Done with Ethanol gas

[Brian N.]

This past spring I switched from regular gas (10% added ethanol) to non ethanol gas. Even with an additive to the regular gas I still had starting problems, fouled carburetor, rough running engines especially when the gas was a couple of months old. Even my snow blower did not take kindly to "summer" gas. Since switching, my Honda outboard, lawn mower and snow blower run much smother and start more easily. Zero carburetor problems. The one downside is the price. Non ethanol gas is not available here on Long Island (rumors of a station selling it now and then never pan out). I've been getting the gallon cans at Lowes but $$$$. However the good thing is that I may use a pint for the outboard on a typical sail, very little for the lawn mower, and even the big snow blower sips gas. I'm curious if others on the forum have switched and seen an improvement in their small engines.

[Wolverine]

Both gas stations in our town sell ethanol free gas and I've been using it for the last 3 years, but I'm still having issues with the outboards. The riding mower, generator, and power washer I use regular gas without issue. I use the canned fuel in my chainsaw and line trimmer.

[Doug SC]

There are several stations around here with pumps for ethanol free gas. I always use this for my outboards, chainsaws, mowers etc. I also add Sea Foam or Stabil fuel stabilizers. What doesn't get used by the next sailing season I pour into the car tank and start over again. I do use the small cans for on boat storage and the chainsaw.

[Riley Smith]

Yeah, ethanol sucks. What it sucks is moisture out of the atmosphere, and as you well know, water and air equals corrosion and degradation. As well as what the ethanol does to the rubber parts of your motor. And plastic too.  Not to mention trying to run it through a motor. SO...yeah, I don't use it in anything other than the car and truck. All the other things get ethanol-free, and to double down, I add some additive to it. Basically that's what you are getting at Lowes. Yes, expensive but very good gasoline.

It is easy to find here but be forewarned, almost always, it is not the same brand the station is branded in. It's a specialty item and made by just a few companies. And if the VOLUME of sales of it are not very much, you end up with a VAPOR SPACEk in the STORE'S storage tank, sitting in that humidity I was talking about. You can get contaminated gasoline from the pump!

Summer gas is not very good for winter scenarios either. There is no one formula for gasoline btw. They're all a bit different. A few molecules here and some there and viola, some work better than others. And to add to THAT, the way you STORE it makes a big different in this humidity laden universe that I live in. The less vapor space that you leave in ANYTHING, gives that moisture less of a foothold.

So to answer your question, yes it makes a dramatic difference in operation but you have to do your part. Don't buy from low-volume stations. Don't store with a vapor space. Put some Sea Foam in it. Don't leave it over a couple of months at most.

I do however believe the motors on string trimmers and chainsaws are made by Satan.

[tjspiel]

We bought a scooter about 6 years ago and the dealer made no bones about it. "Don't use ethanol if you expect your scooter to start after sitting all winter." he said.

He knew of one gas station in the area that sold "non-oxygenated" gasoline but that closed a few months later.  So for awhile it was hard to find. But now a large convenience store chain has start selling at their pumps. It's always premium so a bit more expensive but we don't use a lot.

We don't have the scooter anymore, have an electric lawnmower, and I use a trolling motor for the boat.

That leaves the snow blower which I only use if we get a lot of snow at once because I enjoy shoveling, and a generator which may go years without being used. Ironically it was used last Summer to help pump out a boat that had sunk at the lake.

I think I filled the snowblower in Fall last year, maybe used it once (maybe), drained it in the Spring and then it started up right away in November when I was getting stuff ready for winter. Using non-oxygenated gas has meant much less time cleaning carburetors.

[Timm R Oday25]

Our motorcycles ,and cars demand premium . Here in Wisconsin ,premium  usually mean ethanol free .
For our 2 strokes , Stihl chainsaws , outboard motors they still get high octane ethanol free . The push mower and riding lawnmower,  woodsplitter and woodchipper all get ethanol 87 octane.  I try to make it a point to run them out of gas when I am done using them.
The newer models have an in line valve that I close and just let the engine run u til it's out of gas .