Gasohol and Small Engines

[oldpilgrim]

It would appear that it is a regional thing as the horror stories being told here anre not made up or just based on small engines.

My elderly father had to stop driving. His Ford pickup truck sat for 6 months, before he consented to sell it. The gas turned to a thick orange color and I had to suck the tank dry. Fortunately the gas in the carb evaporated and it didn't plug that up.

I have a Model A Ford. Those things will run on about any liquid that will burn. The carbs are as plain and simple as any carb can be. I put gas in it. It sat for 3 (YES THREE) months and it would not run until I drained the tank and refilled.

Many cars around here experienced rubber fuel line destruction when E10 came about.

It is a BIG problem in this area...and not just in small engines.

 

[ultrarunner]

My Model A was in an enclosed trailer for about 6 months... went to start it and nothing... only cranking.

Checked all the usual things...

Drained the fuel and found a clear separation of the fuel as clear as day and night.

I have never come across this before in 45 years of turning wrenches...

So just how common is it for fuel to stratify?

Thankfully the fuel system is rubber free... all metal with the exception of the cork fuel gauge float.

All my other older cars with rubber fuel system components required 100% replacement the same.

Straight fuel is not available here in the SF Bay Area since I don't race and buy in 55 drum quantity or have an aircraft.

 

[oldpilgrim]

So just how common is it for fuel to stratify?

apparently more common than some here want to admit.

Straight fuel is not available here in the SF Bay Area since I don't race and buy in 55 drum quantity or have an aircraft.

same here.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I find it hard to believe they are going to have different mixtures of E10 fuel. I think there maybe other variables coming into play. How fast your gas is going to evaporate is going to depend on ambient temp, if you have a vented non vented fuel system. Cars today do not have vented fuel system(when your car is shut off, no more air if getting to the fuel). Your chain saw is vented direct to the atmosphere so the fuel will evaporate at different rates. The newer ones may have some form of a check valve. I can tell you this much the model t don't. Also, the number of issues in a particular area is going to depend on when they started E10. Areas that started it early have already worked through the issues, where the area that recently got it are just getting started. Here is Wisconsin I can go to the CO OP and get straight gas, interesting twist on things.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Oh, before I forget I have been solving the issue even before E10, take the gas cap off make a gasket and screw the cap back on. Just don't forget to remove it. Can't say I have never had issues, but I am not having the issues everyone is talking about

 

[oldpilgrim]

Cars today do not have vented fuel system

All vehicles must have a vent in the fuel tank system somewhere. Air is always getting in to displace the fuel or the fuel won't leave the tank.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

All vehicles must have a vent in the fuel tank system somewhere. Air is always getting in to displace the fuel or the fuel won't leave the tank.

In new cars when the car is shut off the fuel system is sealed! There for no fresh air is getting into the fuel system. The cars ECU actually controls fuel tank venting through the EVAP system. This would account for Sodo's impression that cars are not having the issue. Small engines do not have this system, they are vented like you said which would account for the higher evaporation rates like in your model t ford. Then the different ambient temps in the different areas, how where you store your chain saw would all account for the different evaporation rates.

 

[dfkrug]

Thankfully the fuel system is rubber free... all metal with the exception of the cork fuel gauge float.

I don't know how Model A fuel pumps work, but I found that FPs from 60s and 70s cars, the ones that
worked off a lever on the side of the engine, those units have rubber valves and they stick
closed. It may take a year or more of sitting, but they stop working.

I blow air into the outlet pipe to blow them open.

If you want 5-gal cans of ethanol-free gas, some speed shops have it. My local gokart
shop has the 110 in 5-gal.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Model A's and T's don't have fuel pumps, just good old gravity.

 

[ultrarunner]

The 10 gallon tank is just under the windshield making it all gravity and very much foolproof on the Model A

The Model T is a little different in that the grade can be so steep and long it will no longer flow... I've had to go up in reverse a few times to overcome because on my T the tank is behind the seat...

Having a sealed or non sealed system could be the crux of the problem... never thought of that until truck diagnostics brought it up...

Could also account for why my cars and power equipment in the basement seem to be mostly trouble free and the cars in the trailers and tools in the shed have problems... temperature swings.