

we have a local station selling 100% gas. They have a sign that says no ethanol in our gas.
They are now one of the busiest stations in our town. My 2009 Malibu gets about 2 miles to gallon better; my 2004 F 250 gets about 1 mile to gallon better running this 100% gas. Small engines like it better also. I seem to be anble to mow more using the 100% gas. And the price is usually the same as other "ethanol" stations.

I wish I had that here.

Chris