Warning about today's lousy fuel

[JackC 617]

Is your horse's carb corroding?

From Emerich Sales & Service Inc.

Notice:

Remember to Start your Snow Blower once a month. Make sure you always use Fresh High Test Fuel in All your Lawn and Garden power equipment. Today's fuel does Not last long and starts to corrode parts in a very short time. Untreated Fuel is Only good for 30 Days MAX and Fresh High Test Fuel with Stabilizer is Only Good for 90 Days max!! If the fuel is left in your fuel can or fuel tank longer, then it Corrodes the inside of your carburetor and you will need a Carb rebuild or new Carburetor.

This is serious. Call or write your government rep and complain about the lousy fuel corroding our carburetors. (It won't do any good but at least you can let off some steam. According to several reliable sources, the ethanol situation is a bunch of baloney with no real benefits and we could go back to real gas.)

I think from now on I will drain the fuel from my horses if they will be sitting for a long time as most of them do.

[VinsRJ 723]

I drain and then add a little stablizer...

[oldredrider 2,553]

I feel your pain about the crappy gas. As far as calling or writing your gov't. rep to complain about this problem, your government representative PUT you and everyone else in this mess. The EPA and other government agencies do NOT want older (low efficiency) engines to run. Remember "cash for clunkers"?

The best thing you can do (in my opinion) is to run 93 octane gas with a GOOD fuel stabilizer/cleaner such as Seafoam.

It's worked for me and probably will until the govt. outlaws that!

[hm12460 53]

I use non-ethanol gas only in all my outdoor power equipment. Expensive but well worth it.

[Duff 206]

Somewhere on another thread about this same subject someone recommended LL100 aviation gas. Pricey, but it is both ethanol free and supposedly has some lead in it which may aid in internal lubrication. Anyone remember this discussion?

Duff :thumbs:

[baerpath 517]

Use racing fuel in the show horses as they sit so much. 114 octane leaded and no ethanol Can sit for years and still have that sweet smell of real gas, I'll also run some through if the carb starts junking up cleans them out

[Torino 15]

I use gas treatment in all my tractors but the hard part is the more GTS you get, you use each one less and can't remember how old the fuel is in each one. I think this year I will try to keep a record of when each was fueled. I have to say though I have not had much problem with carbs unless I run the tank dry. I often wonder what my fuel filter is doing. I have a Simplicity that seems real easy for me to run out of fuel and each time I have to clean the carb. I have taken the tank off and cleaned it put new fuel lines on but if I run it dry I have to clean it. Some say with all the filters they use you can't get dirt or sediment from a gas station pump. I think they are dead wrong. A couple of years ago I got a brand new gas can filled it once and I notice when I had used it all there was junk in the bottom. I always keep the gas cap on so it most likely came from the station.

Do you guys think using the high grade fuel is worth it? The last couple of years I have been using a 520H to mow with and it loves the gas.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

I try to stay away from BP and all the no name brands of gasoline for my LAGT's. Primarily I make a point to only use Shell or Exxon. I have found out the hard way that BP gas is bad for carbureted engines. I can't even run it in my C-30 Chevy with a Holley 4 barrel carb. The carb gets full of junk even with a filter in the line.

[Butch 194]

I think the best gas out there is Citgo. All me vehicles got their best mileage on their gas. Citgo comes from Venezuala only.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

I think the best gas out there is Citgo. All me vehicles got their best mileage on their gas. Citgo comes from Venezuala only.

Thanks Butch. I may have to try some Citgo.

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

I use non-ethanol gas only in all my outdoor power equipment. Expensive but well worth it.

We use the same thing. FOr as many tractors we have sitting you pretty much have to have it! ~Jake

[wp205a 43]

Ethanol is making small engine repair shop owners and vendors of that new fuel line rich. They ain't getting rich off me. I'll use non-ethanol as long as it's available in everything I own. Merle Haggard asked, in the 80's, are the good times really over for good?

[MalMac 1,332]

The gas by me is just plain junk. I have switched to using 94oct. All the tractors run way much better. The gas even smells like gas used to smell and even has the color of gas instead of just being pure clear. I still use seafoam regularly. Just have to watch how often I use Seafoam because it's hard on rubber gas lines.

Was talking to my nephew down in Florida and he was telling me some of the stations started putting in pumps marked recreational gas. Guess it has no ethanol in it. of course he said you pay for getting real gas but was worth it in the long run.

[SCOOBY 312-h 14]

we sell a fuel additive called startron thats an enzyme and a stabilyzer that kills the ethonol problem, we go through the stuff like candy here, the fuel is horrible.

[fireman 1,022]

I use Startron also. It was recommended to me by the dealer who sold me my Stihl backpack blower and weed wacker. They say it has dropped the number significantly of repairs coming in for carb related issues when used.

As a side note I also add a lead additive to all my older tractors. Those engines were designed to be run on leaded gasoline and needs it to help with the lubrication. It's getting harder to find though. My local auto parts store only carries one brand and only keeps a few bottles of it in stock.

