I have been a master mechanic since 1970 and am certified in all areas of Automotive and Heavy Diesel Vehicles too. There is a problem with ethanol blended fuels and present or older lawn equipment.
1. Ethanol causes plastic and rubber items to swell up and fail.
2. Ethanol draws moisture into the fuel but it can be a good source in place of "Dry Gas" when you want to remove moisture from your fuel tank.
3. Adding Ethanol causes the average piece of equipment to run slightly "Lean". You may notice this or not depending on how the carburetor is adjusted.
4. Ethanol is not as volatile or explosive as gasoline.
5. Ethanol as a alcohol is corrosive and can cause pitting of carburetor and gas tank parts.
Fortunately there is a relatively cheap source of NON ETHANOL fuel available in most areas where there is an Airport. Aviation fuel (AVGAS), contains absolutely no Ethanol. It has the ability to be pumped into a storage container and does not become STALE. 2-3 years after you pump it, if you empty the container back into your equipment it operates as good as fresh fuel.
As I say it is relatively cheap, I mean about $1.50 to $2.00 more than standard E10 gasoline. Stihl chainsaw manufacturers sell a fuel for their chainsaws and equipment that does not contain any Ethanol, but it is $8.00 approximately a QUART. I could get $25 worth of AVGAS for all my chainsaws and have enough for all season.
A homeowner who mows their yard with a regular lawnmower could mow their whole lawn for the summer on $20 worth of Aviation (AVGAS) gasoline.
Most airports will sell you AVGAS with no problem. In fact they love to sell it at $5.00 to $5.50 a gallon current price. My local airport has a pump and all I have to do is drive my car to the pump, slide my debit card, and purchase whatever I need to fill my 5 gallon containers.
Remember, the FAA does not allow Ethanol in their airplane fuels (and there must be a reason). Notably, my chainsaw which I had operated on E10 gasoline now has a internal thread screw gas cap that screws into the tank HARD, because it is larger (swelled up), than it used to be because of the Ethanol. I am going to have to purchase a new cap to get rid of the problem.:smile:
1. Ethanol causes plastic and rubber items to swell up and fail.
2. Ethanol draws moisture into the fuel but it can be a good source in place of "Dry Gas" when you want to remove moisture from your fuel tank.
3. Adding Ethanol causes the average piece of equipment to run slightly "Lean". You may notice this or not depending on how the carburetor is adjusted.
4. Ethanol is not as volatile or explosive as gasoline.
5. Ethanol as a alcohol is corrosive and can cause pitting of carburetor and gas tank parts.
Fortunately there is a relatively cheap source of NON ETHANOL fuel available in most areas where there is an Airport. Aviation fuel (AVGAS), contains absolutely no Ethanol. It has the ability to be pumped into a storage container and does not become STALE. 2-3 years after you pump it, if you empty the container back into your equipment it operates as good as fresh fuel.
As I say it is relatively cheap, I mean about $1.50 to $2.00 more than standard E10 gasoline. Stihl chainsaw manufacturers sell a fuel for their chainsaws and equipment that does not contain any Ethanol, but it is $8.00 approximately a QUART. I could get $25 worth of AVGAS for all my chainsaws and have enough for all season.
A homeowner who mows their yard with a regular lawnmower could mow their whole lawn for the summer on $20 worth of Aviation (AVGAS) gasoline.
Most airports will sell you AVGAS with no problem. In fact they love to sell it at $5.00 to $5.50 a gallon current price. My local airport has a pump and all I have to do is drive my car to the pump, slide my debit card, and purchase whatever I need to fill my 5 gallon containers.
Remember, the FAA does not allow Ethanol in their airplane fuels (and there must be a reason). Notably, my chainsaw which I had operated on E10 gasoline now has a internal thread screw gas cap that screws into the tank HARD, because it is larger (swelled up), than it used to be because of the Ethanol. I am going to have to purchase a new cap to get rid of the problem.:smile: