pfrederi 17,773 #1 Posted November 11 From my friends Kohler Command Pro on in his log splitter.....Uses regular gas.. Only a couple hours a year on the splitter. Bad news it is OHV so the stuck float dumped gas into the cylinder so now have to change oil also. Their is a station with ethanol free about 6 miles away a dollar more per gallon. Since it only burns a couple gallons a year save 2 bucks .... but carb kit is $18 4 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,675 #3 Posted November 11 @pfrederi add just an ounce or 2 , of STA BIL to all my fuels , fuel storage treatment , zero anything in my filters or carb bowls ,prior to doing that , changed out all related , hoses / filters , and cleaned , tank , just to verify that the additive , stops fuel debris . with clean fuel hold points , and regular STA BIL , use regular ethanol fuel , with consistent clog / break down free results . even my generator , and walk behind snow blower , sitting for months , have clean , fuel filters , and carb bowls, instant starts treat a lot of gas with that , and no fuel crud at all . pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,838 #4 Posted November 11 I find it very interesting that the FAA understands what ethanol does and does not allow it in airplanes. IMHO ethanol should also not be allowed in any small engines whatsoever. For the first time in several years we bought a new small engine. We picked up a nice new generator that will power the whole house. In the manual it states that up to 10% is acceptable but non-ethanol is recommended. First time I've seen that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,118 #5 Posted November 11 39 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: I find it very interesting that the FAA understands what ethanol does and does not allow it in airplanes. IMHO ethanol should also not be allowed in any small engines whatsoever. For the first time in several years we bought a new small engine. We picked up a nice new generator that will power the whole house. In the manual it states that up to 10% is acceptable but non-ethanol is recommended. First time I've seen that. I have a generator we bought from my wife's aunt after her uncle died, it's a Honda engine from the mid 90s and has that warning in the fine print of the operating instructions label. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 476 #6 Posted November 12 I use StaBil like Pete. However, when all my small engines are going to be sitting for a while, I shut the fuel off and let them run dry. No issues so far. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,553 #7 Posted November 12 Unlike Pete, I do not use Sta-Bil. My only experience with Sta-Bil was a bowl full of gel in the spring, and a complete carb cleaning to get rid of it. Using straight ethanol-free gas ever since with zero problems. I know lots of guys like lots of different "snake oils", but removing the problem (ethanol) in the first place will eliminate the need to doctor your gasoline. Just my opinion, but I have been working with and maintaining small gasoline engines since 1964. Problems only began when ethanol was introduced. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,310 #8 Posted November 12 2 hours ago, rmaynard said: Problems only began when ethanol was introduced. Prior to this, one could sometimes accumulate “varnish” in carb bowls--the residue of other additives after the volatile fraction of the gasoline evaporated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,459 #9 Posted November 13 7 hours ago, Handy Don said: “varnish” Slightly but here we go. A customer at the service station I worked at in high school was told by a friend that his engine was "all varnished up" so he went to the hardware store, bought a quart of varnish remover, added it to his oil and drove around to get rid of the varnish. It was clattering like an old-time deiseal starting up on a cold day. I pulled the dipstick and the stench coming from the engine was overwhelming. When he told us what he had done we didn't know weather we should laugh or cry. We pushed it off to the side and told him we would try to find a good used engine to replace it. Next day curiosity got the best of us and we put it on the lift, dropped the pan and it looked like a cavern with stalactites hanging down. OK, I'm done; now get back on topic! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,198 #10 Posted November 13 (edited) On 11/11/2024 at 4:38 PM, ebinmaine said: I find it very interesting that the FAA understands what ethanol does and does not allow it in airplanes. Ah, a critical thinker. In this day and time? And I thought they were extinct… Never mind personal experience, as in today’s world that has no weight next to internet “expert” comments… If your piston powered, air cooled, manual air/fuel mix airplane engine runs like crap- well that might be an issue. Given the fact that aviation maintenance is as expensive as brain surgery without any insurance, I feel certain that there might be something to the idea that ethanol and normally aspirated engines are not good bedfellows. Good enough for pilots, good enough for me. @ebinmaine As I read back over this, it could be misunderstood as my being a smarta$$ about your comment. My reply is meant as a compliment sir. Just FYI. Edited November 13 by kpinnc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,838 #11 Posted November 13 3 hours ago, kpinnc said: Good enough for pilots, good enough for me. That was my thought too. 3 hours ago, kpinnc said: @ebinmaine As I read back over this, it could be misunderstood as my being a smarta$$ about your comment. My reply is meant as a compliment sir. Just FYI. I absolutely took it as a compliment! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,435 #12 Posted November 15 I run all my gas powered equipment year round so using Stabil or gummed up carburetors isn't something I encounter unless I add another piece of equipment to my fleet (If I didn't run equipment year round, I'd be on the ethanol free diet, I've never had good luck with Stabil). If noting more, this gives me another reason to enjoy the outdoors or garage time with a coffee or . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites