Ethanol free shortage??

[pacer 3,168]

Week or so ago I went by my wallyworld to fill my equipment gas cans and they said they were out .... OK, I'll ck back later, which was yesterday and no go, asked lady whats the deal and she says they didnt know that she thought nobody had any!! So I did ck with another 2 spots that I knew - usually - has it and no go there also. Anybody else having a shortage?? 

 

I shudder at the thought of putting ethanol laced fuel in my stuff

[peter lena 8,583]

@pacer, put  STA- BIL , in all my gas , neck full at every top off , no gas issues at all , carbs are, clean, adjustments are steady and starts are instant . pete

[pacer 3,168]

Yeah, of course thats what I'd do if this situation continues (PLEASE NO!)

 

Its just so convenient, I get my truck fuel there- - wally is close by and their prices are always the lowest, so its easy to fill my four 5 gal cans while there.

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

10 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@pacer, put  STA- BIL , in all my gas , neck full at every top off , no gas issues at all , carbs are, clean, adjustments are steady and starts are instant . pete

If those additives work, that is for debate.=> worst case scenario since you guys have ethanol free gas.

 

 

Could it be the government limiting it?

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

Probably just a case of local Supply-and-Demand. The Ethanol-Free grade is more than likely least in demand and the fuel companies are still recovering from the Russian hack of the pipeline.

[squonk 41,038]

As long as you use the E 10 right away you should be fine short term. Damage comes from when it sits in the tank and carb bowl. Just buy a couple of gallons add SeaFoam and get the good stuff when they have it.

[ACman 7,618]

I’ve used Star Tron for years and haven’t had any problems . I have had the same 50 to 1 2-stroke that’s probably 2yrs old and still is good . My trimmer was only used once last year along with the blower and both fired right up a couple weeks ago . Same with my zero turn , no issues in 5yrs . Towards the end of the season I make sure my son adds some to the cans so I know whatever he puts fuel into I won’t have a issue in the spring. 
 

http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-additive

[roadapples 6,983]

I use star tron also without any problems. I'm not driving 40 mi. out of my way for ethanol free gas..

[Achto 27,509]

We have not had an issue with E-free gas up here yet. You have to buy premium but most stations have it.

 

[oldlineman 1,481]

We have access too in in western Pa. so far maybe related too chicken wing shortage?  

[pacer 3,168]

I knew somebody would have the answer and sure enough @oldlineman  had it covered -- chicken wing shortage!!

 

Seriously, since none of y'all seem to have a shortage, have to wonder why we do here?

[953 nut 55,099]

Some stations ran out of the less expensive E-10 and the panic buyers sucked up all the Non-E at our stations. Now that supplies are plentiful the REAL GAS is back at both stations that carry it in my area.

[rmaynard 15,428]

We now have a local gas station selling Ethanol-free gasoline. WooHoo. However, what he is selling contains Methanol which he claims is not harmful like Ethanol. Any truth to that?

[953 nut 55,099]

46 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

what he is selling contains Methanol

During the Arab Oil Embargo of the early 1970s methanol was blended with gasoline to extend the available supply. It was such a good solvant that many vehicles had repeated fuel filter problems. 

Methanol has been used in Summer Blends of gasoline in recent years because it contains oxygen and results in better tail pipe emissions tests from what I understand. Here is a bit of information I found on the internet that goes directly to your question.

 

A bigger concern is the corrosive effects of methanol. Of course, ethanol is also corrosive to aluminum components, gaskets and rubber hoses. But methanol is even more so. Both are safe to use in small amounts, but uncontrolled and unregulated mixing can result in concentrations high enough to cause additional wear and damage over time to sensitive gaskets and hoses in the fuel system.

[seuadr 488]

3 hours ago, rmaynard said:

We now have a local gas station selling Ethanol-free gasoline. WooHoo. However, what he is selling contains Methanol which he claims is not harmful like Ethanol. Any truth to that?

ooff. sounds like a great way to get liability claims if it isn't regulated blends...

 

[tunahead72 2,411]

14 hours ago, rmaynard said:

We now have a local gas station selling Ethanol-free gasoline. WooHoo. However, what he is selling contains Methanol which he claims is not harmful like Ethanol. Any truth to that?

 

Curious Bob, does this station show up on the pure-gas.org site?

 

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

Ohio was the worst for a long time in that only boat marinas and airports had the real stuff. Actually, you can take the ethanol out by adding water to the 10% or whatever.  I unintentionally had some added water to fuel in a car and it stratified beautifully.I took a half gallon out at a time with the fuel pump and took the good stuff off the top. Once you think all of it is gone,, I test stratified it a second time.  Not saying that you should add water to ethanol to remove it, That is entirely up to you. I just thought that it was interesting that I really only lost about 15% of my gas with the mistake i made .

  The guys who recommend this stuff do it to save money on buying pure gas over ethanol.Who knows what they do to get rid of the polluted remains?? I buy my pure gas at BP in Brookville OH, and i like it there as it has a dedicated hose so that other stuff does not get gemixed.

[rmaynard 15,428]

10 hours ago, tunahead72 said:

 

Curious Bob, does this station show up on the pure-gas.org site?

 

No, they do not. 

[tunahead72 2,411]

That's good, I think...   It could start a whole discussion on the pure-gas site about whether they should be allowed there.  And based on the issues @953 nut mentioned and as @seuadr pointed out, I wonder who's regulating this stuff anyway, if anybody.

 

[rmaynard 15,428]

1 hour ago, tunahead72 said:

I wonder who's regulating this stuff anyway, if anybody.

In Maryland it has be regulated by at least the department weights and measures. I can't remember their official name.

[Racinbob 11,045]

Like many others I use only ethanol free in my small engines. The pure-gas.org site is a great way to find stations that have it but I believe my wife one uped them yesterday. I have been making the trip to Culver to fill my cans and since all four were empty I made the 45 minute drive there only to find that the pump was down. Oh well, nice day for a drive. I got back home and hit up pure-gas again. Ah ha, there's one in Argos, about 12 miles further than Culver. I told my wife I'll go tomorrow (now today). I dropped it for the day and went about my business. Then my wife said there's two stations right in Knox (5 miles) and one in North Judson (7 miles) that have it. I decided to head into Knox and fill the cans up. At the first station I couldn't find the pump so I went inside to ask. The lady didn't know if they had ethanol free but could call the manager and ask. I thanked her and said I'll just check out all the pumps. Nothing. Two blocks down the road was the other station. Same scenario. I went back home and said screw it for today. Then she called the station in North Judson. The lady told her that she didn't know if they had ethanol free but they do have 'recreational' fuel stating that it probably ethanol free. Hmmmmmm, it was close enough so I headed out again. Bingo! And it was only 20¢ more that regular. By far the cheapest I've found it. 

The moral of the story here is do a search. Pure-gas is great but it only relies on the stations folks let them know about. My wife simply did a Google search "ethanol free gas near me" and came up with a bunch more. Also I'd suggest that you call ahead to verify that they really have it.......unlike me. At least now I have my go to station to get it that's pretty close. 

[Lane Ranger 10,946]

Here is an in-depth report regarding this issue in Iowa and Nebraska.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/ethanol-free-fuel-will-cost-more-may-be-scarce/article_43763b16-8697-5099-910c-43e55142e87b.amp.html