Posted on 07/10/2013 5:24:27 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
Briggs & Stratton Co. has never liked ethanol because it can make a mess of things at the worst possible time -- like when you need to cut the grass and your lawn mower spits, sputters and just won't start.
Often, water in the gasoline is the culprit, according to Briggs, the world's largest manufacturer of small gasoline engines.
And the company says the biofuel additive ethanol, which is contained in most of the gasoline people buy today, can attract moisture out of the air like steel sticks to a magnet.
Moisture in gasoline is a big problem for boats, lawn mowers, generators and other equipment powered by gasoline engines, said Scott Wesenberg, manager of Briggs' fuel systems group.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Part of this problem is caused by today's EPA-mandated unvented fuel cans. Compared to a few years ago, it does seem as though more vapor pressure is building due to the fuel - but it's the container.
Back in the '80s and earlier, fuel cans did have a vent cap - but it was mostly there to allow slosh-free pouring, not as a true vapor seal.
Minnesota elected Al Franken - they deserve the misery...
I use Stabil and have fuel shut-offs on all tanks. Shut the fuel off and run the carb dry to stop. Seems to help. Sea Foam is also good stuff. It will clean a carb in 30 minutes if you can get the engine running just a little.
Av Gas does not have ethanol and is 100 octane. Works great but is expensive. A lot less expensive than using it in an airplane for both fuel and cooling.
You can get usually get a stubborn small engine started and running with a propane torch. Unscrew the tip (make sure you keep track of the "pill" underneath), open the valve and hold it over the air intake and turn it over. It'll run on the propane until the fuel system gets primed.
signed into law by Timmy Pawlenty, alleged republican.
2005 Franken was still in diapers and rabbit ears.
Prior to winter storage, I leave a small 50/50 gas & Seafoam mix in and run it till it quits.
That is another one I never heard of. The first thing to get clogged is usually the float needle valve.
I guess small engines and airplanes are the last stand for carburetors. Maybe some race cars?
Gotta remember that—although, I have access to ethanol-free gas here in Rockingham County, NC
While moisture is a problem at all ratios of gasoline and corn crap, the damage done to fuel delivery systems is not addressed here nor the damage which will be done to 2007 (I believe is the cutoff) and earlier by E15 will give AAA a lot of towing calls.
My RV started dying at highway speeds immediately after its first batch of E85 (low on fuel and the only thing available) and it took about 4 or 5 (can’t remember exactly but is was 4 minimum) new fuel filters before all the crude stopped plugging them up.
Some other downsides. My snowblower has to run at about a 20-30% choke to keep running with E10 and no longer can throw the snow 30+ feet like it used to.
My GoldWing motorcycle needs a little choke all the time to keep from hesitating under acceleration.
My 2007 Grand Marquis gets an easy 24.5+ MPG on regular gas and 20 to 22.1 (best ever) on E10 so there is no way I am saving anything with Exx and in fact it is costing me more so our food can be burned as fuel.
Once again as lying lawyers (most politicians are lying lawyer scum) only have one tool in their tool belt everything becomes a law and we lose.
True, but since they elected Franken they still deserve it.
I pretty much do the same thing. It works albeit imperfectly for medium-small engines like snowblowers and lawnmowers which have needle carburetors and floats; but for small two-strokes like weedwhackers and chainsaws, there's no way to run the diaphragm carburetors really dry.
Tell me more about "Sea Foam." For me, it's a medium-size rambling, whitish pink rose.
I recently read an article saying that our taxes subsidize the ethanol industry at the rate of $1.05 per gallon. IOW, we pay at the pump for the ethanol that's ruining our small motors, (and also damaging fuel systems in older cars), and then again when we pay taxes used to subsidize production of the ethanol that's doing the damage to begin with.
You can lead a horse to water, but.......
Through an almost devastating experience with pressure build up in a portable, metal gas can, I learned the wisdom of letting the pressure bleed off before use. This was in the ‘60s, long before the ethanol mandate.
SeaFoam is available at most Wally worlds. If it’s not order it off the web. I have four water craft and attest to it being effective. I use it in each tank at the start of the season. I’ll use it again if I have any fuel trouble during the season. It’s always worked. I’ll also use Marvel Mystery Oil for top end lubrication if I’m suspicious of the gasoline, particularly in my eTec since it runs too lean by design (stoopid 3-star CARB rating).
If you live anywhere close to a marina, go there to buy your lawn equipment fuel. They often sell ethanol free gas there.
Try some of this stuff. I don’t know what’s in it but it seems to work well. I have been using it every time I put gas in my new (now 3 years old) mower and have not had any problems.
http://www.blastercorporation.com/Lawn_Mower_Tune-Up.html
“Minnesota is the first state with a law mandating 20-percent ethanol use by the year 2013”
The mixers are fudging on the % now. My Jeep mechanic got a test kit after suspecting the blend was too high. He’s seen as high as 18%.
Run your engine dead dry before putting it away for the winter.
2. If you have a tank with old gas in it go to the local civil airport and buy a gallon of aviation gasoline. Mix it 50/50 with what you have and that will get you going again.
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