BOB ELLISON 2,976 #1 Posted October 25, 2017 I tried to start my b80 and nothing. So I charged the battery and it turned over and over and over. So I put fresh gas with sea foam and no start. Checked spark and good spark. I decided to check fuel pump and got a good stream of gas. So I know now its In the carburetor. I shot some starting fluid it carb and it started up.I decided to pull carb and this is what I found. This is from only 5 months sitting. Now it has stabil and sea foam in the tank. This unleaded gas is bad news for sitting engines. 2 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,548 #2 Posted October 25, 2017 30 days is about the "shelf life" of ethanol gas. It's all down hill after that unless you treat it with Sta-Bil or Seafoam. 6 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 39,363 #3 Posted October 25, 2017 I've seen this a million times Bob.Well maybe not a million. I use premium no ethanol gas and my tractors that sit I use the 4 cycle fuel that places like Lowes and Home Cheapo sell. 3 yr shelf life. Never a problem since. And be careful with Sta-Bil. I have seen that crystallize also. 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digger 66 3,477 #4 Posted October 25, 2017 9 minutes ago, BOB ELLISON said: I tried to start my b80 and nothing. So I charged the battery and it turned over and over and over. So I put fresh gas with sea foam and no start. Checked spark and good spark. I decided to check fuel pump and got a good stream of gas. So I know now its In the carburetor. I shot some starting fluid it carb and it started up.I decided to pull carb and this is what I found. This is from only 5 months sitting. Now it has stabil and sea foam in the tank. This unleaded gas is bad news for sitting engines. What was in there to begin with ?? Marine grade Stabil ? I agree corn fuel is bad news , but i've never seen it turn green on it's own . Unless the alcohol absorbed so much moisture that it started to react with the brass float ?? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #5 Posted October 25, 2017 5 minutes ago, squonk said: And be careful with Sta-Bil. I have seen that crystallize also. Our local agriculture equipment dealer told me a couple of years ago that they switched from Sta-Bil to Seafoam and have not experienced any problems since then! I saw no reason to doubt him so I use Seafoam exclusive! 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,646 #6 Posted October 25, 2017 I had the same problem...you'da thot someone planted corn in the carb bowl. I tried Stabil, but that only turned the green 'seeds' to brown. Ultimately I began using Seafoam and have not since had a problem. A better idea is to buy Ethanol Free gas, which I've also done. Even with that, I still use Seafoam cuz I like to 'over-kill' an issue. 6 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #7 Posted October 25, 2017 (edited) 1 minute ago, daveoman1966 said: I had the same problem...you'da thot someone planted corn in the carb bowl. I tried Stabil, but that only turned the green 'seeds' to brown. Ultimately I began using Seafoam and have not since had a problem. A better idea is to buy Ethanol Free gas, which I've also done. Even with that, I still use Seafoam cuz I like to 'over-kill' an issue. I totally agree. My family calls me "Over-kill Ken", but I don't have redo many projects! Edited October 25, 2017 by KC9KAS 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 39,363 #8 Posted October 25, 2017 (edited) Sea Foam is an awesome product and anyone who doubts it will have to grab a chair and sit a while as I explain in detail all of the things I have fixed or seen fixed with it. Edited October 25, 2017 by squonk 7 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 47,225 #9 Posted October 25, 2017 Don't know as I ever seen the green stuff Bob, wonder what caused it? Now Dave' pics yes plenty of times. I do try to empty the bowl if I am going to lay a tractor up for months by shutting off the pet cocktail and runt till is empties out plus choke it as it's starting to sputter. Don't know if that helps but figure it can't hurt. Sometimes I wish they hadn't done away with bowl drains. I'm also with Mike on the seafoam. Which surprises my self not being a believer of tune up in a can. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 52,655 #10 Posted October 25, 2017 1 hour ago, daveoman1966 said: buy Ethanol Free gas, which I've also done. Even with that, I still use Seafoam I too have been using ethanol free with Seafoam for several years and have had no further fuel related problems. http://www.buyrealgas.com/ https://www.pure-gas.org 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,154 #11 Posted October 25, 2017 I live in a small town the only gas station here only sales one grade of gas 87. I use seafoam in the fall seems to work well. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gsummers 236 #12 Posted October 25, 2017 I can only get ethonal gas where I live, I have used Seafoam for couple of years now, have had no problems. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,986 #13 Posted October 26, 2017 2 hours ago, squonk said: Sea Foam is an awesome product and anyone who doubts it will have to grab a chair and sit a while as I explain in detail all of the things I have fixed or seen fixed with it. That would be me. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,963 #14 Posted October 26, 2017 Oh no...here we go. 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOB ELLISON 2,976 #15 Posted October 26, 2017 When I placed the carb in my work pan I removed the bolt that holds the bowl and all the gas was green. Mesa thinks it was from water in the bowl and as soon as the gas evaporated the water turned the flot green along with the gas when I opened the valve under the tank. It probably was just as Dave said. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 39,363 #16 Posted October 26, 2017 (edited) Alky Hal attracts moisture hence the H2O. OK things Fixed with Sea Foam: B-i-l had a car he just bought. Wanted me to check it over for brakes steering ect. I drive it and the engine knocks bad. I call him and tell him that it sound like you got a bad engine. He picks it up and adds a can of Sea foam to the oil. "you can't spoil a rotten egg" Knock disappears and he drives it 2 years. I had a 94 Chevy PU with 120,000 on it and a lifter tick when warm. I'm working at Napa and the Sea Foam rep comes in and gives me a can to try. He says add half a can to the oil. I do and drive 5 miles home for lunch. Tick is gone and stays gone for another 60,000. Delivery van's door hinges are stiff and I'm tired of fighting with them.We try Thrust, WD 40, Liquid wrench ect. nothing helps. I try SF Deep Creep and now the doors hit me in the butt cause they won't stay open. Weedeater won't rev up. I call my OPE guy because I hate tiny carbs. He says add a little SF to it first before you bring it in. I add a couple of tablespoons and WROOOM! Wife's van is pinging like crazy. Add a can to the gas and no more ping. Impact wrench is down on power. I add some air tool oil and no change. Squirt some SF in it and it's like new again. My 520 hunted and surged at idle when I got it. Added a good dose of SF to the tank and add some every time I fill it. Surging has been lessened to the point where it only happens once every five times I idle it. I'll have to think about some more. Edited October 26, 2017 by squonk 10 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,528 #17 Posted October 26, 2017 I also use Ethanol free gas with Sea Foam. Works for me. