Ethanol free gas?

[atsah]

These pumps with several grades available. If the previous customer purchased a high Ethanol gas and then you choose no Ethonol fuel
there remains in pump and hose close to 2 gallons of fuel from previous customer before your choice is pumped.. Notice omly diesol is in seperate pump.
ken

The non E here is it's own pump..

 

[ericm979]

It's a long drive to the nearest place with E0 and they charge $1/gallon more. So I have been using E10 in my small engines. I have not had any fuel system or carb problems from it, even in 20+ year old equipment with all original fuel lines and carbs. Since I may store it for a couple months before using it, I use Stabil at the recommended storage dose. For chainsaws I try to use each saw every month or so, or drain the tank and run the carb dry if I don't think I will. The generator mower and splitter all sit with fuel in them for season they're not being used. They all start fine when needed. I try to rotate my stored fuel every two months. What ever is left goes in the truck. I keep a separate 5 gallon storage can for premium for the saws, which gets mixed with oil a gallon at a time. I used the same 87 octane I use for everything else in the saws for years with no problem but then realized that all the saw manuals call for 89 minimum.

If I had E0 available locally at a reasonable price I'd use it. But in my experience it's not worth going out of my way and spending a lot for it. Follow a reasonable protocol and it'll be fine. E0 goes stale and gums up carburetors too. It's not a cure all.

 

[DJ54]

Here, we fortunate to have several stations that sells ethanol free Marine gas for boat engines. It runs about $1 more per gallon. I use it in all of my 2 cycle engines, and a gallon will last me a good while normally, for the string trimmer. If I'm going to be using the chain saws, and pole saw, I'll get a 5 gallon can, then just use the rest in my other small engines, to use it up. I've been using the Stabil 360, which stabilizes the fuel, plus has an additive for keeping the fuel system clean. The 360 is a bit more expensive than the regular Stabil, but will treat 160 gallons of gas.

I also use Seafoam, or the generic brand from Rural King, which is $2-$3 less per can. This is used in the larger gas tractors, which may set as long as 6 months over the winter, and have never had a problem with them starting/running due to fuel issues.

On the small 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines, ethanol will stiffen the diaphragms in the fuel pumps to where they will not pump fuel. I have bought more than several tillers, lawn vacs, and small engine machines where this was the problem,and the owner sold them cheap, due to these issues. A good cleanup of the carb, and a less than $2 diaphragm in the carb, and they run like new. With the additive in the fuel, I've ran many for more years, than the original owner owned it from new.

 

[ruffdog]

When you add oil to a 2-cycle premix fuel, it lowers the octane number by about 2 points. That is why manufactures recommend a mid-grade to make up for the drop.

We knew this from when I flew ultralights and had Rotax engines.....octane info about 2-cycle's.

Feeding your Rotax 2-Stroke Aircraft Engine - Rotax Service

 

[reb]

Learned something today. There apparently are no non-ethanol stations anywhere near me, so I probably need to start using a non-alcohol fuel stabilizer. All the stations that I am familiar with use the same hose for all grades, which is apparently not satisfactory. I gather most engines built since the late '80s use ethanol safe fuel lines and components.

 

[ericm979]

Mixer pumps is why I fill a 5 gallon can with premium (91 octane) for my saws and 2 stroke engines that require 89 octane. The first gallon or so may be whatever was pumped last which I assume is 87 octane regular. But I can be sure the 5 gallons are well above 89 octane. Another option would be to pump a couple gallons of 91 or 89 into the truck so you know all the gas you'll be putting in the can is 89 or 91.

 

[PILOON]

These pumps with several grades available. If the previous customer purchased a high Ethanol gas and then you choose no Ethonol fuel
there remains in pump and hose close to 2 gallons of fuel from previous customer before your choice is pumped.. Notice omly diesol is in seperate pump.
ken

GOOD POINT

Never thought of that but generally when I buy gas for my small engins the quantity is so small , like often 2 gals, I guess I probably get a mere one gallon of hi test with the other being Ethanol
.
Thanks for the 'heads up'.

AND since I often do small engine repairs for others I can attest to the 'ethanol problems'.

 

[fried1765]

Ethanol free gas 91 is what the local station has so that's what I use in my chainsaws, trimmer, lawn tractor and dozer..

Down South of you,...... in.... "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts" The law reads:
"Ethanol free fuel may NOT be dispensed from a pump" (airport exception),

The local airports sell 100LL for $6XX per gallon.
I use 100LL for all small engines.

 

[Jstpssng]

Down South of you,...... in.... "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts" The law reads:
"Ethanol free fuel may NOT be dispensed from a pump" (airport exception),

The local airports sell 100LL for $6XX per gallon.
I use 100LL for all small engines.

So in their attempt to control what fuel people can use, you end up burning leaded gas. I wonder if that accomplishes their goals?

 

[John_Mc]

Down South of you,...... in.... "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts" The law reads:
"Ethanol free fuel may NOT be dispensed from a pump" (airport exception),

The local airports sell 100LL for $6XX per gallon.
I use 100LL for all small engines.

I'm a pilot and deal with 100LL regularly. I also spent a good bit of my working life working in a manufacturing plant where one of our heat treating departments used molten lead, so I regularly had to go through the lead safety training.

