De-ethanoling your fuel

[Rx7man]

While I do agree caution is in order when doing this, i just saw the specs for the Homelite 101, the octane requirement was 78-82.
I use 94 because that's the stuff with no ethanol around here, and it's easier than separating it out myself, but most motors don't need that much.

Common misconception about higher octane fuel is it burns faster, FALSE, it burns SLOWER... You should only have enough octane to prevent detonation, beyond that you'll never get more power, and sometimes less (especially at high RPM)

Rotary engines are particularly resistant to detonation (no hot exhaust valves), and they definitely made more power with the lowest grade of fuel you could get. (turbo'd engines are a different animal altogether)

 

[Mad Professor]

If you can't get non-E10 try a marina, boats don't like ethanol.

And AV gas by law has 0% ethanol, but then you get some lead and more octane than you need

 

[1Alpha1]

Although I now use canned fuel, I've used ethanol-laced pump gas for years and years, and never once, had a problem or issue of any kind.

After using my outdoor power equip., the fuel was drained from the tank and the equipment started back up and allowed to run until it died. Once my stock of canned fuel runs out, I'll probably just go back to pump gas and full-synth. oil.

I'm too old and life is too short, to worry about such things anymore.

 

[cemiii]

I think if it weren't illegal you'd have entrepreneurs running e-free in false bottom tanks like "shiners" used to do during prohibition.

Does anyone know why the premix stuff they sell in quart cans runs north of $80 a gal? Maybe it's not as high a margin product as I would think

 

[cemiii]

Pure-gas.org provides a map of e-free stations. Unfortunately, nearest to me is about 150 miles in a direction I almost never travel. It looks like the stuff is everywhere in the SE.

How much more pricey is AV gas than premium typically? Do you need a pilot license to buy it?

 

[TBS]

Vp premix is 20$ a gallon at tractor supply.

 

[TBS]

Also in the state me and you are in the air port security would be a big hassle. Best bet for av gas is get in good with a local farmer that has an air strip.

 

[HarleyT]

Just buy gas at the station and use it.......
Don't let it get old, or let it sit in your saw.....

 

[brandonstc6]

I know a guy who buys AV gas for his chainsaws. He doesn't have a problem getting it. I've been to a petroleum products distributor that would sell AV-gas


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[Chris-PA]

All my fuel is 87 octane E10 from the station 3/4mi away. Ethanol in fuel is dumb, but I don't have any issues with it other than vapor lock and I don't have time to mess with it.

 

[cemiii]

Last count, I have 6 chain saws, 3 weed wackers, 3 - 2 stroke outboards, 2 high wheel string trimmers, 4 ATVs, a pwc, an edger, 4 generators, 4 mowers, a water trailer with a pump, 3 vehicles, a skid steer, a tractor, a log splitter, a wood chipper, a plate compactor, 2 pressure washers and a partridge in a pear tree.

At any given time, the only one that I absolutely know is going to start is the partridge.

The others, except for 3 diesels, are all subject to E-10. I have just been looking for ways to lessen the maintenance load. I'm going to have to look into that tractor supply $20 stuff for the 2 strokes.

 

[Mad Professor]

Also in the state me and you are in the air port security would be a big hassle. Best bet for av gas is get in good with a local farmer that has an air strip.

I remember when I could drive my camaro right up to the pump and fill up with 100LL. That was an 11:1 motor with the block decked and the heads surfaced.

 

[TBS]

Nice! Last time I stopped in the dirt parking area across from the air tanker reload area at our airport a security officer drove up and started asking why I was there (just watch the tankers l&r for the french fire sir. Big fire here in 2014.)

 

[TysonH]

I'm in the same situation as you all are here in our Communist state. I looked in a good source of non ethanol gas for a some time. There are a few websites that will tell you were pure gas is sold although theres only a few and they are 100+miles from me, unless we were taking a road trip past there and in the truck not going to haul back 20 gallons of gas cans in our Rav4. If a guy was willing to separate the gas with water (I've done this by the way and its very convincing, the results that is) I have a supply of 105 Suncco at the pump about 45mines away if you were worried about losing too much octane with the ethanol, this stuff is upwards of 9/gallon. Thats still cheap when comparing the canned fuel at 40/gallon.

If you live in a city call the nearest rural airport, keyword rural and talk to a good ol boy from the country. I called two small air ports that are local to me and just told them what I wanted to do, one older lady I spoke to said sure thats what she used it for too. The other one I spoke with a guy who said ok too, but gave me a heads up to come after 5pm and not on a certain weekday night, "yes sir, thank you". I've got a weird look or two but no ones ever said anything at an airport.

Running 100LL now for a while it has a unique smell but I kinda feel like the fumes from the lead are a bit much but I have it in the mower, the ATV, and my old Jeep for the winter. Its a very high quality gas and at 4.50/gallon thats not bad. As others have said, its not a concern if you don't leave it in there forever. Run your stuff dry in the off season and use the ethanol stuff in the cutting season.

 

[Mad Professor]

There is a local airport that still has drive up self serve. Currently 100LL $4.45/gal, pay with credit card

 

[7sleeper]

Totally overblown paranoia about ethanol.

7

 

[cemiii]

I just pulled the fuel filter on ms461 and the oem fuel line was the consistency of jelly.

 

[Chris-PA]

I just pulled the fuel filter on ms461 and the oem fuel line was the consistency of jelly.

So a saw introduced to the market long after E10 was common does not have resistant fuel lines? What happened to that awesome German engineering?

 

[Amp4027]

What happened to that awesome German engineering?

The original founders of the company are long dead, and the kids only care about seeing 8+ digits in their trustfund bank account?

But seriously, the problem is the EPA. Using corn in gas has done nothing except drive up the prices of everything..... but maybe that was their original plan anyway. Even my CBR600RR runs like sh!t now, and I can feel the ECU retarding the timing from this crap.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

The original fuel line on our 034 is very soft, but it hasn't caused issues. E10 probably for the last 15 years.

That said, for manufacturers not to produce ethanol resistant components today.... given its widespread usage, just sticking their head in the sand.

I've heard Europe is going to E5 at some point.