What kind of gas do you all run in your N's? Are you particular or just whatever you happen to get? Whatever is cheapest or ethanol free? Just curious. I used to run whatever was cheapest but since I don't use it much anymore and the new station carries ethanol free, I have been spending the extra to run the good stuff.
 

Real gas isn't convenient to my rural location so I use corn gas mixed with ATF and haven't had any of the problems often reported with ethanol laced fuel.

My tractors sit unused for months at a time but I'm careful to keep the tank filled and run out the gas and drain the float bowl.

My stump grinder went a whole year without use and started up with the first pull the other day.
 

I bought my first 8N in 2000 and added a second one 2015. All my stuff gets E10 from the local station. The one N typically sits over winter without use. I have had no problems with fuel
 
(quoted from post at 14:40:14 11/20/17)
Real gas isn't convenient to my rural location so I use corn gas mixed with ATF and haven't had any of the problems often reported with ethanol laced fuel.

My tractors sit unused for months at a time but I'm careful to keep the tank filled and run out the gas and drain the float bowl.

My stump grinder went a whole year without use and started up with the first pull the other day.

If I have to use an ethanol mix gasoline I treat it with Seafoam.
 
I use ethanol in everything around here (lawn mower, golf cart, 29 Ford, 50 MG, all the gas tractors) because ethanol free isn't available. I put Star Tron fuel stabilizer in all the gas. No problems at all.
75 Tips
 
I think somebody is trying to pull something as they are not allowed to make any non ethanol,at least for any states around me. Pumps have to say may contain up to 10% ethanol, does not say it definatly is 10%, may only be .1% but it does have to have it in there.
 
You can get ethanol free gas at most marinas around here. And one gas station about 45 miles away.

Check out the website: https://www.pure-gas.org/?stateprov=VA
 
(quoted from post at 08:32:46 11/20/17) I think somebody is trying to pull something as they are not allowed to make any non ethanol,at least for any states around me. Pumps have to say may contain up to 10% ethanol, does not say it definatly is 10%, may only be .1% but it does have to have it in there.

Here in Oregon it is very available. Closest station has it in 5 gallon cans and the one 6 miles away has a special pump for it and you pump it yourself.
No self serve gas in Oregon. Kind of nice to be able to stay in my truck and have the gas pumped.
I use e10 with no problems and no additives.
 
IF you shut off your gas at the sediment bowl, the alcohol can dry out the cork gasket, causing it to shrink and then leak. So, I use regular gas, which does cost about 30? more, but I don't have the leak nonsense goin on when I want to bush hog.
 
(quoted from post at 09:52:24 11/20/17) IF you shut off your gas at the sediment bowl, the alcohol can dry out the cork gasket, causing it to shrink and then leak. So, I use regular gas, which does cost about 30? more, but I don't have the leak nonsense goin on when I want to bush hog.
I have no leakage problems with e10 and shutting the gas off. Don't think my gaskets are cork tho.
 
After replacing those small fuel tubes in 2-cycle blowers and weed-wackers and chain saws, I started using non-ethanol gas in them and three tractors with much better results. It is available in town at two stations for about 50 cents more, and like Bruce says at many marinas. Boats often sit for long spells like our machines and so having no ethanol means you have less water absorbed and less fuel mixture separation and less chance for the alcohol to do its dirty work. And by the way, gasoline is manufactured as pure gasoline, the ethanol is added to get it to 10% or 15%.
 
Don't know about boats but in paper a while back avaition gas without is to be gotten rid of and only avaible with
 
" the alcohol can dry out the cork gasket, causing it to shrink and then leak"

If I really thought that was possible, I'd use a rubber gasket.

And the reason I don't think it's possible because all of my sediment bowl gaskets are cork and I use gas w/ ethanol.
75 Tips
 
I run premium in my tractors. I don't know if it is blended or not. I use Sta-Bil if it will be a while before I use it up. Premium seems to store better and gives a little more power.
 
My experience is no problems with 10% EtOH in gasoline. But gas is blended differently for different parts of the country. No non blended gas anywhere in my area that I know about. I have over 20 internal combustion engines with 10% etoh in them. I do used a stabilized in them when they are going to sit for a while.
 