The last time I went to buy the Startron they were out so I settled for some by Lucas. Pretty much the same thing as the other. I also use another fuel conditioner by Lucas. This I also put in all my gas engine equipment along with putting it in my vehicles every few months.

[SCOOBY 312-h 14]

ive been using lucas injector cleaner in my car for a long time, and i use the lucas ethonol treatment in my truck a time or 2, those are two exellent products and i would also recommend them to anyone.

[doc724 925]

This info is really helpful, although I think the real culprit is the 10% ethanol in all grades of gas today. So my question is: "if you have a machine (like a generator) that get infrequent use and you shut off the gas supply (before sutting off the engine) and let the fuel bowl empty, does this minimize the problems you have cited (or have no effect at all)?" thx

[SCOOBY 312-h 14]

i would think that you would almost have to drain the gas, and clean the carb out completly to minimize fuel problems in machines that sit.

[MalMac 1,332]

On my tractors that set. I Totally empty the tanks then put just enough Seafoam and gas in to get it started let run till it runs out. Then I take the cap off the tank for a bit so the tank can dry by evaporation. That way there is no gas in the machine at all. So far that method has worked for me.

[leeave96 490]

Might not hurt to use some MMO in the gas. Maybe an oil residue would help coat everything and keep corrosion down.

[wh500special 2,277]

I must live a charmed life.

For years, I have always gravitated to the gas that contained alcohol at the 10% level even when other options were available. Occasionally, I add a stabilizer which is just more alcohol if I plan on storing the item for more than a few months. I've always worked on the assumption that the alcohols will drag any moisture out of the fuel and pass it through the engine before it has a chance to accumulate and cause a problem.

Maybe my luck will run out someday, but I've had the same partial tank in my generator for at least 2 years now and it starts right up and runs under load every couple of months when I exercise and test it.

I'm in the middle of the midwest and have heard plenty of people say our gas supply is junk around here.

The one fuel-related problem I've had that wasn't caused by literally years of sitting unused was in a gas powered blower 2 years ago. The thing ran perfectly up until the moment it ran out of fuel. I refilled it, and it just wouldn't run right or throttle up. I tried cleaning the carburator with no improvement and eventually dropped the thing off at the dealership for a check (it was under warranty). Apparently "something" got sucked into a small passage in the carb and clogged it up and I missed it during the cleaning. Who knows what it was, but they attributed it to ethanol in the fuel...the same fuel I run my lawnboy and other stuff on.

I find it hard to think that anybody could beat the multi-billion dollar oil companies at their own game when it comes to additives, conditioners, etc. But there is a huge market for these products so perhaps there's something there.

I just lived by the "keep it clean, keep it dry, keep it completely full or completely empty" philosophy and things have worked themselves out.

Again, I think I must have had a good run of luck.

Steve

[fireman 1,022]

I have been using the additives I mentioned for a few years. I usually only keep a splash of gas in the tanks of the show tractors anyway. At the end of the season, I usually run them just about out of fuel then shut off the valve and let the engine run until it dies. My tractors stay in my heated dry workshop year round and I have never had a problem starting any of them in the spring.

My Honda Generator has an 8 gallon fuel tank which I keep full of fuel at all times. I add all the additives to it and also shut the valve off and let the engine run until it dies. I do roll it out of the garage once a month and run it under load for 10 to 15 minutes to keep it always at the ready. If I don't have to use it and the gas has sat for 6 months, I siphon it out and dump it into my truck, then refill with fresh gas and additives. The Honda engines starts first pull every time!

[HorseWhisperer 243]

I use and have used 93octane sunoco fuel mixed with lead substitute,seafoam and star tron additive.I have done this for 3 years now.A close friend owns/operates a busy small engine repair shop and recommended this so he doesnt get rich off me.I have run my teccy powered horse tiller and generator twice a year without fail.The tiller has 2 year old fuel and will start on first pull.

[KC9KAS 4,744]

No amount of calling or letters will change our government's mind about the ethanol....In fact, they are pushing 15% instead of the current 10% in gasoline.

In our area, the COUNTRY MARK (formerly CO-OP) fuel stations have NON ethanol fuel if you buy the top of the line 93 octane.

I use the ethanol laden (10%) unleaded gasoline in all my internal combustion engines, BUT I always add a pint of SEAFOAM to 5 gallons of gasoline for my motorcycles, mowers and weed-eaters....basically everything except my truck & wifes car......(Gas doesn't stay in my truck long enough to go bad)!

I have not had any fuel issues using the SEAFOAM, and I have been doing this for 3 or 4 years....(as I am knocking on wood)!

[rick 257]

100 LL Av Gas works well, at least for me. If you are close to a rural airfield with a self service fueling point, just use the credit card and get you a 55 gal barrel full !!

the last time I got some it was between $4-5 a gallon. Not only does it smell good, it evaporates completely if/when you spill some. The exhaust spout will turn white, just like they used to on our 60's muscle cars after after a hard run.(Like outrunning the local constabulary......).