quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
Honda engines are well built and last many years. We've run mowers on regular gas with ethanol for an untold number of years. That said, it's better for any small engine to burn gas that has no ethanol. This is especially true when the engine is used irregularly, or it sits for months at a time without use. Gas/ethanol mix contains a crap load of chemicals and these separate over time.

Non-ethanol gas has a much simpler chemistry. The mix won't separate as quickly over time. And there's less chance of damage to carburetor parts over time.

+1
https://www.pure-gas.org/

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:
I use nothing but ethanol free in my small engines.

Same here. I can even leave the non-ethanol gas in the mower during the winter, without any issues.

Luckily, I have a gas station about a mile away that sells non-ethanol 87 octane.

I only run non ethanol 89 in my mowers and weedeaters. You don't have to worry about ethanal eating lines, gunking up the carbs, etc.

I always buy non ethanol 90 octane rec fuel. Its sold for boats, ATV's and small engines basically.

I keep about 15 gallons on hand for the generators if the power goes out, BUT, I keep a 1 gallon gas can as my primary. This way, when it gets empty, I go refill it. This way the gas is always fresh, less than 60 days old. I also use Stabil fuel stabilizer.

I label all my fuel cans with some painters tape and a sharpie marker with the date. When they get 4 months old, I dump them in the truck and refill them. Old gas is bad for small engines, get rid of it and dont keep it around .

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:
We burned the ethanol trash out of the ZTR mowers when I was in the grass business every day and it still caused carburetor issues by the end of the season. I use nothing but ethanol free in my small engines. My Stihl leaf blower finally needed a new carb after somewhere around 12-14 years. Everything else is still running strong. That speaks volumes IMO.

THIS ^^^^^^

If it's used every ten days to two weeks, its still sitting from May to October with gasahol in it and that will cause fuel lines, primer bulbs, and carb diaphragms etc to deteriorate. No, the manufactures aren't making better parts to withstand it IMHO. The auto makers had to and it was significantly different parts, especially moving to E85, the small engine guys didn't seem to blink.

I never use gasahol in small engines now. Case in point, I have a powerhead I stored with gasahol mix in it and over one winter it cost me $65 to rebuild the carb, the unit only cost me $75. During spring cleanup locally you can find dozens along the curb junked because of it. On the other hand I bought a 6500 watt Briggs Generator, its filled with alcohol free and Stabil, 18 months later it starts with two pulls. Im planning to convert it to propane for even better long term storage. You don't treat it . . .

Avoid gasahol. It's like running high calcium tap water in your Keurig, nothing but trouble.

Better put on my flame suit...
I use 87 with whatever ethanol comes from the pump - 15%?. I haven't experienced the instant death of fuel systems that other have. We have ethanol free gas at the family farm 2mi away & I don't bother to take my cans over to fill up.

I have a ZTR with a 18HP Honda that is a 2010 model. I change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not & I leave a little gas in it over winter to move it around if needed (maybe 1/4 gallon). I run the carb dry when I know I'm done with it for the winter, but I've also forgotten to do that. After 11 years of what some people would consider cruel & unusual - it fired up on the ~September 2021 gas with just a little extra cranking to get the float bowl filled. I added 6gal of fresh & it has been fine. That will probably last until May or June.
Stepdad has a small Montgomery Ward tiller from the 50s or 60s. Maybe 2HP. It has a 1/2 gallon tank that gets topped off the 1-2 times per year we use it. It usually takes 3 or so pulls to get it going.

That said, I buy the pre-mix for chainsaws & any other 2-stroke just because it's more convenient than keeping 1/2gal of mix around that I won't use before it goes bad, or will knock over & spill all over. I have battery powered equip for small jobs anyway.

Now that I've said this, something will probably catch on fire the next time I use it.

I have bought the ethanol free for several years now. I have four or five gas ⛽️ cans varying from one, two 1/2 to five gallons to fill up for lawn mowers. Always put some in the truck also. That way I don’t have to see the $$$ totals knowing that it goes toward mowing grass that I encourage to grow.

And now a further reason to run non-ethanol gas in your small engines this year...

Biden to suspend federal rule limiting ethanol content to 10%, allows sale of 15% ethanol fuel this summer

From https://apnews.com/article/bid...1680e1f4813334aeae64

quote:

President Joe Biden is visiting corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce he’ll suspend a federal rule and allow the sale of higher-ethanol gasoline this summer, trying to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of a 15% ethanol blend...

Senior Biden administration officials said the action will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon, but at just 2,300 gas stations. Those stations are mostly in the Midwest and the South, including Texas, according to industry groups.

quote:

Biden to suspend federal rule limiting ethanol content to 10%, allows sale of 15% ethanol fuel this summer

And yet another very poor decision by brandon.

Do you think they're even considered for a moment, that this will RAISE the price of Corn...

Of course higher corn prices then permeates into feed for poultry, cattle & whatever.