There is no way I would run 100LL in my chainsaw. The lead in leaded fuel is tetraethyl lead. It's a neurotoxin and a particularly nasty form of lead. When running a chainsaw, your nose is a couple feet from the chainsaw exhaust. You are almost certainly breathing some of it in. You are most likely coming home with lead contaminated clothing from the exhaust fumes (at work, we provided uniforms for the employees, which they did not bring home with them- they were professionally cleaned. We used to require employees working in that department to shower before leaving at the end of the day, so they would not bring lead home to their kids.)

I'm not a fan of E10 gas, but I'd run that before I'd put 100LL in my chainsaws and other small power equipment. E10 is manageable in modern engines, you just have to keep on top of it. Fortunately, E0 is available at a number of gas stations in my area, so that's what I run in all my small engines.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

More and more places here are offering Ethanol free in their premium pumps. That's all that I've run in my small engines for several years, and I've had no problems.
Aviation fuel is 100 Octane low lead, and a bit more pricey.

Airports around here offer the MOGAS which is for the Ultraligh stuff that does not need AVGAS.

David

 

[goeduck]

The non E here is it's own pump..

Some out here, the ethanol free are separate pumps and separate hoses. No cross contamination with what is in the hose. At least the stations I go to are this way.

 

[ruffdog]

I'm a pilot and deal with 100LL regularly. I also spent a good bit of my working life working in a manufacturing plant where one of our heat treating departments used molten lead, so I regularly had to go through the lead safety training.

There is no way I would run 100LL in my chainsaw. The lead in leaded fuel is tetraethyl lead. It's a neurotoxin and a particularly nasty form of lead. When running a chainsaw, your nose is a couple feet from the chainsaw exhaust. You are almost certainly breathing some of it in. You are most likely coming home with lead contaminated clothing from the exhaust fumes (at work, we provided uniforms for the employees, which they did not bring home with them- they were professionally cleaned. We used to require employees working in that department to shower before leaving at the end of the day, so they would not bring lead home to their kids.)

I'm not a fan of E10 gas, but I'd run that before I'd put 100LL in my chainsaws and other small power equipment. E10 is manageable in modern engines, you just have to keep on top of it. Fortunately, E0 is available at a number of gas stations in my area, so that's what I run in all my small engines.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. I can get 87 or 91 octane E0 fuel here.

 

[coobie]

you can get ethanol free gas at an airport. aircraft can't afford to have their engines quit.. 87 octane is good for a perfect world.. a little too much ethanol or water caused by ethanol attracting water, and you lose octane..

pure gas.org is your friend because not everyone has a airport out there back door;

 

[shooterdon]

Good thread.

I have a 300 gallon storage tank and had E10 in it. It lasts about a year. I started getting "bad gas" and it affected my FI engines making them hard to start. I used either Stabil or Seafoam when the tank was filled. Still got bad gas after about 5 years of use.

I have decided to go back to 5 gal gas containers. After reading this I will fill them with E-free fuel treated with Stabil or Seafoam. They should last a year.

I will miss having a large quantity of gas on hand. I have never needed it, but it was comforting to know that in an emergency I had plenty of fuel for the generators. I may look into a gas/propane emergency generator or a diesel unit.

 

[fried1765]

I'm a pilot and deal with 100LL regularly. I also spent a good bit of my working life working in a manufacturing plant where one of our heat treating departments used molten lead, so I regularly had to go through the lead safety training.

There is no way I would run 100LL in my chainsaw. The lead in leaded fuel is tetraethyl lead. It's a neurotoxin and a particularly nasty form of lead. When running a chainsaw, your nose is a couple feet from the chainsaw exhaust. You are almost certainly breathing some of it in. You are most likely coming home with lead contaminated clothing from the exhaust fumes (at work, we provided uniforms for the employees, which they did not bring home with them- they were professionally cleaned. We used to require employees working in that department to shower before leaving at the end of the day, so they would not bring lead home to their kids.)

I'm not a fan of E10 gas, but I'd run that before I'd put 100LL in my chainsaws and other small power equipment. E10 is manageable in modern engines, you just have to keep on top of it. Fortunately, E0 is available at a number of gas stations in my area, so that's what I run in all my small engines.

Bad news for me it would seem.
I'll be 79 in 2 months.
Been using leaded gas for years, and many hundreds of chainsaw hours.
A few thousand hours of burning 115/145 too.
If I had only known.....
As a result, I suppose I should expect to die before 100.
Bummer!

I eat mushrooms, and oysters too!

 

[atsah]

Down South of you,...... in.... "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts" The law reads:
"Ethanol free fuel may NOT be dispensed from a pump" (airport exception),

The local airports sell 100LL for $6XX per gallon.
I use 100LL for all small engines.

I go there more than I care to mention to visit family, when I do I bring 25 gallons to my buddy..

 

[mcfarmall]

I only use ethanol-free, pure gas from a dedicated pump/hose in all my small and off road power equipment. Haven't had a fuel related issue in many, many years. The only thing that gets pump gas is the daily driver.

 

[3930dave]

I go there more than I care to mention to visit family, when I do I bring 25 gallons to my buddy..

"Pssstttt.... Hey Buddy, Wanna buy some Hi-Test ?"

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro..... (I do miss him).......... doesn't seem that long ago that weed was illegal, and gasoline was everywhere.....

Sometimes that rabbit hole looks saner......

Rgds, D.

 

[atsah]

"Pssstttt.... Hey Buddy, Wanna buy some Hi-Test ?"

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro..... (I do miss him).......... doesn't seem that long ago that weed was illegal, and gasoline was everywhere.....

Sometimes that rabbit hole looks saner......

Rgds, D.

:laughing: