Gasohol and Small Engines

[Sodo]

Such a statement makes me wonder about the veracity of anything you have said over the years
The best gas on earth is going to go bad after 5 years

You are mistaken didn't write 5 years old gas, wrote that I never drained the carbs (for storage) in 5 years (since new). The generators have run to empty, often have months old gas in them but it seems to make no difference. But trencher gas was 3 years old, carb drained, and it started first pull.

Having more than 50 engines that are not having ethanol problems I often question the veracity of the "ethanol problem". Pretty much have to question it. I do have a bottle of Stabil thats 5 years old.

I do believe E10 boils on a hot day and had trouble with that in my chainsaw.

 

[lilranch2001]

That is NOT what you wrote. You may want to re read what you did write
Question the veracity all you wish, still does not change what a good portion of the people on this site is seeing with ethanol gas

 

[Garycw]

California is part of the problem SOME people don't/ can't work on there small engines. The other is the mfg. more so with small engines than cars the mfg doesn't want the average person to work on and make adjustments unless you have special tools. A flat head screwdriver and a cpl small sae wrenches was all you needed. Fuel lines and carb gaskets have slowly evolved to withstand effects of ethanol.
I work on all my stuff and get the tools I need to do so. Dismantling carbs to clean, adjust and replacing fuel lines is common, other than the normal maintenance. Stabil is good but there's better stuff out there. If I can't fix it, I'll tear it up till no one else can

Sent from the mountains

 

[k0ua]

I have access to 91 octane ethanol free gas. Is this OK to use in small engines like wood splitters, lawn mowers, trimmers and chainsaws?

Been using it now for a few years with much better results than the ethanol fuel. I am no longer using any additives.

 

[Garandman]

Such a statement makes me wonder about the veracity of anything you have said over the years
The best gas on earth is going to go bad after 5 years

And there are over 100 different formulations.

Internet chest thumping, sport of this century.

It is true that a lot of people don't bother to drain their carbs. Most Ariens have a spring loaded valve, Hondas open with a screwdriver, etc.

 

[tcartwri]

Just had Honda deny a warranty claim on a push mower with less than 25 hours on it. Seized an exhaust valve due to "owner negligence". Even though all the equipment gets fueled with 93 which is supposed to have minimal ethanol in it. They claim that even in the middle of the season if the machine is gong to sit for more than a few weeks, you have to run it dry. Cylinder heads are cast as one piece with the block, so are not serviceable. $600 piece of scrap now. Total BS.

 

[Sodo]

And there are over 100 different formulas.
<<<<>>>>>
Internet chest thumping, sport of this century.

You're right such a sport makes it easy to stir up a hornets nest, keep the public confused. The wimmin' are lucky they dont have the ethanol problems it could be just a mans internet problem.

Agreed different gas in different regions, & seasons, can cause different problems. And there are different mechanical abilities and different diagnostical abilities too. Not having probs in WA State, with up to 3 years old gas. Agreed it can happen. I had mexican gas grow green fuzz in a Honda carb (stored 9 mos) in 1991.

-/--------
Spray carb cleaner on the valve stem. It could be gummed up due to something in the gas you used, or a contaminated gas can. Low-RPM Hondas have really soft valve springs, can't tolerate anything cooked onto the stems. You will have to remove the exhaust and the valve cover to work the valve up&down. Press on the intake valve too, see if it's sticky too.

Ethanol gas can't seize a valve like a small engine shop can seize a wallet. Maybe its from "5 yrs + 1day" gas. . Oops. Or 15 yrs old gas? Sorry to hear that but without hearing the shops side (if truth) owner negligence is a possibility.

 

[Sodo]

Not an ethanol apologist. But everyone has had 10-15 years to adjust to ethanol gas. Things are getting better, not worse but ya wouldn't know it by the internet. Probably other devilry is afoot.

However- using our crop lands to produce fuel is short-sighted. Really. Burning fuel, dumping herbicides on the ground, depleting soil that should be feeding people - for all generations to come - to make fuel. How long can that go on? Its just about as short-sighted as polluting. It IS polluting. This was done by the Bush administration in 2007 just before they bailed out and left the country in a shambles.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Independence_and_Security_Act_of_2007

But the other options were to reduce consumption, or continue transferring our wealth to Saudi Arabia. No chance on reducing consumption.

 

[tcartwri]

-/--------
Spray carb cleaner on the valve stem. It could be gummed up due to something in the gas you used, or a contaminated gas can. Low-RPM Hondas have really soft valve springs, can't tolerate anything cooked onto the stems. You will have to remove the exhaust and the valve cover to work the valve up&down. Press on the intake valve too, see if it's sticky too.

Ethanol gas can't seize a valve like a small engine shop can seize a wallet. Maybe its from "5 yrs + 1day" gas. . Oops. Or 15 yrs old gas? Sorry to hear that but without hearing the shops side (if truth) owner negligence is a possibility.

Dude, I buy a new piece of equipment it had better be able to handle what's coming out of every pump in the land. Honda is just hiding from a huge liability founded in their own poor design. If they require fuel to be drained after virtually every use, they had better make provisions for it. Currently they advise letting the mower run dry, which could mean an hour our or more sitting there every time you use it... Awesome.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

"Dude, I buy a new piece of equipment it had better be able to handle what's coming out of every pump in the land. Honda is just hiding from a huge liability founded in their own poor design. If they require fuel to be drained after virtually every use, they had better make provisions for it. Currently they advise letting the mower run dry, which could mean an hour our or more sitting there every time you use it... Awesome."

Generac has the same dumb language in their Warranty. They want me to drain 15 GL of gas after every use of a standby generator if it is E10. Just had a warranty claim denied, 15 HR on the engine, three month old gas with Stabil Marine, and it would start but not run under load. Warranty servicer stated Staybil is worthless that is why Generac does not recommend additives and requires draining (after charging me for a full maintenance service I did not ask for). Great standby generator; Power out, 12" snow on the ground and I have to pump 15 GL of gas before I can startup.

I have decided to switch to Propane as the generator does do a great job. Had one just like it for 5 years 200 HR that ran all that time with the same fuel and never a problem. What have they change? It was stolen hence the new one. Cheaper parts?

Ron