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,986 #18 Posted October 26, 2017 I use ethanol-free, 89 octane gas only. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,681 #19 Posted October 26, 2017 Not only being into the GT hobby but also the vintage car hobby, this fuel topic comes up a lot. Ethanol has a lot of problems associated with it for hobby machines. I have seen numerous problems with it and steer clear of it for any of my in shop fuel tanks (whether attached to a vehicle or on the shelf.) I have used Stabil in the past but am not convinced that it works like SeaFoam does. My uncle had put some Ethanol into one of my GT's last fall and I had a real challenge getting it going right this spring. Fuel certainly isn't what it used to be years ago. I'm a big fan of running premium in my GT's all summer and storing them with full tanks and SeaFoam in winter. I like @WHX12 method of running the float bowl dry for the winter as well. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,462 #20 Posted October 26, 2017 I get so much stuff here brought to me by the local folks in town that look like all the pics above - they know my equipment runs forever and I rarely ever have an issue so they ask if I can fix theirs . So far , only two keep coming back with their push mowers because they refuse to pay the extra cost of the "premium" non-ethanol fuel - instead they are paying me to fix the carb and one now has just gotten a new fuel tank due to corrosion . I have seen the green color on a couple of occasions - those folks bought their fuel at Casey's which is somewhat of a bottom-barrel quality fuel (no offense) . We're down to one place now locally to get non-ethanol 91 octane and one station that is 30 miles away - I'm getting nervous . I know for a fact that after 3wks the ethanol laced fuels start to break down as well as start causing corrosion in aluminum carbs and their brass parts - the stuff is highly corrosive . My 2014 pickup will drop around 5mpg on average if I don't run the non-ethanol and also starts getting some rattles upon startup - runs perfect on the Philip's 66 / 91 octane ethanol - free and definitely has a lot more throttle response . The modern digital injection engines are designed to compensate for this crap so most folks will never know the difference - nor notice over time the damage it's doing to their engines . My old Land Cruiser was designed to run on nearly any gasoline in 3rd World countries , clear down to 75 octane by means of an adjustable timing advance knob on the distributor - it absolutely hates ethanol and in a short time will flat out refuse to start - the stuff is that bad and I deeply hate it . Not going into the whole argument about what it's done to the food markets and all the subsidies paid out to support it's production - but in my opinion it's complete idiocy to use/make the stuff . Sea Foam is a very effective cleaner and seems to help keep the fuel from causing the corrosion issues . Sta-Bil is a stabilizer - you must use it with fresh gas right out of the pump and it must be of good quality to start with for it to work correctly . If you can't find local non-ethanol fuels or find something in the search engines - ask around with the bikers , racers and vintage car guys - they will know what works best in older engines . Sarge 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,565 #21 Posted October 26, 2017 ...agree with all the above but I’ve had really good luck with StarTron fuel additive too . ... If your going to store your equipment for a long time without starting it periodically (I try to start everything once a month) or draining the fuel system the only way to go is airplane or racing gas . Yes it’s pricey but I’ve seen cars with racing fuel set for ten years . Take off the fuel cap and take a whiff . The gas still smells like gas not turpentine and will fire right up . This is how many car collectors store their vehicles without having to worry about going through the whole fuel system after setting for years . 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 47,225 #22 Posted October 26, 2017 After looking at your work pan Bob maybe you should save the green gas for St. Pattys day! Here's my solution I keep two gas cans, one for high test and one for corn fuel. I have them labeled Miller and Miller Lite... I use the Miller in the good tractors & motors I care about, the Miller Lite in tractors or disposable motors I don't care about. If I know I am going to burn through a whole tank on a chore I will sometimes use the lite on a good motor. then refilled with Miller. When they all set for the winter they all get hi-test & seafoam & sometimes a shot of stabil. Must suck being in an area Slammer where you can't even get hi-test. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,681 #23 Posted October 26, 2017 Filled up the old work truck this morning at my favorite convenience mart here in WI, Kwik Trip. They had a new "gem" as an option, super 88... Its E15 which will really cause complications in your favorite hobby vehicle when stored. Used to be 87 and 89 with up to 10% ethanol and the good stuff on the right. Excluding my '69 Goat all my GT usage combined over a year probably only costs me $50-75 more to run non ethanol fuel constantly. To me, the hobby has costs associated with it and that is cheap insurance against multiple fuel related headaches... 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 47,225 #24 Posted October 26, 2017 Yes use that trigger to the right on the GT's Josh... unless you got guys coming over for a plow day who like to go thru a lot of gas and your not friends with them! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,681 #25 Posted October 26, 2017 especially if they bring a yellow and white tractor on your property.. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites