Ethenol and Engines

[vakayakangler]

We had our Central VA HOW workday last weekend, and My Chainsaw was a PITA, running good for about an hour, then winding down and stopping. Let it cool for an hour or so and it would run good for an hour or so, then ....

We could have done so much more, as it's normally a great so, a stihl 810 with an 18" bar and cuts like a demon, AND I had two extra chains which we never got to.

Among other things, I noticed by the end of the day, that gas just streamed out of the gas tank at the cap....when you turned the saw upright... Sheesh.

Tina dropped it off Monday for repair and I picked it up yesterday.
My guy at the Farm Supply where I bought the saw told me that the new Ethenol mix is killing the rubber in the engines, gas lines, gaskets and orings. The oring on the gas cap had been degraded, hence the leak. The gas line? Was turning to muck and if you squeezed it, the interior portions stuck to themselves. Rev the saw to cut and basically the gas line was shrinking inside choking the supply and cutting down gas flow. Two cycle engines cool with the oil in the gas and the engine was overheating...

He got er straight but warned me to mix the gas 9/10 to 1 rather than 1 to 1 for the gallon of gas to oil now.. some scarring in the cylinder from the heat. Says the industry is trying to come up with new gas lines, gaskets and orings that don't react, and are making progress, but.....



Ain't this a kick in the shorts.

[Too Busy]

Killed my leaf blower and edger this summer. Same problem. gas line, primer bulb, orings and seals in the carb all toast. Scarred cylinder wall.

Repair was going to cost more than replacement. I went electric

[blake]

100% gas for all my engines with ethanol treatment,every tank. Dad and brother have had at least 4 outboards gum up due to evil E.
ps ethanol is best after sitting in a charred white oak barrel.

[PA hillbilly]

ps ethanol is best after sitting in a charred white oak barrel.

AGREED!!

And that's the only place it shoud be used! But unfortunately the Gubment in all it's wisdom just gave approval for the sale of up to 15% ethanol now so engine problems are only going to bet worse!

[Plasticpirogue]

Here in Louisiana we actually have 0% ethanol gas stations, and the lines are long on Friday nights with bass boats. The stuff is EVIL and should never be used in anything but the newest of automobiles (and the jury is still out on that issue for sure).

[BigYaker]

ethanol treatment,every tank.

This is a must!! Especially if you let fuel sit in your small engines over the winter

[vakayakangler]

I have to find some of that... this chainsaw is an evil beast, and if you guys paid attention to the posts, you'll see it's a necessary evil if for nothing else but to clear the drive when the winter ice or high winds drop an oak across it.

Anyone recommend a favorite brand? I guess that Napa or the rest of them sell it? Sheesh, can we make this any harder.

[Too Busy]

ethanol treatment,every tank.

This is a must!! Especially if you let fuel sit in your small engines over the winter

I learned my lesson with the leaf blower and edger. no gas left in machines anymore. I run the chainsaw dry. If I'm finished before the tank is empty, drain tank, start engine to empty the lines and carb.

Lawn mower, run it dry every time even tho it's a 4 stroke. Ethanol loaded gas sitting in a machine is bad news.

[Ruffells]

We had a chainsaw do the same thing! But ours was a el-cheapo anyway so we just took the chain and cutting thing off and put it on an eletric one we had lying around lol not powerful but we didn't need it for much.. And yes I think sta-bil helps with the ethonal problem doesnt it?

[Plasticpirogue]

Sta-Bil Ethenol treatment does. MUCH better than running one dry. My brother is a mechanical engineer for Poulan Weed-Eater designing 2 stroke, air-cooled engines. He asks the hypothetical question...."If the lubricant is in the fuel, and you run all of the fuel out of it, don't you think you might also be starving the cylinder walls, which BTW are bare aluminum, of lubricant?" He said that if you insist on this old practice on 2 strokes, as soon as you hear the engine rev up just slightly (it's going lean) SHUT IT OFF. That way, you are getting the majority of the liquid fuel out of the plumbing, and what little ethanol left will evaporate.

OR, you could just use Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment.