Premium fuel with ethanol or regular non-ethanol?

[NWCoaster]

Not doubting your words at all, I would question just how much the customers bringing in their equipment that they obviously can't diagnose or work on...exactly just how many truly are putting additives and stabilizers in their gas for pre-mix, or straight gas engines. If it's a simple, pull a carb, clean the gum out, hit it with at least carb and choke cleaner, drain it, hit it with a compressor...I simply wonder how many are bringing OPE in that has had gas or mix sitting in it since the season before, with nothing added to the fuel. Sounds like damn good business if nothing else. My stuff sure ain't got those problems and never has. Just sayin from my own equipment and experience.

Now, 2123 will have to figure out another 'drain it everytime after use' post, lol. I guess in AZ, with a sand/gravel/cactus front and back yard, ya may not be runnin your stuff like 99% of other folks do.

EDIT...Rockjock, you folks winters are a lot more brutal and much longer where you are for sure than where I am. I can certainly understand the chances of gas/ethanol gumming things up a heap more. Extreme cold for lengthy periods of time is probably much more of a factor in the equation for you folks.

 

[NWCoaster]

The sea of lawnmowers, trimmers, zero turns, generators, tillers, chainsaws, and now snowblowers at my dealership that are in for ethanol related issues says otherwise. Talking to the mechanics in the back they all agree, drain and run dry. We have countless people coming in insisting they used a fuel stabilizer and yet the OPE will not start. Funny how the fuel stabilizer snake oil companies offer no warranty . I have seen too many carbs with " jelly " in them from the ethanol and they are in an airtight environment no? I have to ask why people tempt fate. Just drain the gas, run dry and be done with it. Penny wise pound foolish

Ok, I believe you when you say you find jelly in carbs. What is causing the jelly? ( What is interacting supposedly with the ethanol that makes the jelly?) And just because one group of guys working in the same shop agree on something doesn't make them correct.

 

[RedFir Down]

And just because one group of guys working in the same shop agree on something doesn't make them correct.

Any one that works on OPE that has ethanol fuel in there area (pretty much the norm in the states) notices it.
I would say 70% of the saws I repair are fuel related issues (carbs, carb kits, fuel lines and filters) that are caused from ethanol.

 

[KenJax Tree]

I use 91 octane E free. Its nice living in the Great Lake state where you can drive 10 minutes in any direction and find water and a marina with E free gas. [emoji4]

 

[chuckwood]

89 octane no ethanol

Nearly all the chainsaw manufacturers recommend 89 octane. Unless you have a really high compression engine, it seems to me you'd get less performance with 93 - it would be burning a bit too slow. What I do is mix 87 with 93 to get something around 90 octane - non ethanol of course. My carb problems with small engines have gone away since I've switched to using pure gasoline.

 

[USMC615]

Nearly all the chainsaw manufacturers recommend 89 octane. Unless you have a really high compression engine, it seems to me you'd get less performance with 93 - it would be burning a bit too slow. What I do is mix 87 with 93 to get something around 90 octane - non ethanol of course. My carb problems with small engines have gone away since I've switched to using pure gasoline.

...ain't nothin wrong with the 'happy median' theory if both are available. I like that mentality.

 

[bwalker]

Nearly all the chainsaw manufacturers recommend 89 octane. Unless you have a really high compression engine, it seems to me you'd get less performance with 93 - it would be burning a bit too slow. What I do is mix 87 with 93 to get something around 90 octane - non ethanol of course. My carb problems with small engines have gone away since I've switched to using pure gasoline.

Higher octane fuel doesn't burn any slower or have less BTU. Actually the faster you can combust the less chance for detonation.

 

[chuckwood]

Higher octane fuel doesn't burn any slower or have less BTU. Actually the faster you can combust the less chance for detonation.

I thought it was the other way around. The higher the octane the slower the burn. Low octane fuel in a high compression engine can lead to detonation instead of a steady burn, at least that's the way I understand it.

 

[bwalker]

I thought it was the other way around. The higher the octane the slower the burn. Low octane fuel in a high compression engine can lead to detonation instead of a steady burn, at least that's the way I understand it.

No, as I said the faster a fuel burns the better as it pertains to resistance to detonation.

 

[chuckwood]

No, as I said the faster a fuel burns the better as it pertains to resistance to detonation.

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The lower the octane the faster the fuel will burn. The higher the octane the slower it will burn.

 

[bwalker]

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The lower the octane the faster the fuel will burn. The higher the octane the slower it will burn.

Well your completely wrong.
Octane is a measure of a fuels resistance to abnormal combustion, not a measure of how fast it burns or a measure of resistance to combustion. Granted these are common old wives tales, but they are also completely false.
And as I said detonation takes time, so theoretically the faster you can bun a fuel the higher octane number it would have.

 

[bwalker]

http://www.whitfieldoil.com/www/docs/171.284/vp-racing-fuel-

 

[1Alpha1]

Lots of people waste a lot of $$'s buying a higher octane fuel than they really need.

 

[USMC615]

Lots of people waste a lot of $$'s buying a higher octane fuel than they really need.

When most homeowners cut wood for their own use, which probably equates to 95% of the folks on this site, just how much do you think is 'wasted'? No more than a lot cut? 10-30 cents a gallon difference. Really? And ain't nobody posting up selling all their OPE because that '20 cent more a gallon' stuff ruined everything I've got. Funny, and ain't no gangbusting threads all of a sudden cranking up about folks 'broke' and gotta sell it all...all for a few more pennies per gallon. You've probably saved enough 2123, over the last 5 yrs, to get you a free dinner for two...at the Waffle House.

 

[bwalker]

When most homeowners cut wood for their own use, which probably equates to 95% of the folks on this site, just how much do you think is 'wasted'? No more than a lot cut? 10-30 cents a gallon difference. Really? And ain't nobody posting up selling all their OPE because that '20 cent more a gallon' stuff ruined everything I've got. Funny, and ain't no gangbusting threads all of a sudden cranking up about folks 'broke' and gotta sell it all...all for a few more pennies per gallon. You've probably saved enough 2123, over the last 5 yrs, to get you a free dinner for two...at the Waffle House.

I will happily pay a little extra for non ethanol premium fuel and avoid the head aches. And there are head aches, especially in the climate I live in.

 

[1Alpha1]

When most homeowners cut wood for their own use, which probably equates to 95% of the folks on this site, just how much do you think is 'wasted'? No more than a lot cut? 10-30 cents a gallon difference. Really? And ain't nobody posting up selling all their OPE because that '20 cent more a gallon' stuff ruined everything I've got. Funny, and ain't no gangbusting threads all of a sudden cranking up about folks 'broke' and gotta sell it all...all for a few more pennies per gallon. You've probably saved enough 2123, over the last 5 yrs, to get you a free dinner for two...at the Waffle House.

I not only meant for OPE, but for autos and m/c's as well. I should have specified that.

But hey, you were quick on the draw to jump all over me, and for that I say, whatever.

 

[bwalker]

I not only meant for OPE, but for autos and m/c's as well. I should have specified that.

But hey, you were quick on the draw to jump all over me, and for that I say, whatever.

I run 87 in anything fuel injected and four cycle..

 

[USMC615]

I will happily pay a little extra for non ethanol premium fuel and avoid the head aches. And there are head aches, especially in the climate I live in.

I couldn't agree more, to spend a little more pocket change to protect a lotta high dollar OPE. And you folks up north in that cold ass environment know this a heap more than in my climate here in mid Ga. I treat my stuff as best I can...if some of my stuff chits the bed on me...I eat Vienna Sausages and crackers, PBJ's, and microwave popcorn for a month, just to replace it. It's called reality. And like you, I try to avoid the headaches as best I can.

 

[bwalker]

I couldn't agree more, to spend a little more pocket change to protect a lotta high dollar OPE. And you folks up north in that cold ass environment know this a heap more than in my climate here in mid Ga. I treat my stuff as best I can...if some of my stuff chits the bed on me...I eat Vienna Sausages and crackers, PBJ's, and microwave popcorn for a month, just to replace it. It's called reality. And like you, I try to avoid the headaches as best I can.

It sucks dealing with frozen up equipment in the winter. My Honda snowblower would go down several times a winter due to water in the fuel. Same with my fourwheeler. I got sick of dealing with this crap and went to e free premium. Haven't had one issue since.

 

[USMC615]

I not only meant for OPE, but for autos and m/c's as well. I should have specified that.

But hey, you were quick on the draw to jump all over me, and for that I say, whatever.

Awe...come on 2123. This thread ain't about autos or otherwise. Exactly...just how would anyone take your response, other than OPE?? Hello? Now that's said, take back your 'whatever' and we'll be buddies. I, like anyone else here, was thinking you were simply talking about OPE, which you did clarify.