I test gas around here a few times a month I have yet to find any noticeable amount near 10% of alcohol in the fuel I would put it at about 2/3% tops. I can not say I have tested cut rate no name stations fuel around here probable because folks that buy that chit can not afford me... That's gas in those bottle :shock:
6490.jpg
 

the folks i got my chain saw from sent samples from the local gas stations (and there aren't many) to the state lab. one station came back > 60% alcohol. i don't buy gas from them now :lol:

i burn regular gasohol in my 2N and WD, never had a problem with it. and i've never added any kind of stabilizer. but i won't use it in my 2 cycle stuff. i'll happily pay another 40 cents for a gallon of E0 for them.

if anyone didn't see it in the earlier post, here's a great resource for locating stations that sell E0.
 

I would think The first #1 thing a small engine shop would do is verify fuel quality its not rocket science. If they had to ship it off to be tested I would have my doubts about that shop...
 
I use regular gasohol in mine, but I also burn up leftover 50:1 boat gas and any questionable gas left in containers in the shed. It's not at all fussy and the exhaust will be blue with or without the 2-stroke oil. :D
 
Since these engines were designed with 1930's tech, real low compression, low RPM, I think the lowest grade today's fuel are way over specs of what is required. 87 octane has to be at least 20 points higher than what these engines required. Anything more than that or additives etc just makes the wallet lighter.

I'm not jumping on the ethanol bandwagon, I don't believe it's a great thing simply because the .gov thinks it is. With that said I don't think it's as bad as others say it is either. My 8N has drank plenty of gallons of E10, not buy choice but either by accident or convenience. I often dump leftover premix, old lawnmower fuel etc too.
 
4play,
I agree that these things will burn almost
anything.
A few years ago my neighbor's son put gas
in his diesel VW Rabbit. It was about a
50/50 mix. So he asked me if I could use
it. I said sure and took the whole 12
gallons he drained out. I cut it again
about 50/50 and ran it in my gas tractor
that summer. It ran just fine and I didn't
notice any difference in performance
except when then the engine was under a
real heavy load the exhaust would blow
slightly white.
 
One can search the archives here and elsewhere on the ethanol in gas issue and get all kinds of opinions, comments, and even some actual factual data on the effects of alcohol but the debate will probably go on forever. Henry Ford used alcohol in his early automobile experiments and Quadracycle. The issue of boiling gas in tanks surfaces every year too. Also, one does not need to run premium gas in these old low compression N motors, but it is your money. The only exception was found to be if one had the Sherman Hi-Compression Aluminum Head. The same can be said for all the snake-oil products sold today for supposedly 'better engine performance'. They ALL contain 95-98 percent mineral spirits as that is the main ingredient. Mineral spirits is an excellent product to use for cleaning gunk and varnish, thus will loosen up that crud, but also understand I am not saying it doesn't work, I'm just saying read labels and choose wisely how you spend your money. I have not seen any data/evidence to support those products improve engine life. One could easily pour a can of Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid, it is the same thing, in and get the same (if any) results. I use mineral spirits for cleaning parts, inside and out, like the oil filter canister, hydraulic pump and system, oil filter screen, and more as it will not harm the internal parts whatsoever. I have found ethanol plays havoc on 2-stroke devices like weed whackers and chainsaws. It has been said the alcohol eats away at the internal nylon parts and will cause problems. All of this is based on my own research and is solely my own opinions. So, the debate goes on and fellas tend to believe what they want to believe anyway.

Tim Daley(MI)
 
(quoted from post at 08:39:45 11/21/17) I have found ethanol plays havoc on 2-stroke devices like weed whackers and chainsaws. It has been said the alcohol eats away at the internal nylon parts and will cause problems. All of this is based on my own research and is solely my own opinions. So, the debate goes on and fellas tend to believe what they want to believe anyway.

Tim Daley(MI)

I agree with that completely. I replaced a lot of clear fuel tubing and primer bulbs before I switched all of my small 2-strokes to ethanol free. All has been fine since. Fortunately, ethanol free gas is readily available just one town away.
 
Here in Pennsylvania you can get Non Ethanol fuel
I use it in all my small engines it works really well in my chainsaw
I think its 93 Octane
 

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