Gasoline - Ethanol or Non-Ethanol

[Gem99ultra]

I have been using Non-Ethanol fuel for the last couple of years, after having to replace the fuel lines on every gasoline powered lawn tool I have; a major headache. However, my local non-ethanol supplier has discontinued selling non-ethanol. Now the nearest source is 20 miles away and the cost is over $0.40/gallon more than ethanol added fuel.

Price on ethanol added is $2.45/gal (87 octane) - Non-ethanol is $2.89 (90 octane)

Do you use only non-ethanol gasoline in your lawn implements?

 

[shank102]

i use non-ethanol gas in my trimmer but my zero turn I just add some ethanol treatment to my gas can and fill it up with the ethanol gas. Never had any issue.

 

[k0ua]

I have been using pure gas for several years now since replacing fuel lines in my trimmer. I use it in everything now except the automobiles. Yes it costs a bit more, but seems to last much longer and the small engines have less problems. Fortunately for us it is available everywhere here.

 

[davesl708]

I use pure gas in all small gas engines. My push mower is 18 years old and still starts on one prime one pull.
Trimmer, chainsaw and generator all use pure gas. No issues. The gas in the generator is 4 years old and only gets Sta-Bil once a year.
The people I know who use ethanol in their new machines have problems soon after.

 

[Wa11banger]

Guys I know there are cases of fuel lines going bad and deterioration causing issues.. but here is my story.. I moved into my house aug2005.. I have a troybuilt 42" lawn tractor that has been fed alcohol based fuel since the day I brought it home.. For no particular reason than non alcohol fuel situation is similar to the OP's too far away from me to be worth it. I treat the fuel I estimate to be the last two mowings of the season and put it up for the entire winter. I do exactly the same for the echo weedwacker.. Also exactly the same for a 2008 procraft Super 210 bassboat with a 225 Mercury on the back of it.. All of them start first time every time after the first start when winter is over and have given me no fuel related issues.. Batteries are a different story.

My 2005 avalanche, 2000 Durango (replaced in 09 with a Nissan cube) 72 Nova, 2002 36ft motorhome all also run on alcohol gas.. No treatments in any vehicle with the semi annual (or whenever I remember) lucas injector treatment. the Motorhome gets fuel additives started around nov and stops in mayish timeframe.. Again all working very will with zero issues so far..

What I can tell you is maintenance. I rinse the mower down and blow it off every run.. It is stored in the garage. same for the weedwacker.. oil is changed at the prescribed interval on every vehicle and I replace the external fuel filters on the frame on all of them around 50-60k miles.

Not related entirely but on my 05 2500HD I replace that diesel fuel filter ever other oil change. again no issues with fuel.

I must just be using more fuel through my small engines than most and it does not get to hang around to get degraded or acidic. so far (knocking hard on desk) everything just works because it is supposed to.

Rick

 

[oldpilgrim]

many states, including here, don't allow non E.

It's interesting that they charge .50 gal NOT to put in E.

 

[sixdogs]

By all means get non ethanol if you can. 20 miles is worth the drive to save the aggravation of something not starting and needing fuel lines or a rebuilt carb.

 

[mjonesnh]

Non ethanol with a shot of Startron in can before filling. Went through the fuel line replacement when I was using ethanol. None replaced since I changed to pure gas. worth the extra 40 cents to me

 

[Streetcar]

many states, including here, don't allow non E.

It's interesting that they charge .50 gal NOT to put in E.

Ethanol is a cheap way to oxygenate the fuel.
Other methods cost more money
In my area too hard to get pure fuel
Add stabilizers and deal with ethanol

 

[4570Man]

I burn no ethanol in all of my equipment. Our vehicles burn the cheaper ethanol gas.