That aside for now, nice day here just finished with getting two mowers out, snowblower put away. I use the ethanol free, 100LL often also for storage, no issues.

The Cub Cadet is a little more of a to-do, blades get sharpened then the deck & battery go on, a little grease here & there. The snowblower is 27 years old, the Cub Cadet 2007 vintage.

I also have a used Honda mower I’m trying for leaf mulching, rather clean though.

My 28 y/o DR Field & Brush mower is still going strong, though it’s had a touch of work over the years.

Good to know about Sheetz! I usually get mine at a Wawa. Look for the blue pump handle.

If anyone knows of one...I would love to have a link to find 1-K or K1 kerosene sources. There are a lot that have the red dyed kero, making the clear kero very hard to find.

I run ethanol free in all my lawn equipment and my boat. It's a little more expensive,but I haven't had to tear down a carburator since I switched years ago. Totally worth it!

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
Good to know about Sheetz! I usually get mine at a Wawa. Look for the blue pump handle.

If anyone knows of one...I would love to have a link to find 1-K or K1 kerosene sources. There are a lot that have the red dyed kero, making the clear kero very hard to find.

Just a guess but check your local fuel oil companies. I know some of the ones around me in Berks Co, PA sell the undyed diesel and fuel oil from pumps, maybe they would have the undyed kerosene?

How much kero do you need? My local tractor supply sells it in 5gal pails.

I've never used non ethanol in any of my lawn equipment . Never replaced a carb , ever . Lucky I guess . I make sure and crank everything at least once a week over the winter .

From the STIHL website:

https://www.stihlusa.com/faq/products/fuel/

Will a 10% (E10) blend of ethanol hurt my gas-powered STIHL product?

All STIHL gasoline-powered engines can be used with up to a 10% (E10) blend of ethanol in the gasoline/engine oil mix. We also recommend that if a unit will be left unused for more than 30 days that it be stored “dry.” This means emptying the fuel tank and then restarting and letting the unit run until all the fuel is consumed and the engine stops. For maximum performance and engine life expectancy, we also recommend using STIHL Ultra HP 2-cycle engine oil.

Note: STIHL recommends use of fuel with no more than 10% ethanol content. Using fuel with greater than 10% ethanol content may cause damage to your equipment and may void your STIHL warranty.

Can I run E15 in my STIHL units?

No. All STIHL gasoline-powered engines can only be used with up to a 10% (E10) blend of ethanol in the gasoline/engine oil mix.

What fuel does Stihl recommend?

Unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 89 is recommended. A lower octane can cause some issues, such as increased engine temperature, increased piston seizures, and engine damage. Stihl offers 2-cycle oils made especially for Stihl chainsaws. Premium quality 2-cycle fuels provide protection for your engine.

I am of the opinion that if ethanol free gasoline is available then that is what I use.

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
If anyone knows of one...I would love to have a link to find 1-K or K1 kerosene sources. There are a lot that have the red dyed kero, making the clear kero very hard to find.

Check with your local general aviation airport. I buy Jet-A there for about the price of diesel fuel at the pump. No die, and they sump their tank every day, so it’s some of the cleanest fuel out there. They’ll even include Prist in if you want, but I omit it because I use it in space heaters and don’t want extra chemicals. I find it to be cleaner and way cheaper than 1-K.

Our local Fleet Farm sell kerosine at it’s own pump by the gas pumps. I do not know if it has red dye or not. Just don’t see that all too often.

I am right in the middle of corn country w/ fields and ethanol plants all over. Hard to get anything ethanol free. There are a few places that have corn free go-go juice and it is usually 91 octane. A little more expensive but, I don’t think ethanol belongs in smaller engines. Lawnmowers, snowblowers, and the Triumph all get “real” gasoline. No problems.

I keep harping on this, but you can store ethanol free gasoline way longer than a few months. I recently opened a can of fuel that I had dated 2014, and it smelled and ran like new.

Here’s the secret: It’s your shitty plastic container. Gasoline in an air-tight container will not evaporate off its VOCs, and will remain fresh. It’s why they can sell Stihl premixed gas at the store that may be years old. Notice it is sold in sealed metal containers.

If you wish to keep gasoline in storage, get some NATO Jerry cans. NOT the Chinese copies that have proliferated Amazon and your local store. The best source I have found is from Atlantic British.
Www.roverparts.com

Here is a link to the best way to buy them.
https://www.roverparts.com/off.../jerry-cans/GJC20K4/
These cans are genuine Wavian cans made in Latvia. They are completely air tight. In fact, you can fill them with fuel and throw them on their side in the back of your car. They don’t leak. I fill mine with ethanol free fuel, some Stabil, and some Seafoam. My fuel will store for a decade without rotation, although I usually rotate it every five years.

Do not buy the ones with a CARB or EPA spout. It adds a lot of cost, and is unnecessary. These ones from Rover have a “Water Only” sticker on them that easily peels off, so that is why they are getting away with selling them. I’m sure the EPA will ban these eventually, like everything else that works well.

Buy once, cry once.