Ethanol gas, Seafoam additive and storage or starting issues.
- Thread starter sixdogs
- Start date
- Views: 12135
robertm
Veteran Member
Same here. On our recent trip out west, though, I did freak out. I started to fill my 2016 F-150 EcoBoost with REGULAR. I freaked after I noticed 4 gallons were in. I switched to UNLEADED. Then, I realized that with the EPA, the old leaded as we knew it is gone. REGULAR today just does not contain ethanol... thus the $0.50 premium per gallon.
shovelrider
Silver Member
In all my fuel tanks, either diesel or gas. I add SeaFoam to every other tank, also to all smaller engines(weedwacker,tillers,etc.. In all of my motorcycles i run 91-93 octane, so i don't use in those tanks. I am one of those that don't trust everything i read at the fuel pump, and have and will keep using SF. MMoil and seafoam have always been in my garage as long as i can remember. If you have noticed that SF in a clean jar w/clean gas or D.fuel, it'll turn milky in color. After awhile of using, i do a semi tune-up. Check plugs/filter etc..
OP
sixdogs
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,762
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- Kubota M7040, Kubota MX5100, Deere 790 TLB, Farmall Super C
This year I started buying pure gas with no ethanol in my small engines to try to head off some of these issues. I've had it with ethanol gas causing problems. I wish pure gas were easier and cheaper to find.
prs
Platinum Member
It is a sad situation. Pure gasoline SHOULD be LESS expensive than drunken blends, but our goverment sees fit to subsidize the alcohol so that it out competes pure gasoline. It is purely pork barrell politics. We have plenty of petrol reserves and the current situation costs us more in taxes, increases the national deficit, and costs consumers way more in repairs/maintenance. And, guess what? Right now, the US Senate is taking up a senate bill that will relax Reid Vapor regulations on gasoline. Pure gas meets the regs easily, but alcohol can not pass muster in blends. Thus, E10 was given an exemption. Higher levels of alcohol are not exempt. The bill being considered, if passed, will exempt ALL alcohol blends from their polution test standard. Yippiee, if passed your equipment will be subject to even more highly intoxicated fuels. SB-517
toyotadriver
Member
I like using ethanol gas. Helps keep the fuel system clean. For those who love Seafoam but hate ethanol...you do realize you're adding alcohol to your gas right?
I run ethanol in everything. Even run it in my boat. I store about 15 gallons of gas all the time and have kept it sealed in cans for up to 2 years at a time. I run it in all my 2 cycle engines....2 chainsaws and 1 weedeater. I had my boat stored since 2015. I had a 6 gallon gas tank with ethanol gas in it from 2015. I recently got the boat out to sell it. Opened that gas tank and the gas smelled just fine. Started up just fine too. I haven't had any of the horrors of ethanol that some claim.
Ethanol gets the blame for every fuel system problem but in doesn't cause the problems it's blamed for.
The secret to keeping fuel from going bad is to store it in well sealed containers. All gasoline, ethanol or not, goes bad. Keep it well sealed and it'll last for years. I know....I've done it many times.
I do like using PRI G as a little extra insurance but have stored it without it and still had no problems.
I run ethanol in everything. Even run it in my boat. I store about 15 gallons of gas all the time and have kept it sealed in cans for up to 2 years at a time. I run it in all my 2 cycle engines....2 chainsaws and 1 weedeater. I had my boat stored since 2015. I had a 6 gallon gas tank with ethanol gas in it from 2015. I recently got the boat out to sell it. Opened that gas tank and the gas smelled just fine. Started up just fine too. I haven't had any of the horrors of ethanol that some claim.
Ethanol gets the blame for every fuel system problem but in doesn't cause the problems it's blamed for.
The secret to keeping fuel from going bad is to store it in well sealed containers. All gasoline, ethanol or not, goes bad. Keep it well sealed and it'll last for years. I know....I've done it many times.
I do like using PRI G as a little extra insurance but have stored it without it and still had no problems.
DFB
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,897
- Location
- Southern VT, Southern ME
- Tractor
- John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
Another firm believer in regular use of Startron. My buds sells it at his motorcycle shop that is where I get it..and I use it in all the gasoline powered equipment I own. My motorcycles, water pump rototiller, chainsaws, line trimmers. I normally don't run it n my daily driver Dodge SUV but maybe I should start! 
I never much see the Startron diesel formula though and I just have been using Power Service regular in my tractor for decades.
I never much see the Startron diesel formula though and I just have been using Power Service regular in my tractor for decades.
DEWFPO
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,100
- Location
- "Up High in the Rockies"
- Tractor
- 2009 Bobcat Toolcat 5600 D
I use some sort of fuel stabilizer in all my equipment fuel and I NEVER turn the fuel off and run it until it stalls. To me that's asking for trouble. It allows the gaskets/seals to dry out and allows corrosion in place that are normally covered in fuel. Leaving stabilized fuel in the bowl all winter works for me and always has. We get to -20F in the winter sometimes and my equipment always starts 6, 9 - 12 months later and have never had trouble with that. And yes, we are using 10% ethanol fuel. I've used both STABIL and STARTRON and have had good luck with both. On the first use after a long sleep I'll sometimes pour an ounce or two of SEAFOAM or carb cleaner in the fuel tank just for good measure.
That said, if I new I wasn't going to use the equipment for several years, I'd drain the fuel and run it dry.
DEWFPO
DEWF{P
That said, if I new I wasn't going to use the equipment for several years, I'd drain the fuel and run it dry.
DEWFPO
DEWF{P
