ethanol free gas - cost ?

[Brockport Bill 1,661]

i switched to ethanol free gas for tractors about a yr ago. ---------- Went to get some supply for the wheel horses today OUCH !!! ( Hudson Valley area of NYS ) now up to $4.59 per gallon versus the $3.59 for regular - that equals extra $20 for 20 gallons  - - on a pure cost basis seems lots more $ alternatively than some maintenance and a carb rebuild periodically -- i know maybe the ethanol is better for the engine internals as well but at $4.59 its certainly a big added expense for clean running engines !!!!

[ri702bill 8,319]

Dry your eyes!!!!! Here in RI, I CAN get ethanol free gasoline at a couple of stations, but not willing to pay TWENTY plus bucks a gallon for a 5 gallon pail of VP Racing fuel... over a hundred bucks!!

OR, if I were so inclined, I could bring my own empty 2 gallon approved container. The "Gas Barrista" will dispense it for you from an opened pail, to the tune of $28 a gallon... Sad. 

I can and do buy a quart of ethanol free gas at HD or Lowes to use at the end-of-season - $7 for a quart... I would gladly pay $5 a gallon...

[953 nut 55,223]

I am a very frugal individual. I won't pay more for a big name-brand when the generic product is just as good. With that said, I have been using Non-Ethanol gas with Berryman Gas Treatment and Sta-Bil Storage for the past dozen or so years in all my Wheel Horses and have had no fuel related problems. I wouldn't spend the extra money if I wasn't seeing good results.

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Here in RI,

Mike @Sparky has chronicled his gas runs to New Hampshire to fill gas cans several times. It is sad that some state legislators are sticking it to the recreational vehicle owners that way.    VOTE THE BUMS OUT!

[peter lena 8,625]

@Brockport Bill  continue to marvel at the following for that fuel ,and of course the added expense ,  been adding an ounce of  STA BIL , fuel treatment for years , to my tank top off,s , also removed all related lines , filters from the no stabil , starting point . since then , no fuel line break down , no debris in filters , fuel bowls clean / clear . instant starts . this set up works , but you should completely. change out  original set up , that way you are verifying  what's going on , my generator has the same set up , sits months , instant starts . my fuel filters are clean clear , just sayin , pete 

[Achto 27,571]

Premium with out corn squeezin's = $4.29. Over 20 tractors, some that sit for extended periods of time and no fuel related issues = priceless. Always a good feeling when you can turn the key & get the task at hand done. 

Edited June 30 by Achto

[rjg854 11,361]

Luckily just down the road from me is a Native American owned gas station that's selling non-ethanol gas for $3.57 a gallon.  We'll see how long it stays at that price. This just opened when they put in their slot machine hall.

[ebinmaine 67,484]

We pay around a buck a gallon extra for NON Ethanol gas here and it's worth 

 

Every

 

Single

 

Cent. 

 

 

Don't look at it as a "cost".

 

Look at it as a "VALUE".

 

We have multiple various types of machines for usage over multiple various types of tasks throughout the year. 

Some only get run once or twice in 12 months. 

 

We switched over to NON E gas years ago. 

 

NO additives. 

 

NO additional chemicals of any kind. 

 

NO FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS. 

 

 

 

[rmaynard 15,458]

Since I will not use any "snake oil" in my tractors, I have rebuilt all of my carburetors with gaskets and things that are described as "ethanol safe". Hoses, and filters as well. Then, during the spring and summer, I can run regular gas in my workers. Show tractors that may not be started for several months have ethanol-free gas in them at all times. As fall approaches, all my workers are gassed up with e-free, and then I feel safe letting them sit all winter long. I have never had a problem since I started this routine. As far as cost of ethanol-free in my area, I last purchased 14 gallons for $55. That's $3.93/gallon. That's a price that I am not happy to pay, but I feel the benefits outweigh the higher cost. Snake oils such as Sta-Bil, Sea Foam and others are expensive themselves and add enough cost to a fill-up that in many cases exceeds the cost of e-free.

[Blasterdad 2,692]

I just take two five gallon cans to the gas station, prepay $25.00 on the REC fuel pump & put $12.50 in each can. It's easier to pour into the tractors & doesn't slosh out the vent or nozzles on the way home. I mix a gallon at a time for all my 2 stroke tools in a seperate one gallon can with a spring loaded nozzle. My concrete saw sat in a freezing cold / blazing hot shed for 6 years, started on the second pull. Personally, I don't care what fuel costs, unleaded regular or REC. Two 20 oz bottles of soda are $4.00 plus deposit if you buy 2 & have your Speedy Rewards card handy.  

[Handy Don 12,217]

I just don’t use enough fuel to make it worth a lot of extra effort/expense to get non-E (100+ mile round trip to nearest availability) or to experiment with trying to doctor fuel. The only real-life, long term test of doctored fuel I’ve seen showed that none made much difference (I suspect that if it did, that product would be owned by major oil company and sold at the pump as a premium “upgrade” like getting the wax treatment at the car wash).

