Lawn mowers and pump 87 gas with 10% Ethynol..........

[Mus408]

Me and my 20 yr. old Craftsman riding mower with 19.5 HP IC B/S engine still keep on chugging along.
Have used pump gas with the 10% since new...1998 with no issues.
Maintenance over the years...... change the oil once a year and clean the air filter... change fuel filter every couple years.
Took the carb apart for a rebuild when I had a hot start issue last year just for a check on it's internals.
The carb bowl area was still shiny aluminum clean and buttoned it up with new gaskets.
Problem was the ignition module.

I see that for last several years some of the new push mowers have molded polymer/plastic carbs now. like the one I have, and no mixture adjustments at all.

I wonder if these plastic carbs are more affected by the 10% Ethynol pump gas than the old aluminum carbs?
On my 1985 Mustang with race type setup never had much problem with the pump gas in the carbs.

Back to my rider mower...I may have used Stable a couple times over the years but not all the time and it will sit over the winter full of gas and crank right up the next season.

Been a very good lawn tractor over the years with just blades changed....one drive/deck belt change last year and still the original tires.

Of course it could die tomorrow and will have to think about a replacement one day since I use it down at my range property too now.
Would like a bigger Kubota one day to cut grass and maybe move a bit of dirt or gravel with!

 

[Dave P.]

We haven't seen any additional issues with the molded carbs that I would relate
to the material.
I think there's two issues that have primarily caused all the complaining about
small engine fuel systems. Number one is the very lean fixed jetting required
to meet emission requirements and the second is the short shelf life and water
attraction of the present ethanol blended fuels.
Equipment that may sit for eight months or more is most susceptible to gumming
up and corrosion. For us it's snow blowers and generators.
Ultrasonic cleaning at about 190 degrees ( for the carbs that can take it ) seems
to work pretty well for us.
Rec fuel, fuel stabilizer and draining fuel for storage also work if we can educate
the customer to do it.
Dave

 

[Mus408]

Yeah my old lawn tractor has a manual choke with pull cable and it is a bit rough when cold unless you let it warm up with a bit of choke. Doesn't like the blades engaged until it's warmed up.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Haven't had any issues with anything here with the new gas but I also use Seafoam fuel additive. Not so much in the truck but all cans for the mover, snowblower, etc get a dose mixed n before being added to the equipment.

 

[coach]

I’ve never had any issues with gas in a 20 some year old Deere, 30 y.o. outboard and other yard equipment. Some of that time we had MTB in the gas and not Ethanol. Always used a stabilizer (not stabil) over the winter. Never had to rebuild a carb, but have had ignition module go bad. The Deere still ran well but leaked oil so it was recently replaced.

 

[Dan in MI]

For well over twenty years I add stabil to my cans before I fill them. Every time, all the time. That way I never have to wonder about the gas in my equipment. Everything starts up easy after the off season and I have no carburetor issues.

 

[graygun]

I usually put some Sea Foam in the gas.

The plastic carb E-10/better than the old ones...IDK. I worked on one last year...new push mower...had to clean it internally...first time I worked with a carb issue on such a new mower.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Ethanol doesnt like aluminum and some plastics and rubber. Many a plastic motorcycle gas tank has been damaged by E10.

 

[Gator89]

I just had to rebuild the carburetor on my 1997 Honda Fourtrax. I have owned it since 2001, so not too bad I suppose.

 

[Dienekes]

I go out of my way to run 87 non ethanol. Very occasionally on a road trip I'm stuck with that garbage and replace it asap. I throw in some Sea Foam into all the vehicles periodically, ATVs and up. I keep some gas in cans and a caddy, and those get Sta-Bil.

Ethanol is the biggest con job since the public school system. Save me from "experts"....

 

[32shooter]

I started using the non-ethanol gas in all of my small engines, from my motorcycle, boat, mowers weedeaters, chainsaw ect...

 

[Cholo]

^^ Me, too, but this is like debating if a 9mm is best for bears. If you love ethanol--use it! Buy stock in it! If not? 100% gas is available.

www.pure-gas.org

 

[Dan in MI]

Having worked in the automotive industry since the 70's, I am always amazed at how the small engine manufacturers got away with ignoring ethanol and its effects for so long.


As a fuel it can work. Not the way we (the U.S.) make it, but in countries where it can be made cheaply. Even then it is still an inferior fuel.

 

[BROKENBEAR]

http://www.buyrealgas.com/ this site and others will lead you to good gas .. but in the midwest Exxon,Mobil and Phillips 66 seem to be the primary "everyday" sellers of non ethanol motor fuels ...not all but most ...just check the pump for the ethanol notice of lack of notice or ask the station personel

I switched EVERY gas burner I had over and no hard starts, clogged fuel system etc. since the switch years ago.

Bear

 

[Fox Mike]

^^ Me, too, but this is like debating if a 9mm is best for bears. If you love ethanol--use it! Buy stock in it! If not? 100% gas is available.

http://www.pure-gas.org

The nearest non-ethanol to me is about a 30 mile round trip. For the difference I see I'll just use what is available.

 

[powder smoke]

I buy REAL gas for all my small engines it's only about ten miles round trip.
Well worth it imo. ps

 

[opos]

I restore antique farm engines and they only get run "now and then" and the idiot fuel we are faced with today just turns to gum and looses it's 'oomph"
I've taken to running aviation lo lead 100 octane I can buy at a little airport in 5 gallon cans...it's expensive but cures all the problems..can also get racing fuel that works the same..again expensive but for just a few gallons it's not an issue.

 

[nlocke]

I have a 14 year old Craftsman riding mower that hates the ethanol fuel. It will start misfiring, so I've learned to mix Lucas ethanol treatment with each 5 gallon can of gas. That takes care of the problem.

 

[eveled]

Seemed to cause a lot of problems in the very beginning. Especially with fiberglass tanks, and some fuel lines. Everything that made it through that first year has been fine since. I use Stabil, and a shot of seafoam.

Carbs and tanks stay nice and clean. Seems to evaporate away pretty quick though. Leaving the tank nice and clean. (Could be worse). Before there was always a little gunk in the tank that never went away.

People used to swear by dry gas, seems the ethanol mix is almost the same?

 

[protoolman]

All I know is my 15 year old mower tractor got a bad habit of surging. Switching to premium fuel, which here has no ethanol in it, cured the problem immediately. I now buy the premium and run it in all my motorcycles scooters and lawnmowers.