Ethanol Based Gas Woes....

[Trixters_muse]

Here in Florida gas has to be cut with 10% Ethanol, may not seem like a big deal except it is causing problems with small engines like lawn mowers and chain saws. There was a news report about it recently and supposedly it's not bothering most cars, just small engines and some boats.

My own lawn mower is 5 years old, well maintained and has never given me any troubles until the gas was cut with ethanol. Now I am having all kinds of issues with it and it seems to be a common problem in this area.

I bought some gas treatment to see if that will help, if anyone has any ideas on what I can do to deal with this issue I am open to any thoughts. My friend goes to Georgia once a month and I think I'm gonna send her off with a 5 gallon gas can next trip. Should I go ahead and put some gas treatment in that gas too?

I wonder if the powers that be did any research to see if these kind of problems could occur. It's not like we were even given a choice to keep using the pure gas, it was just kinda dumped on us.

[Riverrat]

They just started doing the same thing here. For anything with a small engine, or any gas I am going to have on hand for awhile, I buy supreme. This does not have the ethanol in it yet, at least here.

[Ernie]

I have heard that it damages ALL engines over time, but I don't know for sure.

[kkbinco]

The problem originates in that alcohol has oxygen atoms already bound to the molecule, in addition to what the carburetor, or whatever, adds to the mixture. So in effect you're running your engine way too lean. If you have the option try running it with the choke engaged all the time.

Usually an engine is converted to alcohol use by having its fuel jets reamed out a smidge.

[Harry Chickpea]

One of the ways you can minimize the problem is to find and use the fuel cut-off switch when finished with the mower. Let the carb run completely dry. If you think about it, the alochol/gas mix only needs to be in contact with the float bowl and most plastic parts while the engine is running. Run it for 2 hours a week, keep the carb soaking in the mixture for the other 166 makes no sense.

[Riverrat]

The only problem with that Harry, or so the small engine mechanic I use tells me, is that that ethanol will cause the rubber in the gas lines to go soft and to collapse.

[Cabin Fever]

We've had 10% ethanol fuel for many, many years in Minnesota. The one saving grace is that all pumps also have a non-ethanol premium choice which costs abot 40¢ more than the regular with ethanol. There is a sign on the pump that states that the non-ethanol fuel is to only be used in small engines, boat motors, and vintage vehicles.

[AngieM2]

Can I have one of those vintage vehicles?

[mnn2501]

Been running 10% alchohol for over a decade with no issues in my lawn mower or chain saw and both are older than your mower.

[SRSLADE]

Use gas oil mix in all the little guys.

[time]

Know many people with problems with ethanol ruining motors. (boats, ect)

None for me though.

[Trixters_muse]

Thanks for the input

I did some clean up on the filter and everything today and put gas treatment in the gas. It ran ok, still not perfect but it worked good enough to get the grass cut.

My friend is picking me up some gas in Georgia next week, just in time to cut the grass again.

[texican]

Works great fresh... let it sit for a month, and my chainsaw says no startee... a local station sells alcohol free gas, for outboard motors. If I drove by the place, I'd fill up my 5 gallon tanks regularly, for my chainsaw and water pump.

I've got the old fashioned priming of my water pump down to an art... pull the carb cover, squirt or dribble some gas direct in, pull cord to start, and hope the whole thing doesn't blow up...

[Usingmyrights]

Trixters I saw that the Hess station on Timuquana on the westside (near NAS Jax) had non-ethanol gas. It was awhile back and I don't know how much they wanted for, just saw them advertising it. The marineas should also offer ethanol free gas though it'll cost a bit more.

[Trixters_muse]

Usingmyrights.....THANK YOU! I am not that far from that area, my mom lives even closer. Since it's just for my saws and mower the cost isn't TOO much of a deal versus having to spend much more $$ in repairs and replacement.

Thanks again!

[Usingmyrights]

As mentioned, its been awhile since I was up that way, so I don't know if they still carry it or not. Let me know if they do and what grade, because I'll probably fill up a gas can or two when I get up there again.