10% Ethanol

sandlapper · Sep 19, 2009

After recently rebuilding my ATV carb and now missing a day"s work because of a very sticky float needle in my 8N a buddy mentioned to me that it is probably because of the gas that has been thrust upon us.
Apparently, the 10% ethanol is denaturing o-rings and some gas lines in our older machines... which would explain why I have had 2 bad float needles in 6 months.
Is everyone using ethanol free gas in their N"s and if so are there certain brands that you can share?
Thanks

pikewi · Sep 19, 2009

I have been forced to use the 10% for several years now. I add a little Seafoam at fillup and haven't had any problems. I don't know if the Seafoam is the reason or if I have just gotten lucky. A lot will call it snake oil

lha · Sep 19, 2009

I don't know if this helps,but Sta-bil makes a stabilizer formulated for ethanol "tainted"gas. I found it at o'reilly's auto---lha

ZANE · Sep 19, 2009

I have discovered that in nearly all small engines with floats in the carburetors and other vehicles with floats that if the gas is not replaced pretty regularly it will deposit a gummy film in the barrel of the seat and the sides of the needles and cause them to stick. I found that you can use lacqure thinner and a Q tip and get that crud off the needle and seat and it will then work. That is unless the needle has a neoprene tip and then the alchol may cause the tip to deteriorate and change shapes. Then it can't be fixed. Try to use a metal needle in an N carburetor is you can find one.

I have been told that straight gasloline without the ethenol is not sold anymore. Curses!!!!!!!!

Zane

Anonymous-0 · Sep 19, 2009

Seafoam is a very good product to use. I live in Iowa, and we have 10% ethanol big time here. We still have regular gas. Ethanol deteriots the ruber o rings and gaskets in tractors, cars, and other small engines not designed for it.
Roger

Jim SC · Sep 19, 2009

There is a local gas station here with a large sign reading "NO ETHONAL" and thats where I shop. (It also has great sausuage biscuits and farmer talk in the AM)

Anonymous-0 · Sep 19, 2009

Last week a good "lawn mower" customer called me and reported that his whole tank full of gas had leaked all over his garage floor and filled the crankcase with fuel.

I said that the float must of stuck in the carb.

I removed the carb. and completely rebuilt the carb. with a BRIGGS and STRATTON rebuild kit.

Sure enough the rubber seat on the float valve had deteriorated and allowed the fuel to leak.

The whole inside the carb. was coated with a yellowish gloop.

After the rebuild job.....she is running perfectly again. Had to be the junk in the new gas.

Moral to the story....install a fuel shut-off valve and USE IT after done mowing.

John,PA

Dunk · Sep 19, 2009

In some years past....(before my ownership)

My 4 wheeler has developed a leak in the gas tank.

Someone did the gas tank coat stuff to it.

With this new gas, the coat stuff stopped up the intake to the gas line in the tank.

It took acetone, and air pressure, to get it open.

It seems that the tanks is still sealed, but I went thru heck getting gas to flow thru it all again.

Bob Harvey · Sep 19, 2009

I suspect that 1/4 cup of ATF (or more if you prefer) every other tank with do the same thing. These are tuff $$ times.

HCooke · Sep 19, 2009

We've had nothing but 10% EtOH in eastern MO since I've had old tractors. Don't have any great problems, but never experienced running them on the old stuff

rlpintx · Sep 19, 2009

Yeah most gas is 10% etheanol...some station have gotten busted selling higher %'s you can get a inexpensive tester and avoid stations based on the tests Baileys sells em probably some of the other small engine places too..I've had to start rebuilding my carbs every 2-5 years. Gas goes bad in 2-3 months...stinks. I've even seen a new product at Walmart because of this they sell premix chainsaw gas no ethenanol...$8 a Qt? pretty pricey

Anonymous-0 · Sep 19, 2009

I have used up to 100% ethanol in 25 vehicles- with no problems at all, since 1975.

NovaNewfie · Sep 20, 2009

We've got a problem here in Canada with the low sulfur diesel fuels they are selling now that are supposed to reduce emissions. The problem is the fuel loses lubricity when you remove the sulfur content, you have to run conditioner to lubricate your injection system.

G6 at Snook, TX · Sep 20, 2009

Nova,

I have heard the same thing here about sulfur and diesel fuel.

Anyhow, does anyone know if Lucas Oil fuel treatment stabilizes fuel like Seafoam or some of the additives? Thanks.

gahorN · Sep 20, 2009

From the very industry that produces and supplies automotive products including additives:
"Dan Arcy, a technical marketing manager for Shell Oil Company says, "We have tested a number of different additives," says Arcy. "I can't say one I've ever tested that actually would perform in a diesel engine like some of the claims that were made. One of them we tested actually thickened the oil. You can't improve fuel economy by making the oil thicker."

Alex Bolkhovsky, commercial vehicles technical adviser for ExxonMobil says you might want to upgrade your oil instead of using an additive.
"If you're using an average type product, move to a premium product. If you're using a premium product, move to a synthetic product."

Other experts' opinions continue the warnings. Oil additives provide no benefit and can interfere and react with the additives already present in the oil."

10% Ethanol

sandlapper

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pikewi

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lha

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ZANE

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Anonymous-0

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Jim SC

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Anonymous-0

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Dunk

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Bob Harvey

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HCooke

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rlpintx

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Anonymous-0

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NovaNewfie

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G6 at Snook, TX

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gahorN

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