Ethanol free gas?

[dodge man]

I know, not another thread on ethanol gas. I am aware of the issues and that’s not my problem. The issue is I had a source for 91 octane ethanol free. I used this on small engines, chainsaws etc. This station stopped carrying it. I can get ethanol free 87 octane. Most likely not a problem except in the two stroke stuff. I think 87 is to low for my chainsaws. My plan is I have a two gallon can, I will get a gallon of 93 octane ethanol gas and blend it with a gallon of 87 octane ethanol free gas. Is this a good plan?

 

[Zmann.]

True fuel sold at the box stores is 92 octane , a little pricey but the equipment starts every time now vs a carb rebuild or a new friggin carb .
I think any ethanol in a small , seldom use motor is a potential for issues
even if you mix it to 50%, if you are near any marinas they often have ethanol free

 

[Username Taken]

I know, not another thread on ethanol gas. I am aware of the issues and that’s not my problem. The issue is I had a source for 91 octane ethanol free. I used this on small engines, chainsaws etc. This station stopped carrying it. I can get ethanol free 87 octane. Most likely not a problem except in the two stroke stuff. I think 87 is to low for my chainsaws. My plan is I have a two gallon can, I will get a gallon of 93 octane ethanol gas and blend it with a gallon of 87 octane ethanol free gas. Is this a good plan?

To my knowledge, ethanol is/was just hard on plastics (Cadillac intake manifolds) and certain rubbers (Hoses, etc) in the old days. I thought most engines have been ethanol-proofed for quite a while.

I also wasn't aware that 2 stroke engines, with their low compression ratio, needed higher octane gasoline.

Ethanol has a much higher octane than gasoline and you might find that some, not all, maybe not even very many, use ethanol as an octane booster in their 'premium' gasoline.

 

[MossRoad]

I know, not another thread on ethanol gas. I am aware of the issues and that’s not my problem. The issue is I had a source for 91 octane ethanol free. I used this on small engines, chainsaws etc. This station stopped carrying it. I can get ethanol free 87 octane. Most likely not a problem except in the two stroke stuff. I think 87 is to low for my chainsaws. My plan is I have a two gallon can, I will get a gallon of 93 octane ethanol gas and blend it with a gallon of 87 octane ethanol free gas. Is this a good plan?

So the ONLY question you want answered is can you mix 87 and 93 to get 91?

Correct?

 

[Zmann.]

I read it as " is mixing ethanol a good plan" ;-)

 

[Rebeldad1]

I use the 89 octane Also add a fuel conditioner and octane boost.
Use the mix in everything gas except vehicles.
All run great

 

[MossRoad]

Oooo I didn't see that his 93 was ethanol.

In all reality, mixing fuels of different octanes and ethanol/non ethanol isn't going to cause a problem. If it were, there'd be damaged engines all over the place and warnings at fuel stations.

 

[dodge man]

So the ONLY question you want answered is can you mix 87 and 93 to get 91?

Correct?

That was part of my thinking, the other is does only having 5% ethanol vs 10% ethanol gain me anything.

 

[MossRoad]

That was part of my thinking, the other is does only having 5% ethanol vs 10% ethanol gain me anything.

You aren't going to notice a thing with those small amounts. Unless you do some pretty exact before and after benchmark comparisons with test gear, nothing's gonna be provable by feel.

 

[MossRoad]

Best practices would be to run the octane rating recommended by the manufacturer 100% of the time unless the engine has been modified.

I can't think of many small engines that call for 91 octane.

 

[Zmann.]

in my mind the whole question stems around "avoiding ethanol" but using ethanol to raise octane
not what happens if you mix the two together. we all know that's not going to cause a compatibility issue between fuels
In my opinion pumps should warn that "ethanol is garbage for all but daily driven vehicles"

if I only had the two fuels available I would run all day on the ethanol blend but finish the run and store it with the non ethanol

 

[Zmann.]

this will give you the exact ratio if you're worried about 91 as a final

Octane Calculator - www.bazellracefuels.com

 

[dodge man]

My goal is 89 octane. Stihl is saying use 89 octane, my generator, log splitter, push mower would probably be fine on 87.

 

[number two]

My goal is 89 octane. Stihl is saying use 89 octaned, my generator, log splitter, push mower would probably be fine on 87.

Your plan to mix 50/50 93 and 87 octane should yield 90 octane.
Yes,the math works.
Good Luck!

 

[Sberry]

The fuel guy says he doesnt worry about it and I dont anymore and dont notice any more problems with fuel sitting than we ever had. It seems that became something new,,,, never was new, dirty old fuel been causing problems forever way before the internet. Number 1 thing I try to do if it has been sitting is run the old fuel thru before adding new. The old takes the varnish and build up out slowly, when new is added the additives and cleaners work so well it cuts it all at once and plugs it up especially sitting till the next day. If a guy puts new in run it long enough to get a good cleaning.
Secondly cleaning a carb is a good life skill. Some can be done in minutes and do not need a "rebuild" every time it farts. Seems I bought a needle and a seet for ol engine someone gave and maybe a siphon tube best I can remember in last 25 yrs.
When I was a kid we bought a carb kit every other week. I used to toss all the extras in a box, I sorted thru on occasion and found pieces for little fixes for 15 yrs. Havnt bought a kit in at least 30 yrs, maybe more.

 

[Sberry]

I buy 89 off the truck for home. Absolutely quit worrying about it and not been a problem. Usually fill or better than 1/2 full to store, even quoit using that stabil, I think it gooped up more than it help really, dont miss it a bit, run the old thru before filling again.

 

[jmc]

A website showed the nearest ethanol-free fuel at a marina about 10 miles away. Turns out, the local Stihl dealer knew of several regular gas stations nearby that had it. Small engine dealers might help you find what you want so you don't have to improvise.

 

[duffer]

I have a couple of stations near me, that tell me any premium gasoline they carry is 100% NON-ethanol. Don't know if that's the case in your area. Every idiot state has it's own formula that they mandate.

 

[deserteagle71]

Only one station within 130 miles around here that carries ethanol-free gasoline...and it is only 87 Octane. Worse, the price is 50 cents a gallon higher than regular gas which is 10% ethanol!

New Honda lawn mower I bought last year STRONGLY recommends use of ethanol-free.

 

[dodge man]

I burn a lot of fuel with ethanol in it but in my cars and truck. It’s fine as long as it doesn’t sit for months. I have had problems in small engines with it. I can definitely take a carb apart. The last one was on a pressure washer and I just cleaned it out, took less than an hour total.