Gasohol and Small Engines

[Walt 2002]

Actually using higher octane than the engine is designed for serves no purpose except to make some people feel better and decreases the efficiency of the engine. ALL fuels here contain ethanol by law and as I said way back up the line with no consequences.

Walt Conner

 

[big bubba]

Actually using higher octane than the engine is designed for serves no purpose except to make some people feel better and decreases the efficiency of the engine. ALL fuels here contain ethanol by law and as I said way back up the line with no consequences.

Walt Conner

thanks. so...i run stihl exclusively, (& kawi on mowers)....thinking that they recommend 87 w/o pulling out their manuals? thanks again

 

[lilranch2001]

91 is what is available here, everything else has ethanol, so that is what I burn

Some of you sure like to ASSUME a lot, and you know what that makes YOU!

 

[lilranch2001]

You ASSUMED I was talking to you.....

 

[Garandman]

well, while on the subject...ok, i use ethanol free fuel in all my small engines (with red stabil as well). but some on this thread suggest 91/93 octane ethanol free fuel for their small engines...so what is the advantage of the higher octane of ethanol free fuel for small engines? longer stability of the fuel? please advise, the price difference of 87 vs 91 ethanol free fuel around here is quite a bit.....thx

The rationale is that octane declines with storage.

If there is a significant amount of moisture in the fuel, then the ethanol and water can drop out, which would reduce the octane of the finished product several numbers. Since most ethanol blends are based on 87 R+M/2, I believe that the end product would still meet the octane requirements of most STCs.

Whether it would still meet minimum specs depends on the engine: many small engines are not very high compression and have minimal octane requirements.

 

[Sodo]

You are unlucky there. Not having that trouble here in Washington state.

I have a sawmill, and a trencher that I have stored for multiple years with old ethanol fuel. If I drain the carburetor before winter, it starts real easy (first pull) the next year. My trencher has had the same ethanol gas in it for 3 years now and it starts first pull each year. In all cases I was able to shake up the fuel by moving the equipment around prior to pulling on the rope (that's my theory of why stored carbureted machines can be hard to start).

I had trouble with ethanol gas boiling in the gas tank of my chainsaw when it was 95 deg this summer, will be watching for that problem now. I searched out pure-gas and that solved it.

The hassles I've found with ethanol are that you need to drain the carburetor bowls, (and the summer heat boiling). And sometimes you have to shake it up if it's been stored. Certainly not having all the problems others are listing. Not having any problems in any of my cars, period. One has had the same gas in it for 3 years, it starts every time, quickly (it's fuel injected).

Around here, the E10 turns real bad after about 6 months without an additive, and not just in the carburetor.

My generator had the gas go bad last winter. I forgot the Stabil in the Fall, never used it all winter and when I went to drain it in the spring, it was the color and consistency of thick dark urine, sorta like the first urine in the morning after a long night's sleep, only yellower and thicker.

When I drained it, it wouldn't even ignite with a match. Totally non flammable. I don't believe it's a water issue of any kind.

The carb had to be disassembled and soaked, then all the jets had to be cleaned out with very fine pieces of wire. Air pressure wouldn't clean it out.

I had the same thing happen with my antique cars, and my snow blower immediately after the E10 was introduced and no one knew of it's potential problems.

I have found that the same gas with 2 cycle oil added doesn't seem to go bad, as my chain saws and weed wackers always function without the stabil.

E10 is real bad stuff if you don't use it up promptly.

 

[ultrarunner]

The only thing that E10 gas does is expose the poor workmanship of the small motor and the lack of quality components. I have run E10 is portable generators, lawn mowers, etc for a long, long time with no ill effects. Not saying that ill effects won't happen, just saying it is the poor quality of fuel system components being used that is the culprit. Everyone likes to blame the fuel, primarily because no one wants to have to admit they bought cheaply built stuff. It is easy to blame someone else for the problem. And has been stated elsewhere, fuel sitting for extended periods of time, ethanol or non ethanol varieties, will screw up fuel systems. But that would be due to operator incompetence, but no one wants to look like a ******, so again, blame the fuel.

My issues have been with Stihl and Honda power equipment... not considered low quality.

My 1000 Watt Honda Generator cost $700 in 1985... don't remember how much I paid for the Stihl saw in 1986.

All I can add is the change of fuel has been a boon for the small engine shops.

 

[Sodo]

Have had E10 in a pair of Honda EU2000i generators continuously since 2010. Always ready to run, gas in the tanks, have never drained the carbs or tanks, never a drop of Stabil. Always start easily. Zero problems with ethanol gas.

Whats been a boon to the small engine shops is

1 Less small engine shops
2 An easy standard answer to why you need to take it in rather than blame yourself for not knowing (or performing) the simple tricks your dad did,and took for granted. Small engines have always had problems from sitting with gas in the carb. Sitting dry can cause problems too.
3) nobody knows how to fix stuff anymore

 

[lilranch2001]

Such a statement makes me wonder about the veracity of anything you have said over the years
The best gas on earth is going to go bad after 5 years

 

[ultrarunner]

My take is my older engines... circa 1985 were designed without the slightest inkling as to the extent gas would be reformulated...

My brother drives a 1983 Diesel and when reformulated Diesel hit the California market it cost the State millions and my brother was one to collect in the neighborhood of 2k for fuel system damage.

He still has the same car for over 300k miles with fuel components replaced compliments of the California taxpayers.