 So I run pump gas always. But the machines that will sit for months between uses (chainsaw, generator, leaf blower, snowblower, etc.) get drained/run dry after the season/use and stored dry.

No fuel issues.

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

5 hours ago, rjg854 said:

Luckily just down the road from me is a Native American owned gas station that's selling non-ethanol gas for $3.57 a gallon.  We'll see how long it stays at that price. This just opened when they put in their slot machine hall.

No worrys Randy, they'll give you a HIGH ROLLER FREE GAS PASS when you start plugging those slots with all those rolls of quarters you got squirreled away.  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

I run non-e rec fuel. 1/4 mile away. I'm in a boating mecca so it's everywhere. About $1.50 more per gallon... Only use about 10 gallons / yr now plowing snow with the C-105. Basically the price of a can of sea foam & stabil... 

 

BTW- Im still trying to find the gas tank on the E-141's or the A-60... They don't gunk up or require a trip to the gas station... 

[Handy Don 12,217]

Just now, SylvanLakeWH said:

still trying to find the gas tank on the E-141's or the A-60

Keep looking. It’ll keep you out of trouble. 

[ebinmaine 67,484]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

test of doctored fuel I’ve seen showed that none made much difference

 

I've seen/read/watched several. 

 

No offense intended to anyone here or any other site or in person. 

 

I just don't see the value. 

 

I've never seen one single accurate honest non-sponsered test that proved to me there's a difference or assistance in using an added chemical in gasoline. 

 

To the best of my knowledge at this point in time there is NO product that absolutely negates the negative effects of ethanol. 

I'd like to be proven wrong so I can do different experiments. 

 

 

Those of us that do use an add-in seem to be the ones that ALREADY take good care of machines. 

 

Again... no offense. It's your money. It's your engine pool. It's your decision. 

[ri702bill 8,319]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I run non-e rec fuel. 1/4 mile away. I'm in a boating mecca so it's everywhere. About $1.50 more per gallon... Only use about 10 gallons / yr now plowing snow with the C-105. Basically the price of a can of sea foam & stabil... 

 

BTW- Im still trying to find the gas tank on the E-141's or the A-60... They don't gunk up or require a trip to the gas station... 

A good bean dinner should let you know...

[adsm08 2,056]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

To the best of my knowledge at this point in time there is NO product that absolutely negates the negative effects of ethanol. 

I'd like to be proven wrong so I can do different experiments. 

 

 

 

 

I know of one way to de-ethanol gasoline, it works somewhere between about 98 and 100%, but obviously it means removing that portion of the fuel that is alcohol, and so you get a corresponding decrease in volume. And then, since the bonding agent doesn't run through a gas engine so well you have to find a way of removing it once it bonds to the alcohol and separates from the fuel.

[kpinnc 12,023]

Opinions vary I know, but I run ethanol-free in everything that has a carburetor. I have to do this year round.

 

Here in this area, relative humidity is high year round. Everything (fuel tanks, sediment bowls, oil sumps, etc...) have issues with condensation. 

 

The only way I would run ethanol fuel is if I can remove every drop from the fuel system after each and every use. 

[Wild Bill 633 845]

I have a neighbor and very good friend who is very frugal and has toys galore, from lawn tractors, boats, motorcycles, minibikes, jet skis, snowmobiles, older cars with carbs and several of each, who refuses to pay the higher price for non-ethanol gas. Every time one of these toys is to be used, it won't start.  He begins his ritual of removing the carb and cleaning it due to the ethanol gas. I keep telling him "God created you for the sole purpose to clean carbs."

I on the other hand refuse to run ethanol gas in any of my engines with carbs. I travel across county line, insert my credit card, ignoring the price, fill my gas cans with non-ethanol gas, take my receipt and go home. It's the price I have to pay to operate my machines.

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

Why do we continue to subsidize this scam that has a negative effect on our environment and equipment?

.Ethanol fuel from corn faulted as 'unsustainable subsidized food burning' in analysis by Cornell scientist | Cornell Chronicle

 

[ebinmaine 67,484]

4 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Why do we continue

 

 

I've pondered the same question more times than you could believe. Absolutely baffling to me.

[Handy Don 12,217]

42 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Why do we continue to subsidize this scam that has a negative effect on our environment and equipment?

As with most everything on this scale, to stop would cost some influential people/companies some or all of their livelihood.

[lynnmor 7,305]

49 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I've pondered the same question more times than you could believe. Absolutely baffling to me.

Always follow the money….. AND the votes.  
 

 

Still baffled?

[ebinmaine 67,484]

Just now, lynnmor said:

Always follow the money….. AND the votes.  
 

 

Still baffled?

 

 

Unfortunately no

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

This use of the lead free card to promote E-15 shows how gullible we are.   W

 

Lead was phased out in ALL gasoline in the USA  by the Clean Air Act passed in 1970 and totally banned in 1996.      So the scam, lies and fake ads continue.

 

 

[953 nut 55,223]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

we continue to subsidize this scam

 

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

As with most everything on this scale, to stop would cost some influential people/companies some or all of their livelihood.