Ethanol vs non ethanol gas

[300UGUY]

I have been using E10 out of the local pumps. For my small engines, I always buy the 93 octane premium. I assume it痴 E10. I bought a gas powered log splitter, with a Kohler engine. It has a warning, no E15. I am going to look into what I知 buying, and maybe change gas stations. I知 thinking if E15 is bad, E0 is better?

 

[Opti-Mist]

True that straight gas is best. When I bought my last chain saw the dealer said 90+ octane is good, that guys using it have no issues compared to those using E10. That is what I do.

 

[MacLawn]

I don’t use ethanol mess in any of my stuff. Trucks, cars but that’s all. And don’t like it for them!

 

[MossRoad]

I have been using E10 out of the local pumps. For my small engines, I always buy the 93 octane premium. I assume it痴 E10. I bought a gas powered log splitter, with a Kohler engine. It has a warning, no E15. I am going to look into what I知 buying, and maybe change gas stations. I知 thinking if E15 is bad, E0 is better?

No. The engine is designed to run on up to E10. I've been using E10 since the 80's in everything I own. I've had ONE fuel line in a chainsaw go mushy. One. And I can't prove that's ethanol related. But I take care of my equipment, use the fuel shut offs if they have them, run chainsaws out of fuel after each use (and the leaky bar oil tanks, too), and empty the string trimmer at the end of the season. Log splitter gets left full all year. But that gets at least 5-6 tanks of fuel run through it every year, so that's rotated out faster than it will ever go bad. Generator stays full all the time. That's the only one I treat with stabil.

 

[RNeumann]

Ethanol can be hard on parts but now a days most parts will survive. The other issue with ethanol is its propensity to absorb water.

Ethanol and Your Outdoor Power Equipment. How to Prevent Issues. - YouTube

Do an Internet search for non ethanol fuel in your area. Typically their are a few around. I haven’t found a logger or other person who depends on their small engines to make a living who care much for ethanol. And most in my area just buy the non ethanol. It’s only been a few years that the small engine industry would even “allow” E10.

Fuel Tips for Gasoline Lawn Mowers and Snow Blowers | Toro - YouTube

 

[MossRoad]

Ethanol can be hard on parts but now a days most parts will survive. The other issue with ethanol is its propensity to absorb water.

Ethanol and Your Outdoor Power Equipment. How to Prevent Issues. - YouTube

Do an Internet search for non ethanol fuel in your area. Typically their are a few around. I haven’t found a logger or other person who depends on their small engines to make a living who care much for ethanol. And most in my area just buy the non ethanol. It’s only been a few years that the small engine industry would even “allow” E10.

Fuel Tips for Gasoline Lawn Mowers and Snow Blowers | Toro - YouTube

I pulled out some manuals from my 1992 chainsaw and 1999 leaf blower. No mention of alcohol blended fuel in the 1992, but it does mention it in the 1999. Both say to drain the fuel tanks if the machine is going to sit for more than 30 days, and run the machine until it stops. That applies to non-ethanol fuels as well. My pre-2001 Kohler owner's manual says 10% ethanol is fine. That's 18 years at least.

Again, I think it goes back to proper preventative maintenance and following the manufacturer's recommendations, which most people don't.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
The manual for the Echo 520(?) chainsaw which I bought in 2008 stated that using ethanol would void the warranty.

 

[Jchonline]

Ethanol free gas in any small engine I care about. Chainsaws, generators.

 

[MossRoad]

^^^^
The manual for the Echo 520(?) chainsaw which I bought in 2008 stated that using ethanol would void the warranty.

So just follow what the manual says.

This manual for the Echo 520 says you can use 10% ethanol(probably newer than yours). However, it also says that if you use ANY gas that is more than 90 days old, you void the warranty. ANY GAS over 90 days. Doesn't matter if it's ethanol, non-ethanol, treated with stabilizer, nothing. 90 day old gas voids the warranty on this model. Page 12.

https://www.echo-usa.com/getattachment/830bb542-941d-4404-a148-c4699207e1fc/CS520s05_080106-pdf

 

[dnw64]

This manual for the Echo 520 says you can use 10% ethanol(probably newer than yours). However, it also says that if you use ANY gas that is more than 90 days old, you void the warranty. ANY GAS over 90 days. Doesn't matter if it's ethanol, non-ethanol, treated with stabilizer, nothing. 90 day old gas voids the warranty on this model. Page 12.

Most likely because they figure most people aren't going to read the manual, and that gives then an out of trying to prove that the gas in there had ethanol in it. Sorry, I tend to be cynical. Especially where large corporations are involved. And lawyers.

For the tiny bit of gas small engines use, I figure the slightly higher cost (maybe $10 a year?) is well worth it. Plus (around here anyways) ethanol-free is premium, generally 91 octane.